szczecin
If you come to Szczecin by train, you may start your sightseeing tour from the Central Railway Station up Dworcowa Street. On your right you will pass a red-brick post office building. Passing through an impressive Tobruk Square, on your left you can admire a 
monument fountain with an anchor and on your left the New Town Hall building. Once it housed the City Council, at the moment it is held by the maritime commerce institutions. Looking right once again, you will see a historic building of Ksiaznica Pomorska, the Library of Pomerania, and next to it, at Rybacka Street, the Pomerania Medical University. Going up Dworcowa Street will take you to the city centre. On your way there you will pass a distinctive, round and glazed building which houses the Tourist Information Centre. It is worth to drop in if you want to get some guides, maps, postcards, souvenirs or if you need extra information or assistance. When you get to the 
first junction, on your left you will find the admirable entrance gate to old Szczecin, one of the two that remain to this day – the Port Gate (Brama Portowa). Leave this remarkably preserved building behind and head down the Wyszyńskiego Street. Halfway through you will come across a footbridge which will take you to the other side of the road. Thus you will find yourself at the foot of the Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral of St. Jacob. The monumental cathedral was destroyed in the Second World War, but it was restored and now resembles the initial state of the 15th century. The cathedral is next to the White Eagle Square (Plac Orla Bialego) with a baroque fountain with an eagle sculpture, and the 
Palace under the Globe (Palac pod Globusem). Next, the route will take you through Grodzka Street to an orange edifice – the Loitz Tenement House (Kamienica Loitzow - now the Art Secondary School). From here take a path to the Arkona Hotel and then turn left to the new Old Town. The gothic building you can see in front of you is the Old Town Hall, administered by the National Museum. It houses the City History Department. You can visit the Town Hall’s vaults. They have been adapted for catering purposes, and house the Canarillo restaurant. The Town Hall is the only original building in the Old Town of Szczecin. Other buildings have been rebuilt recently, only partly referring to their original versions; however, it is still worth taking a walk in these narrow streets along the Odra River. The Old Town is just a few steps from the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle. To get to it pass by the Arkona Hotel once again and then take a turn into a narrow street called Kurkowa. 
And here you are, at the foot of the castle. Now you just need to climb a few dozen steps up to find yourself at the entrance to the large bailey. There is a stage on the bailey, on which numerous cultural events are held during season. You can rest here on a bench and take a look at the clock tower dating back to the 16th century. The castle houses e.g. the Opera and the Operetta, a concert hall, a wedding hall of the Register Office, a crypt with sarcophagi, the "Krypta" theatre, "Zamkowa" restaurant, the Marshall Office and "Na Kuncu Korytarza Cafe". Part of the Castle is available for visitors (e.g. ducal sarcophagi or the Bell Tower with the observation deck). The Bell Tower is located at the Mint Bailey (Museum Bailey). To get there take a path in the West Wing of the Castle. Thus you will find yourself facing the Cultural and Tourist Information Centre. The entrance to the Bell Tower is at the right. Let’s continue the tour and head to the exit gate (next to the Cultural 
and Tourist Information Centre) and walk along the Professors’ Houses. Once they were the residence of the lecturers at the St. Mary’s College, at the moment they are just regular houses. Here you should cross the road that will lead you to the Castle Route. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and you will see the gothic Church of St. Peter and Paul. Let’s now head along Malopolska Street down, to the Chrobry Embankment (Waly Chrobrego). The Embankment surely is definitely the trademark the city, the most representative part of Szczecin. It comprises terraces, beautifully surrounded by trees, going down to the Odra River. A walk along the Embankment is 
