Stawa Młyny (Windmill Beacon)

Stawa Młyny (roughly "STAH-vah MWIH-nih", "the Mills beacon") is a white, 10-meter navigation mark shaped like a windmill at the tip of the western breakwater in Świnoujście, where the Świna River meets the Baltic Sea. It is the town's best-known landmark, featured in its official logo and on countless postcards. Walking out along the breakwater to the "windmill," ideally at sunset, is one of the top free things to do in Świnoujście.

Where it is

Świnoujście (German: Swinemünde) is Poland's westernmost seaside resort, right on the German border and about 100 km north of Szczecin; Berlin is around three hours away by car. The beacon stands on the western bank of the Świna (Usedom Island), at the eastern end of the town beach and just beyond the spa quarter.

History and purpose

The beacon was built in 1873–1874 while the shipping channel into the port was being modernized (some guides give other dates, such as 1877). It sits on the head of the western breakwater, which was built together with the eastern one in 1818–1829 and was about 1,030 m long when finished.

Despite its looks, it never ground any grain. It is a daymark: together with the Stawa Galeriowa beacon 522 m to the south, it forms a range line that guides ships into the harbor. It also carries a light – white, flashing on a 10-second cycle, 11 m above the water and visible for 17 nautical miles.

Fun facts

• The windmill appears in the official logo of Świnoujście.
• A local legend tells of an old miller whose cures made sailors young again.
• In 1976 it starred in the Polish film Latarnik (The Lighthouse Keeper); a small building and balcony were added for filming and later removed.
• It marks kilometer zero of the Polish section of the Velo Baltica bike route (EuroVelo 10 and 13) and the start of a cross-border promenade of almost 12 km to Ahlbeck and Bansin in Germany.

Visiting tips

You view the beacon from outside; it cannot be entered. Access is free and there are no opening hours. You reach the breakwater from the beach, and the walk takes just a few minutes, but the stone surface is uneven and can be slippery, so wear shoes with good grip.

It is most beautiful at sunset, and it is fun to watch ferries and ships pass close by on their way into port. Birders also come here to watch seabirds during migration and in winter.

In winter and during storms, waves can wash over the breakwater, so admire the beacon from the beach instead and follow any local warnings.

Is it worth it?

Definitely. It is a short, flat walk suitable for families (keep children close, as there are no railings) and for dog walkers. Combine it with a bike ride along the promenade to the German resorts of Ahlbeck, Heringsdorf and Bansin.

Nearby

A few hundred meters inland are Fort Zachodni (West Fort) with its fortress museum and the round Fort Anioła (Angel's Fort). From the end of the breakwater you can see, across the river, the Świnoujście Lighthouse, Poland's tallest, and Fort Gerhard, both reachable by boat from the town center.