TRAFO Center for Contemporary Art

Before you come, use the link below to see Szczecin from above, so you could know better, where to go once you get here! You may also use VR to make the experience more realistic. http://www.szczecin360.com

Anyone entering Szczecin by bridges over the Oder River can see the towering red-brick gothic Cathedral and an elegant, pale silhouette of a Renaissance castle with green towers, which used to be the seat of the dukes of the Griffins dynasty who ruled the Duchy of Pomerania. The Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle has five wings and two courtyards. Acting as a cultural institution it organizes an array of cultural events: concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions, conferences and meetings to popularize science, as well as to spread knowledge about the history of West Pomerania. The largest wing houses an Opera. In the wing that housed a mint in the olden days one can find today Cultural and Tourist Information Centre. There is a panoramic terrace on the rooftop of the northern wing from where splendid views can be appreciated. The wing’s basement houses a Vault with sarcophaguses of six princes. The Duke Boguslaw X hall, which used to be a princely chapel, is now a concert hall with a polychromatic ceiling decorated in Renaissance style. A 17th century astronomical clock is the Castle’s special tourist attraction. Also a room dedicated to Eilhard Lubinus and the Witches’ Cell are definitely worth a visit.

Łasztownia (ger. Lastadie) is located in the very heart of Szczecin, vis-a-vis the Chrobry Embankment. It is a river island whose history stratches back to the Middle Ages. After the Allied air raids of 1942 - 1944, most of the buildings on Łasztownia were destroyed. Currently, Łasztownia is one of the most interesting (and most mysterious) places in Szczecin. One particularly interesting spot is the part of the Old Town Wharf situated right next to the historic cranes, affectionately dubbed the "cronosaurs". Following the renovation works, they have regained their former splendour. Symbols of the port of Szczecin, these historical cranes from 1929 are most beautiful during the night.

“Art Depot” in Szczecin is an old tram depot which was built in 1912 with reinforced concrete. It has a sloping roof and a front glass wall with a clock. Since 2006 it has been one of the biggest Polish museums of a technological profile. The collection of almost 100 antique vehicles that was bought from Leszek Liszewski is the most precious. There, you can find such curiosities as micro-car Smyk or the one and only SUV version of Fiat 126p called in Polish “maluch” (tiny). Moreover, there are trams, buses (that you can enter), motorcycles, bikes,non-typical vehicles, electronic, telecommunication and household equipment and many more.

After the 1147 crusade against the Polabian Slavs, Szczecin became a place of German colonisation. St Jacob’s Church, intended for German colonists, was consecrated in 1187. It was founded by Beringer, a Bramberg pilgrim, and given to the custody of the Benedictine brothers from the St Michael Monastery in Bramberg. The construction of the brick church continued for dozens of years, starting in the middle of the 13th Century from a three-aisle basilica with two spires and a basilica-like presbytery, surrounded with a by-pass and a circle of chapels. The altars were founded by the Szczecin guilds and companies. The presbytery reconstruction started in 1370. The basilica frame was changed into the hall frame with a circle of chapels between the interior buttresses. At the outset of the 15th Century Henry Brunsberg built additional chapels on the southern aisle, decorating them with impressive ornaments made of tiled moulders. In 1456 the southern spire collapsed during a hurricane, destroying the basilica corpus. During reconstruction, additional chapels were erected in the northern section, together with only one spire in the western part, as a result of which the corpus was changed from the basilica frame into a hall church frame. The reconstruction work was completed in 1503. In the last 25 years of the 17th Century, the interior section was reconstructed in the Baroque style. The St Jacob bell, constructed by Wawrzyniec Köckeritz, the Szczecin bell-founder, was placed in the church tower. The altar was created by sculptor Erhard Löffler, and the painting, entitled “Taken down the cross”, was made by Lengereich. The organ front was sculptured by the Amsterdam master Van der Linden. While assembling the organs with a large scale of sounds, advice was provided by master Buxtehude from Lübeck. The capacity of this instrument was wonderfully utilised by organist and composer Karl Loewe, residing in Szczecin in 1820-1866. The church was badly damaged during the 16 August 1944 shelling. Its reconstruction did not start until 1972 and has continued until today. The official consecration of the cathedral was performed on 31 May 1982 by Kazimierz Majdański, the Szczecin-Kamieniec Bishop. The status of Cathedral Basilica was given by Pope John Paul II on 23 May 1983, and the status of Metropolitan Basilica on 25 March 1992. Considering the ongoing additions to the rich furnishings of the church, we suggest that you buy a current version of the guidebook while visiting this astonishing place. The tower is an element of the St. James Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral. An observation deck is available for tourist all year long. The entrance to the terrace is only via a lift.