one of city’s main attractions. Apart from the view at the port, there are also other things to admire as you walk: the Maritime Academy, the Marine Museum and the Modern Theatre, as well as the Province Office. Here you can have a rest on a bench or in one of the restaurants. Or you can take the stairs down to walk along the river. The Chrobry Embankment is a popular meeting point for the residents of Szczecin, especially in summer. During season various events are organised here, such as concerts of the celebration of the Sea Days. Szczecin is considered a green city. You can check this for yourself if you leave the Embankment taking the path between the Modern Theatre and the Province Office. Now you enter the Zeromskiego Park, note a monument of Adam Mickiewicz on your left. If 
you want to have a quiet rest among trees, you can stay longer and enjoy the park. As many as 177 species of trees and bushes have been found here. To follow the tourist route turn left. Walking along the Starzynskiego Street will get you to a square with a new monument of the Angel of Freedom. It is a monument to commemorate the events that took place in December 1970 (brutally suppressed protests of the Szczecin shipyard workers). Turn back to the monument and face the next monument of Szczecin: the Royal Gate (Brama Królewska). Now you are at the Soldier Square (Plac Zolnierza). Cross the road and turn right. This will take you to a complex of classical buildings. One of them houses the Modern Gallery of the National Museum. Next, stroll along the Aleja Papieza Jana Pawla II Avenue, also called the Fountain Avenue. First it leads to the Pilots’ Square (Plac Lotnikow). You cannot miss a monument of a medieval horse-mounted warrior in 
the middle on the Square. You are getting to the end of the route. What is left now is a walk along avenue. In the season period, there are lots of cafes where you can rest and listen to a murmur of water in many fountains. Further the avenue crosses a star-shaped Grunwaldzki Square. In summer it is a popular meeting place for chess players. If you walk further you will pass by a renovated building of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office of the University of Szczecin. The avenue leads you straight to the City Office dating back to 1927. The left wing of the Office houses the Philharmonic Orchestra of Szczecin. Cross the gate which links the parts of the office and enter Jasne Blonia – an enormous green area, surrounded by hundred years old plane trees and two monuments: that of Pope John Paul II and the Monument of the Deeds of Poles (Pomnik Czynu Polakow – monumental three eagles which symbolise three generations of Poles). This is the end of our trip of Szczecin. Jasne Blonia crosses the largest city's park - Kasprowicza Park with Rusalka Lake and the Summer Theatre.
monument fountain with an anchor and on your left the New Town Hall building. Once it housed the City Council, at the moment it is held by the maritime commerce institutions. Looking right once again, you will see a historic building of Ksiaznica Pomorska, the Library of Pomerania, and next to it, at Rybacka Street, the Pomerania Medical University. Going up Dworcowa Street will take you to the city centre. On your way there you will pass a distinctive, round and glazed building which houses the Tourist Information Centre. It is worth to drop in if you want to get some guides, maps, postcards, souvenirs or if you need extra information or assistance. When you get to the first junction, on your left you will find the admirable entrance gate to old Szczecin, one of the two that remain to this day – the Port Gate (Brama Portowa). Leave this remarkably preserved building behind and head down the Wyszyńskiego Street. Halfway through you will come across a footbridge which will take you to the other side of the road. Thus you will find yourself at the foot of the Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral of St. Jacob. The monumental cathedral was destroyed in the Second World War, but it was restored and now resembles the initial state of the 15th century. The cathedral is next to the White Eagle Square (Plac Orla Bialego) with a baroque fountain with an eagle sculpture, and the Palace under the Globe (Palac pod Globusem). Next, the route will take you through Grodzka Street to an orange edifice – the Loitz Tenement House (Kamienica Loitzow - now the Art Secondary School). From here take a path to the Arkona Hotel and then turn left to the new Old Town. The gothic building you can see in front of you is the Old Town Hall, administered by the National Museum. It houses the City History Department. You can visit the Town Hall’s vaults. They have been adapted for catering purposes, and house the Canarillo restaurant. The Town Hall is the only original building in the Old Town of Szczecin. Other buildings have been rebuilt recently, only partly referring to their original versions; however, it is still worth taking a walk in these narrow streets along the Odra River. The Old Town