Hel, Seaside municipality on Hel Peninsula, Poland
Hel is a seaside municipality on the Hel Peninsula in Pomeranian Voivodeship. The town stretches along a narrow sand bar that extends roughly 35 kilometers into the Baltic Sea and features beaches on both its northern and southern coasts.
The settlement started as a fishing village in 1198 according to Danish records. During World War II, it became an important military base for resistance operations.
The Museum of Fishing in a former church building displays exhibits about seafaring traditions and offers views over the surrounding waters. From the upper floors, visitors can see how the Baltic Sea surrounds the peninsula on both sides.
Getting there involves taking a train or bus from Gdansk, with line 669 running regular services along the peninsula throughout the year. The narrow shape of the town makes orientation easy, as the water remains visible on both sides at all times.
The local seal sanctuary runs breeding and rehabilitation programs and prepares Baltic seals for return to their natural marine environment. Visitors can watch how injured animals receive care before being released back into the sea.
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