The National Museum in Szczecin was established in 1945 and is situated in a beautiful, old building. Here you can see exhibitions including ancient and modern works of art as well as ethnographic and archaeological objects.

First and original Pasztecik that has been making Paszteciki (Pastry's) since 1969. It is still made by the same recipe since then up to today and it is still one of favorite fast food for Szczecinian's

The first mention of the wooden market hall, which was also the venue for the deliberations of the court and the meetings of the city councillors called “theatrum”, dates back to 1245. The current Gothic town hall hails from mid-15th Century, with Henryk Brunsberg considered to be its builder. The richly-decorated façade featuring glazed stones adds a painterly style to the structure. The building has arcades on its south wall, which used to play host to court proceedings on summer days. The City Council convened here twice a week. From the 14th Century the resolutions of the City Council were announced twice a year, i.e. on 1 May and 29 September. As some of them were quite peculiar, it is no wonder that such announcements sometimes left the city in tumult. Examples included the introduction of the anti-Hussite tax in 1428 and the raising of the prices of spirits in 1616. Less severe regulations were e.g. the resolution from 1418 against calumniators and rumourmongers slandering “lords, dukes, knights, squires, ladies, girls, priests, and vassals...”, or one law from 1558 which limited the luxury and excess during wedding celebrations, baptisms, and funerals. From 5 to 13 December 1570 the town hall hosted a Peace Congress ending the Northern Seven Years' War between Sweden and Denmark. After the damage suffered during the Brandenburg sieges, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style and served its purpose until the City Council was moved to the New Town Hall in 1879. Reconstructed again after the War in 1975 as the National Museum, it houses exhibitions dedicated to Szczecin’s past.

Was built in the mid-15th century, replacing an earlier wooden construction. It’s wall are decorated with terracotta sculptures of Szczecin townspeople, in the interior there is wooden ceiling dating back to the early 18th century covered with paintings depicting Biblical scenes.

The tower is an element of the St. James Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral. An observation deck is available for tourist all year long. The entrance to the terrace is only via a lift. Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 10.00-19.00 Friday-Sunday 10.00-20.00 Visiting the cathedral tower outside the opening hours (minimum 10 people) is possible by prior arrangement by phone or email with the head of the facility: Dorian Sierek tel. 501 858 223, email: kierownik@katedra.szczecin.pl Ticket prices: normal 10 PLN / 2.5 Euro concession 6 PLN / 1.5 Euro (children and young people studying up to 25 years of age on presentation of a valid school or student ID card) group 8 PLN / 2 Euro (for groups of over 20 people) Children under 7 - free admission. Minors should be under the care of an adult. Exemption from fees is available to carers of organized groups.

The church is situated in the shadow of the cathedral. The one of the oldest building in Szczecin. Built by Grey Friars in the 14 th century. It is worth to see and visit. Its history is very interesting and the church hides many secrets. There are old gravestone plates and parts of old paintings on the ceiling. The temple is one of the most valuable monuments in Pomerania region which presents gothic style.

The church is almost one hundred percent funded by the parishioners and Orthodox believers from abroad. It is the first one built in Western Pomerania region. The temple was built in a shape of Greek cross. It can accommodate approximately 500 people. It is 26m long, 16m wide and 25 high. Construction of a new church began on 19th November 2003.

You can see Szczecin from the old tram, which ride through city every summer Sunday. While a tour you can see the most interesting places and monuments in Szczecin. The Tourist tram line "0" is operated by historical wagons type N and 4N. Tickets 3,5zł and 2,5zł available from the conductor on the tram. Children up to 4 years old free of charge. The tram rides take place every Sunday in July and August at 14:35 and 15:59 (start at the main railway station- Dworzec Główny tram stop). Places and monuments worth to see during riding: 1. Main Railway Station 2. Monument with the Anchor 3. Harbour Gate 4. Neo-Renaissance Post Office No. 2 5. Building of the National Museum and 13 Muse's Club 6. Diet's Palace 7. Royal Gate 8. Żeromski Park 9. Pazim Complex 10. Grunwaldzki Square 11. Piastów Avenue and Jagiellońska Street 12. Former Hospital Complex 13. Tram Depot at Piotra Skargi Street 14. Wojska Polskiego Avenue 15. West Pomeranian University of Technology (ZUT) 16. "Pomorzany"- Typical Urban Estates of the 70s and 80s of the 20th century 17. Bosman Brewery 18. Gasworks 19. Tram Depot at Kolumba Street

Szczecin's Underground Tourist Routes offer guided tours in the shelters from World War II. The former secret underground route is fascinating and a great choice for everyone who is looking for a thrilling experience.

