Świnoujście
Świnoujście
Świnoujście is an extremely interesting tourist point on the map not only of the Polish itself, but of the whole of Central Europe. First of all, it is the only town in Poland that is located on the archipelago, i.e. on the area of 44 islands! The city is divided into a tourist and residential district. You can get to Świnoujście by car, train or plane to Heringsdorf.
Świnoujście in the season is literally besieged by tourists from Polish and abroad (especially Germany and Scandinavia). Why is that? The reason is simple – Świnoujście is a place where you can not get bored!
History of Świnoujścia
The history of Świnoujście is extremely rich and diverse. Due to archaeological discoveries, it is known that the first tribes appeared in this area over 1000 years BC. The areas of Pomerania were settled by the Slavs in the VI-VII centuries after a great migration of peoples, while in 967 Mieszko I joined this area to Poland. Under the rule of Bolesław I the Brave, this area became independent. In the ninth century, this place gained fame as an important commercial point on the map of Europe – the parties to the transactions were mainly Slavs, Germans and Danes. At the turn of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, Pomerania became a fief of Denmark. In the seventeenth century, the mouth of river Świna was controlled by the imperial army, which decided to increase the fortifications in this area. In 1630, Swedish troops liberated the area from the rule of the imperial troops, which ended the more than 30-year war. The area from that moment until 1815 belonged to Sweden. Świnoujście was established in 1743 as a settlement north of the village of Świna. At that time, there was a very large development of this area. In 1824 the city officially became a resort, and in 1895 – a health resort. During World War II, there was a shipyard and a naval supply base here. Unfortunately, the city was largely destroyed during the Allied air raid in 1945. Three years later, the city was rebuilt and transformed into a fishing port. In the years 1950-1951, the GDR government handed over the water outlet to Poland, redefining the border with Germany.
How to get around Świnoujście?
The tourist part is located in the western part of Świnoujście – access from the Polish, therefore, requires a ferry crossing in Ognica, which is completely free. It is possible to get to Świnoujście directly by car without crossing the ferry, but it should be done from the German side. Soon, a tunnel will be finished, which will permanently connect both banks of Świnoujście.
It is worth mentioning that the ferry crossing is free of charge. It is best to move around the city by bike (Świnoujście has a well-adapted infrastructure) or by public transport. It is worth mentioning that crossing the ferry with a car is possible, but it usually takes a very long time (even several hours). In 2023, however, the opening of the tunnel is planned, which will solve this problem.
Port of Świnoujście
Located on the western area of the Baltic Sea, the Port of Świnoujście together with the Port of Szczecin form one of the largest port complexes of this type in Europe. The largest terminal in Poland has been built in Świnoujście, which accepts bulk cargoes, such as coal and ore for smelters both in our country, as well as in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In the Port of Świnoujście, there are also terminals for transhipment of railway wagons and semi-trailers, and a modern (put into operation in 2015) LNG terminal commonly referred to as a gas port. Cruise ships to Scandinavia and Denmark also regularly depart from the port of Świnoujście.
Windmill – symbol of Świnoujście
At the end of the Western Breakwater at the very mouth of river Świna to the Baltic Sea, there is Stawa Młyny, which is the symbol of Świnoujście. There is an amazing legend associated with the Windmill. It starts with the wives waiting in this place for the return of sailors after long cruises. They came back exhausted and aged. A woman named Alice was devastated by her husband's appearance and mourned it at night by the sea. The Old Miller, seeing this, ordered Alice to come with her husband the next day and ordered him to cover himself with mud, bathe in the sea and walk, and then the Old Miller invited him to the Windmill, from which he came out rejuvenated. The secrets of his treatments have never been revealed, however, tourists still come here to cover themselves with mud, walk and bathe in the sea!
Historical promenade
The historic Promenade in Świnoujście is the heart of this resort. There are numerous gastronomic establishments, cafes, pubs and disco halls, but also – a graduation tower with brine, which is a new attraction. Unlike most places of this type in Poland, the promenade in Świnoujście is a quiet place with stunning visual aspects.
Walking along the historical promenade, you will certainly appreciate the atmosphere created by a series of exquisite villas. Along its entire length, you will notice numerous small scenes intended for street artists. The city also took care of access to electricity in these places, e.g. to connect music equipment. Thus, in the season you will meet many musicians who also "contribute" to the unusual atmosphere of this place.
Health Promenade
In Świnoujście we will find the second promenade, which was built at the turn of 2019-2020, and the total cost of the investment amounted to almost PLN 20 million – however, you can see great use of these funds. The health promenade consists of three "roads", designed for: pedestrians, rollerbladers and cyclists. It was awarded the title of the best-developed space in a competition organised by the Marshal of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship.
The promenade impresses with its infrastructure – after all, it promotes physical activity! We will find an outdoor gym, playgrounds, as well as a recreational park. You can also look at an open and free palm house with theme gardens.
Beach in Świnoujście
The longest and widest beach in Poland – referred to by many as "Polish Miami". The width in some places reaches up to 200 metres. It is able to accommodate up to 400,000 people simultaneously. It is also worth mentioning that due to the low depth of the waters and "not mixing" with cold deep water due to the north-east winds – it is a beach with the warmest waters in Poland! The blue wave certificate testifies to the cleanliness of this place. Wide dunes, water to the horizon and gentle changes in altitude will undoubtedly be appreciated by all tourists visiting Świnoujście.
Lighthouse in Świnoujście
Few people know that the lighthouse in Świnoujście for some time was the highest lighthouse in the world! Despite the fact that higher buildings of this type have already been built, to this day, it remains the leader among the lighthouses built of brick. The building was put into use on December 1, 1857.
The highest lighthouse on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea is a must in every plan to visit Świnoujście!
Angel Fort, West Fort and Gerhard Fort
The fortifications in Świnoujście have an extremely rich history, which dates back to the seventeenth century. At the very beginning, they defended against the Swedes, then passed from the hands of the Prussians to the French, and finally played the role of modern artillery during World War II. Visiting 3 of the 4 preserved forts is undoubtedly a treat for history enthusiasts.
Angel Fort is located in the Spa Park. It takes the form of a rotunda with three floors, which is surrounded by an earth rampart. It owes its name to the similarity of the object to the Castel Sant'Angelo located in Rome. Inside there are unique exhibitions, including Viking Hall.
The Western Fort, in turn, was to protect against entering the port of Świnoujście. The facility has been rebuilt many times in connection with the stationing of various troops in it. It is certainly a place that every military fan should visit – numerous cannons or bombs make an amazing impression!
Gerhard's Fort is another of the three forts that are part of the Świnoujście Fortress. The most interesting attraction in this place is definitely the military training, which is conducted by an instructor as a Prussian military with a slightly "nasty" attitude towards visitors. Visitors during the game go through trials, in which they must prove that they are suitable for the army. However, there is nothing to be afraid of, because practically everyone manages to pass these attempts.
Spa Park in Świnoujście
The Spa Park in Świnoujście undoubtedly woos with its charm and allows you to relax during a health-promoting walk. It has an area of 40ha, and there are many types of trees on its territory, which are even over 150 years old. We will meet in it with many stone sculptures, e.g. Telesfor. The Spa Park belongs to the monuments of the West Pomeranian voivodeship.
The Spa Park is perfect for active relaxation in the form of long walks – away from the hustle and bustle of the crowded city. It is worth mentioning that the good lighting of the park allows you to explore it even at night. In the park, there will also be unusual benches made of... overturned trunks.