Castles

Ducal Castle

On Wzgórze Zamkowe (Castle Hill), right by the Odra river, stands the Renaissance residence of the Gryfici (Griffins), the dynasty that ruled the Duchy of Pomerania. Destroyed in 1945, the castle was rebuilt with such care that it once again looks like a residence from the dynasty's heyday, and its walls now serve as one of Szczecin's main cultural centres.

The Griffins and Boguslaw X the Great

For centuries the castle was the heart of the Duchy of Pomerania, and its most recognisable master remains Boguslaw X the Great, a Renaissance ruler whose name one of the main halls bears. It was under the Griffins that the castle took on the Renaissance form which post-war reconstruction restored.

A castle still regaining its full shape

Strictly speaking, the rebuilding has never finished: the reconstruction of the northern wing (second stage) is under way, along with the modernisation of the courtyards and the redevelopment of the terraces — a rare sight on a European scale, as the castle recovers before visitors' eyes. In the northern wing you can see the permanent exhibition "The Secret of the Griffins”.

What goes on inside

The building houses Kino Zamek and the Teatr Piwnica przy Krypcie theatre, while the Zamkowe Tarasy lead walkers down to the Odra itself — the view from the terraces is one of the most pleasant ways to end a visit. The programme is rounded out by exhibitions, concerts and educational events.

Practical tips

The castle stands at ul. Korsarzy 34, in the very centre of Szczecin. Allow about an hour for the courtyards and exhibitions; check current opening hours and ticket prices at zamek.szczecin.pl.