Central Cementary in Szczecin is almost 170 hectares big and it is an architectural park masterpiece and a monument of European class. The masters of garden and gravestone design had shown their craftsmanship. Unique and vanguard gravestones are embedded in the vast greenery of beautiful park. The necropolis was opened in 1901 and it is the biggest in Poland and the third in Europe. In the competition called „Seven New Wonders of Poland” organized by National Geographic magazine it took the 5th place. Two routes are marked there: historical and dendrological one.

Jasna Błonia Square Jana Pawła II is a wide green house located by the Szczecin Municipal Office. It's a great place to rest: you can walk, ride a bike or sit comfortably on a bench or on the lawn. The park was built in the years 1925-27, it was designed with rows of maple plane trees on the sides of a wide lawn with ground-based flower arrangements in the middle. It is the largest concentration of this species of trees in Poland, of which over 200 are growing here. Computational continuity is ensured by an alley stretching towards Kasprowicz Park and further to the Arkonian Forest.

The complex of industrial buildings by the Odra River in Kolumba 86 street (near "Zachodniopomorskie Stowarzyszenie Rozwoju Gospodarczego" building's) is a unique place in our city. Historic buildings such as old yeast factory or alcohol manufacture were once the pride of industrial district reaching Tama Pomorzańska street. You can have the impression that the buildings shoot straight from the water and with the little help of imagination you can see them for example as restored hotels. The city council wants to rebuild this place as Szczecin has the potencial to become so called Venice of the North.

Miedzyodrze is a region of flood waters and wetlands that spreads south of Szczecin bounded by the two arms of the Oder River – the Eastern and Western Oder. This area is situated within the Lower Oder Valley Landscape Park, so it is prohibited to sail there by boats with engines. Silence, calm and clear water makes Miedzyodrze a paradise for water birds, beavers, otters and rare plant species. For those eager for adventures and communing with wild and unspoiled nature the best way to see this region is by kayak, which makes it possible to discover its wild and intimate corners. While kayaking through a picturesque network of winding canals, you pass fields of forget-me-nots, kingcups, irises, ferns and hundreds of beautifully blossoming plants. From below duckweed, the limbs of dead trees stick out. Among dense bulrush you can look out for about 200 species of birds that have their hatcheries here, including herons, cormorants, sea eagles, buzzards and kingfishers. The winding flood waters of Międzyodrze are the result of human activity. The remains of regulation works from the beginning of the 19th Century such as forgotten sluices, pumping stations, embankments, etc. make a huge impression. Tours around Miedzyodrze are organised each week from the first Sunday in June till the middle of September, by „Miedzyodrze” Stanica Wodna (near Dziewoklicz beach). It is also possible to rent kayaks there for individual tours. Stanica is managed by the Regional Division of Szczecin PTTK – Tel. 091 434 56 24

Kayak routes are an original project developed and conducted by Robert Filipski (Wiking Szczecin) since 2009. Trips have become a tourist product of Szczecin, which was attended by over 3,000 tourists getting to know our city and Western Pomerania. This is not only canoeing on the Oder River, but also an interesting and original form of visiting Szczecin and Western Pomerania with a guide kayak or individually. The Tall Ship Races Sailing Rally crews, participants of international conferences, youth from EU projects sailed on our routes. It happened more than once that guests from Warsaw, Poznań, Katowice came by train especially for the trip. And all this to look and explore Szczecin and the surrounding area, from a kayak perspective. And that these are beautiful views, you can check for yourself by participating in trips. We service all areas of Szczecin and the surrounding area within a 100km radius. In other places we have partner bases cooperating with us. There are also kayak rental next to beach on Głębokie Lake.

Łasztownia (ger. Lastadie) is located in the very heart of Szczecin, vis-a-vis the Chrobry Embankment. It is a river island whose history stretches back to the Middle Ages. After the Allied air raids of 1942– 1944, most of the buildings on Łasztownia were destroyed. Currently, Łasztownia is one of the most interesting (and most mysterious) places in Szczecin. One particularly interesting spot is the part of the Old Town Wharf situated right next to the historic cranes, affectionately dubbed the ”cranosaurs”. Following recent renovation works, they have regained their former splendour. Symbols of the port of Szczecin, these historical cranes from 1929 are at their most beautiful during the cyclic events organised on the Oder river.

Cinema Commercial films are evaded. Yet, it is a cinema on a high-level. Or even two levels. Films can be watched in a soft armchair in cozy, historical room or at the table in “Kiniarnia” which is 2 floors below It a retrostyle room with a jabbering projector and a piano from 1898. You cannot buy popcorn at a bar but a glass of good wine. Seems like atmosphere in an old cinema? It is even better as it is the oldest cinema in the world which has been operating in the same place continuously since 1907. Before you enter the cinema please look at the glasscase, there is a certificate from The World Guinness Book. The movies are shown in their original languages (with Polish subtitles), which is beneficial for all tourists visiting the city.

