The Church of St Catherine (Kościół św Katarzyny) is the oldest and also the most
important parish church in the old town. It was built in 1227–39 by the dukes of
Gdańsk-Pomerania and underwent major rebuilding in the 14th century.

Most of the Gothic, Mannerist and Baroque furnishings that the church once
contained were pillaged or destroyed in 1945. The most notable surviving pieces
are the paintings by Anton Möller and Izaak van den Blocke, the Baroque
memorials to various townspeople and the tombstone of the astronomer Johannes
Hevelius, dating from 1659.

The tower, 76 m (250 ft) high, was first built in 1486. Demo-lished in 1944 and
later rebuilt, it is once again a major landmark. It is well worth climbing to
the top of the tower; the effort is rewarded by wonderful views of the city. The
presbytery on the east side of the church has a fine late Gothic gable.