Szczecin Things to Do

In Szczecin , especially during summer, locals and tourist can see sailing ships. One of the most beautiful is "Fryderyk Chopin" - Szczecin is the home port of this ship. In the picture taken at Waly Chrobrego you can also see other Polish sailing ships "ORP Iskra" and "Kapitan Glowacki".

Szczecin is situated about 60km from the Baltic Sea, and is connected with it by Odra River and Szczecin Bay (Zalew Szczecinski). From time to time Szczecin is visited by ferries from the nearest ferry terminal in Swinoujscie.

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Musical and exhibitory activity of the Castle is worth noticing. Here take place chamber, classical and past music concerts, choral concerts such as The International Choral Festival, Sundays Noon Concerts, Chamber Music Evenings at the Candles, and in summer season Promenade Concerts on the small and big courtyards. Among performers one can often find bands and soloists from all over the world (e.g. Jose Careras, Micha³ Urbaniak, Goran Bregovic, Chuck Mangione, Vadim Brodsky, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Tomasz Stanko, Nigel Kennedy, Barbara Hendricks...)
The Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes' is also organiser or co-organiser of cultural events taking place in other regions of the Western Province, among others: Pomeranian Musical Summer, Organ and Chamber Music Festival in Kamien Pomorski, reviews of unprofessional artistic movements and other events.

In the northern and southern wings of the Castle, there are artistic exhibition galleries, where each year about 30 exhibitions are presented. The exhibitions include photographic, historic and fine art exhibitions.

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The Pomeranian Dukes' Castle in Szczecin is one of the main centres of cultural life in the Western Pomerania. Rebuilt after war destructions it became the seat of administrative and cultural institutions, among others the institution named The Pomeranian Dukes' Castle, which aim is to support and popularise artistic activity in Szczecin and the province.

The Vocalists and Instrumentalists Ensemble Camerata Nova functions at the Castle. There are also stages of the Krypta Theatre (Teatr Krypta) and The Cellar by the Vault Cabaret (Kabaret Piwnica Przy Krypcie). At the castle functions The Castle Cinema, seminars and scholarly meetings take place. There are organised promotional events too.

The Pomeranian Dukes' Castle runs also evidence of the past history and history of the building and Western Pomerania. Here are such workshops as archaeological, preservation of work of art, cultural heritage and photographic. There is also publishing activity.

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Jasne Blonia (Quistorpaue) is a huge, green square in Szczecin's centre. This terrain was given to Szczecin in 1925 by Martin Quistorp. There is a monument of the pope John Paul II commemorating his visit in Szczecin 1987. He said a mass at Jasne Blonia then.

Tip: The name "Jasne Blonia" came into existence as a result of a mistake commited by the clerk - the original Polish name for Quistorpaue was to be "Jasna Polana" (Bright Glade), not "Jasne Blonia" (Bright Greens).
Tip: It was close that Jasne Blonia would be never created. The authorities planned to buy this area, divide into smaller pieces and build houses there along the lenghtened Kaiser-Wilhelm-Strasse (today: Jednosci Narodowej Ave.). Martin Quistorp decided he would give this area to Szczecin, but only if: there would be no houses, but public green area.

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Kasprowicza Park (Quistorp Anlagen) is located at the area given to Szczecin by Johann Quistorp. It lies at the hill next to Lake Rusalka (Westend See), which, in fact, is the dammed up stream Osówka. There are two bridges over it. In the park there is a Summer Theatre with the concrete arch looking quite similar to the one that dominates the city of St. Louis and the sculpture of Wladyslaw Hasior, "The Burning Birds". From the South, the park is closed with the monumental Statue of the Deed of the Poles, designed by Gustaw Zemla. The three eagles the monument consists of symbolise the three generations of Poles who re-built Szczecin after WWII. Kasprowicza Park is the biggest park in Szczecin and the szczeciners' favourite place to come and rest for a while.

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This church was founded in 1240 by the duke Barnim I for the Grey Friars. It was belonging to them until 1525, when they had to leave the city due to the Reformation. There were only some minor damages after the WWII. It was renovated then and given to the Pallotins in 1957.

Tip: It's the one among a few churches in Szczecin that do not have a tower, but only a small ave-bell on the top.
Tip: This church is one of the stops of the "European Brick Gothic Route".
Tip: It is worth to visit this church just to see some well-preserved Medieaval polichromies covering the part of one of the walls

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"Pionier" Cinema is currently the oldest still operating cinema in the world. It was created in 1909 under the name of "Helios". Right now, there are two rooms there, among of which one is traditional and another one, called "Kiniarnia", is the stylish café, where you can drink cup of coffee while watching the movie played at the old cine projector. It is the only one place of this sort in Szczecine.

In 2004, "Pionier" Cinema was entered into the Guinness' Book of World Records.

At Osiek Street, Sienna Street and other little streets there are houses of the beautifully rebuilt old town, situated near the river Odra bank and the Pomeranian Dukes' Castle. There are some nice restaurants, pubs and cafes.
There is also an old Town Hall built in 1245. Now there is the City Museum of Szczecin.
It's open everyday apart from Mondays.
The entrance costs 6 zl and 3 zl.