Artisans who want to produce original “Stettiner Waren Szczecin goods“ can now aspire for the certificate and seal. The characteristic white ceramics have the opportunity to again become the showcase of our region. The Department of Promotion and Information of the City Office in Szczecin, at the request of the City Culture Centre, has designed a word and device trademark and has begun to work on its legal protection. Towards the end of 2009, an application was submitted to the Polish Patent Office to protect the trademark “STETTINER WAREN SZCZECIN GOODS” and the expression “STETTINER WAREN”. As a result, the City of Szczecin gained the right to use these trademarks. They were given to the City Culture Centre in Szczecin, where, pursuant to the decision of the Director, a Certifying Council was established, with the authority to produce and sell original Szczecin Goods. The originals of Szczecin's white ceramics are on display in the National Museum building in the Chrobry Embankment. Stettiner Waren Certificates Decisions to award the certificate are made by the Certifying Council established by the Director of the City Culture Centre in Szczecin, which works on the basis of Council Rules and Regulations. The certificates and seal to label goods are given to those artisans who produce ceramics according to tradition and history, maintaining their high artistic and utilitarian value. The application form for certificates allowing commencement of the production of ceramics under the label “Szczecin Goods” is available at the City Culture Centre in Szczecin at ul. Goleniowska 67 and on its website www.mok.szczecin.pl. All information about ceramics, the chances of being awarded the certificate, and where to buy Szczecin Goods, is available at the City Culture Centre in Szczecin – tel. 91/46 91 639, e-mail mok.szczecin@wp.pl.

Baltica Wellness & Spa, the center located in the heart of Szczecin is an unusual place. Here you can go for both a beauty treatment and spend an amazing Spa weekend for two, using among others attractive cosmetics or a wide range of massages. The three-level center has a unique atmosphere, and a well-qualified, professional staff provides the highest quality services. Baltica Wellness & Spa is a modern City-Spa located in the very center of Szczecin, in the Pazim business and entertainment complex. It is the largest facility of this type in Western Pomerania. On three floors, biological regeneration is offered (e.g. aromatherapy, massages, cosmetics, Spa rituals) as well as medical diagnostics, prophylaxis and rehabilitation (e.g. magnetotherapy, electrotherapy, kinesitherapy, hydrotherapy). The focal point of the resort is the Wellness Zone - a fabulous place for baths, saunas and a jacuzzi with the only snow grotto in Szczecin. The center also has a separate Fitness Zone. The offer is complemented by luxury cosmetic services, L’Or - hair salons, Spa mini shop and Café Baltica - a perfect place to relax after a series of treatments, a business meeting or with friends. Guests of the Center have the opportunity to take advantage of various occasional packages, stay packages and health programs, including for athletes or pregnant women. Baltica Wellness & Spa is located in the very center of Szczecin, but the atmosphere here is far from the hustle and bustle. The resort is directly connected to the exclusive Radisson Blu hotel, while the entire complex is well connected to all parts of the city. Baltica Wellness & Spa is the first of its kind and the largest spa center in West Pomerania.

The casino is located in the Pazim office building. The casino's offer includes high-class classic slot machines, 3D slot games, hot spot games, fruit machines, roulette tables, poker and Black Jack. Players can also use the bar.

Kids Arena is a family theme park located in the city center. This location allows quick and easy access by public transport from almost every corner of Szczecin.

Stara Rzeźnia In Łasztownia „Old Slaughterhouse” is a building once belonging to the industrial meat complex on the Łasztownia Island. It was a multipurpose cow-house for the stock up to 220 heads. You will find here a restaurant, conference-projection room, bookstore and the Szczecin Gallery with a place for children. „Old Slaughterhouse” promotes and disseminates initiatives and projects related to culture, arts, artistic performance and education. We popularize seaport and maritime traditions of Szczecin. Not far away you will find modern Yacht Port with a two-level, 100-meter long drawbridge for vehicles and pedestrians that connects Lasztownia Isle and Grodzka Island.

Museum of happiness in Szczecin. Be Happy Museum is a place where dreams come true and the imagination turns into a sweet and colorful experience. This is a place where illusion stuns and laughs to tears. Dozens of scenes for taking photos, Marshmallow foam pool, banana swing, magic unicorn and much more. Our mission is to cultivate happiness, share good memories and make the world even sweeter! Visit us and share your best photos with the world! Totally Instagram-Friendly Attraction!