Stargard Town Walls

Stargard's town walls (say "STAR-gard") are one of the most impressive medieval fortification systems in Poland and a national Historic Monument since 2010. More than a kilometre of stone-and-brick wall survives, together with towers and gates around the old town on the Ina River. A walk takes one to two hours and costs nothing, because you see most of it from outside. If you wonder what to see in Stargard, start with the walls, then continue to the collegiate church and the town hall, about 35 km from Szczecin.

Where is Stargard?

Stargard (full name Stargard Szczeciński; German: Stargard in Pommern) lies in West Pomerania, about 35 km east of Szczecin, 70 km from Gorzów Wielkopolski and 145 km from Berlin as the crow flies. It sits on an important railway line, so a train from Szczecin is the easiest way. The Pyrzycka Gate stands at the end of ul. Mieszka I. Parking is not organised in one place by the walls, so decide on the spot.

A short history

A stronghold existed near today's Białogłówka tower as early as the 10th century, surrounded by earth-and-timber ramparts. After the town received Magdeburg law in 1243 and Lübeck law in 1292, stone-and-brick walls were built in the second half of the 13th century; this stage was finished in 1298. From the early 15th to the mid-16th century the walls were raised and rebuilt because of the threat from Brandenburg and the arrival of firearms. The total length was then 2,260 m. In the 19th century, when the walls lost their defensive value, more than half were pulled down and about 1,040 m remains. By a presidential decree of 17 September 2010, the walls and the Collegiate Church were declared a Historic Monument.

What to see

The best-preserved section is by the Pyrzycka Gate, with 13th-century walls of fieldstone that reach up to 6 m. The gate is the largest of the gates to the old town, with a pointed-arch passage and a metal portcullis. The Mill Gate was a water gate on the Ina; it is Gothic, and its two towers carry the "Stargard blend" brick motif. In 1454, during the so-called Wheat War, the townspeople hung chains from the Ina on this gate. Also look for the Wałowa Gate and the Świętojańska Gate.

Among the towers, Morze Czerwone (Red Sea), Tkaczy (Weavers), Jeńców (Prisoners) and Białogłówka stand out. Sources differ on how many towers survive (from four to nine), so do not rely on a single list. In Piastowski Park stands the Basteja, a branch of the Museum of Archaeology and History with a four-storey exhibition on the town's history; the building was rebuilt in 2013.

How long to plan

The best way to see the walls is on foot, for instance from the Pyrzycka Gate on ul. Mieszka I to Piastowski Park and on to the Mill Gate. Plan 90 minutes to two hours with photo stops and another hour for the Basteja exhibition. The Pyrzycka Gate is sometimes opened during events such as the Museum Night in May 2026, but regular access to interiors should be checked with the museum.

Practical information (as of October 2026)

• Walls: accessible from outside all year, free.
• Basteja and museum: check hours and tickets at muzeum-stargard.pl, phone +48 91 578 38 35 (international format); the Basteja is at Park Piastowski 1, while the museum's main building is at Rynek Staromiejski 2-4.
• Gate and tower interiors: access is unconfirmed, and not all are open to visitors.

There is no single official website for the walls, and information about the interiors comes from different sources that disagree, so confirm entry with the museum. English-language signage is not confirmed.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, if you like medieval fortifications. The walls are free, easy to reach from Szczecin and combine well with the collegiate church and the town hall in a half-day trip. They are best in late afternoon light or in autumn.