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History and facts:

A Slavic city founded in the first half of the 9th century near the mouth of the Oder River (Odra). In the 12th century it was a city republic ruled by the rich, gradually submitted to the dukes of Pomerania. In 1243 it was granted a full integral autonomy. In the 12th-16th centuries it was the main trade centre of West Pomerania (Pomorze Zachodnie). From 1713 it was ruled by the Kingdom of Prussia. During the World War II it was the strongest point of resistance in lower reaches of the Oder River. 65% of the city was destroyed as well as 95% of the harbor. After the war it was rebuilt and transferred to Poland in 1945.

Nowadays it is the capital city of West Pomeranian Voivodeship with population of about 418 000. It performs mainly two functions: harbor and industrial ones. It is the most important cultural and science centre of West Pomerania. A big communication junction. Near the city there are railway and road border crossings to Germany. International roads E65 and the A6 highway leading to Berlin are located here. In Goleniów, 33 km away, there is an airport. Szczecin along with Świnoujście is a very important seaport complex which has ferry connections to i.a. Scandinavia.

Location:

It is situated on Szczeciński Seashore on the Oder River, its eastern part, and also by lakes: Dąbie and Głębokie. It is distinguished by the great green lands, on the north-west side there is the Wkrzańska Forest (Puszcza Wkrzańska), and on the west - the Goleniowski Forest (Bory Goleniowski). In the neighbourhood, on the south side of the city there are the Beech Forest (Puszcza Bukowa) and the Szczeciński Landscape Park as well as the Beech Mountains (Góry Bukowe) which are often visited by townspeople and tourists.

Architecture:

Formerly it was the residence of the dukes of Pomerania. Nowadays the memento of the great past of the city is a grandiose building on the left bank of the Oder River - the Renaissance castle (rebuilt after war damage). Special attention should be paid to the urban complex of the Chrobry Embankment (Wały Chrobrego - 500 m long) with wonderful view of canals, seaport, Dąbie lake, the Maritime Museum, a marine heritage park, buildings of the Higher Maritime School and the Voivods Offices. The noticeable structures are parts of the city walls with the Maiden's Tower, also known as The Tower of Seven Coats (Baszta Siedmiu Płaszczy), the Gothic Loitz Family House, the Archdiocese Cathedral Basilica of St Jacob and numerous churches (i.a. the church of St. Peter and Paul, St Wojciech church) and palaces (i.a. the Palace of Pomeranian Landlords, Velthusen Palace). There is also the interesting Grunwaldzki Square with radial street system.