is just a few steps from the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle. To get to it pass by the Arkona Hotel once again and then take a turn into a narrow street called Kurkowa. And here you are, at the foot of the castle. Now you just need to climb a few dozen steps up to find yourself at the entrance to the large bailey. There is a stage on the bailey, on which numerous cultural events are held during season. You can rest here on a bench and take a look at the clock tower dating back to the 16th century. The castle houses e.g. the Opera and the Operetta, a concert hall, a wedding hall of the Register Office, a crypt with sarcophagi, the "Krypta" theatre, "Zamkowa" restaurant, the Marshall Office and "Na Kuncu Korytarza Cafe". Part of the Castle is available for visitors (e.g. ducal sarcophagi or the Bell Tower with the observation deck). The Bell Tower is located at the Mint Bailey (Museum Bailey). To get there take a path in the West Wing of the Castle. Thus you will find yourself facing the Cultural and Tourist Information Centre. The entrance to the Bell Tower is at the right. Let’s continue the tour and head to the exit gate (next to the Cultural and Tourist Information Centre) and walk along the Professors’ Houses. Once they were the residence of the lecturers at the St. Mary’s College, at the moment they are just regular houses. Here you should cross the road that will lead you to the Castle Route. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and you will see the gothic Church of St. Peter and Paul. Let’s now head along Malopolska Street down, to the Chrobry Embankment (Waly Chrobrego). The Embankment surely is definitely the trademark the city, the most representative part of Szczecin. It comprises terraces, beautifully surrounded by trees, going down to the Odra River. A walk along the Embankment is one of city’s main attractions. Apart from the view at the port, there are also other things to admire as you walk: the Maritime Academy, the Marine Museum and the Modern Theatre, as well as the Province Office. Here you can have a rest on a bench or in one of the restaurants. Or you can take the stairs down to walk along the river. The Chrobry Embankment is a popular meeting point for the residents of Szczecin, especially in summer. During season various events are organised here, such as concerts of the celebration of the Sea Days. Szczecin is considered a green city. You can check this for yourself if you leave the Embankment taking the path between the Modern Theatre and the Province Office. Now you enter the Zeromskiego Park, note a monument of Adam Mickiewicz on your left. If you want to have a quiet rest among trees, you can stay longer and enjoy the park. As many as 177 species of trees and bushes have been found here. To follow the tourist route turn left. Walking along the Starzynskiego Street will get you to a square with a new monument of the Angel of Freedom. It is a monument to commemorate the events that took place in December 1970 (brutally suppressed protests of the Szczecin shipyard workers). Turn back to the monument and face the next monument of Szczecin: the Royal Gate (Brama Królewska). Now you are at the Soldier Square (Plac Zolnierza). Cross the road and turn right. This will take you to a complex of classical buildings. One of them houses the Modern Gallery of the National Museum. Next, stroll along the Aleja Papieza Jana Pawla II Avenue, also called the Fountain Avenue. First it leads to the Pilots’ Square (Plac Lotnikow). You cannot miss a monument of a medieval horse-mounted warrior in the middle on the Square. You are getting to the end of the route. What is left now is a walk along avenue. In the season period, there are lots of cafes where you can rest and listen to a murmur of water in many fountains. Further the avenue crosses a star-shaped Grunwaldzki Square. In summer it is a popular meeting place for chess players. If you walk further you will pass by a renovated building of the Vice-Chancellor’s Office of the University of Szczecin. The avenue leads you straight to the City Office dating back to 1927. The left wing of the Office houses the Philharmonic Orchestra of Szczecin. Cross the gate which links the parts of the office and enter Jasne Blonia – an enormous green area, surrounded by hundred years old plane trees and two monuments: that of Pope John Paul II and the Monument of the Deeds of Poles (Pomnik Czynu Polakow – monumental three eagles which symbolise three generations of Poles). This is the end of our trip of Szczecin. Jasne Blonia crosses the largest city's park - Kasprowicza Park with Rusalka Lake and the Summer Theatre.Copyright © 2009 - All rights reserved