Twin City Szczecin
Zamek Ksit Pomorskich
©Stadt Szczecin
This picture may not be reused (All rights reserved).

Szczecin lies in the north-west of Poland on the mouth of the river Oder, which runs into the Baltic Sea via the Szczecin lagoon. Major European transit routes have intersected here for centuries – from east to west as well as from the north via the Baltic Sea to the south of Europe. A thousand-year-old tradition and a chequered history have left their marks on the historical capital of Pomerania. During its time as a member of the Hanseatic Union, Szczecin became one of the largest port towns and a major trading centre on the Baltic Sea. The town experienced rapid economic development at the turn of the 19/20th centuries. Capital from all over Europe poured into the town and the port, the marine industry and the world transit sector boomed. After World War II, rebuilding started with the settlement of people from all over Poland and from West Pomerania. Although the appearance of the town changed, its unique character with its splendid Art Nouveau architecture and parks remained intact.

Today Szczecin is the capital of the “West Pomerania” district created after a district reform. After Gdansk, the port is the country’s second-largest seaport. It is vital for goods transport to the Upper Silesia industrial area, the country’s largest conurbation. The steel industry there requires iron ore which is imported via Szczecin- Œwinoujœcie, where it is loaded onto barges. The finished steel products are transported back in the opposite direction.

As this brief introduction to our twin town of Szczecin makes clear, there are many parallels with Bremerhaven. They include its geographical location on the coast, its major seaport and the associated cargo handling activities. These common features, efforts to promote inter-cultural understanding and the opening of the border led to our twinning with Szczecin on 16 October 1990.

While the shipyards in Bremerhaven currently face a difficult situation, Szczecin is now a major shipbuilding location. The “Stocznia Szczecinska Nowa” shipyard, with a workforce of some 10,000, is the largest in Europe.

Szczecin is Poland’s seventh-largest city, covers an area of approx. 301 m² and has 411,900 inhabitants. The distance between Szczecin and Bremerhaven is approx. 395 km.

Cargo handling at Szczecin’s port is increasing steadily, and along with the world-renowned repair shipyards as well as a large number of smaller and medium-sized companies, the sector provides jobs for a lot of people. Furthermore, the city is home to companies in the food industry, mechanical engineering, paper, textile and chemical industries, transport, construction and telecommunications. The service sector is also increasingly gaining in importance.

There are busy ferry services from Œwinoujœcie to Scandinavia, which attract 740,000 passengers each year.

The Town Hall in the old town was built after the granting of town rights in 1243. Today, after a chequered history and many conversions, the building now houses the National Museum. The cellar is home to a cosy restaurant.

In the 1980’s, the Renaissance-style castle was rebuilt after being almost completely destroyed in World War II. In summer, the courtyard provides an ideal venue for open-air concerts.

Viele größere Veranstaltungen finden im Bereich der Waly Chrobrego (Hakenterasse) statt. Sie ist benannt nach Hermann Haken (Bürgermeister 1878 bis 1907) beziehungsweise nach König Boleslaw I Chrobry (erster polnischer König).

Large events are often held at the Waly Chrobrego (Haken Terrace). It is named after Hermann Haken (mayor from 1878 to 1907) and after King Boleslav / Chrobry (the first king of Poland).

Each year, crowds of visitors come for the May Festival in the first weekend in May, or to picnic on the banks of the Oder.Other popular events include:
Szczecin and friends – a presentation of the twin towns, or the Baltic Sea days over the weekend at the end of June (or the beginning of July) – a major event with lots of music, entertainment and a ships’ parade.

Szczecin’s other twin towns are:

Greifswald in Germany www.greifswald.de
Berlin Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg in Germany www.friedrichshain-kreuzberg.de
Lübeck in Germany www.luebeck.de
Esbjerg in Denmark www.esbjerg.dk
Malmö in Sweden www.malmo.se
Murmañsk in Russia www.murmansk.com
Saint Louis in USA www.stlouis-mo.gov


Contact language: English

Address

City Administration Szczecin
Pl. Armii Krajowej 1
70-456 Szczecin
Poland

Contact

Mrs Olga Olszewska
Office of the City President of Szczecin
 +48 91 4860815
 +48 91 4245120
 olga.olszewska@um.szczecin.pl

Website

www.szczecin.eu