LOCATION
A city in West Pomerania, located on the border of Drawskie Lake District and Szczecineckie Lake District, between three lakes: Trzesiecko, Wielimie and Wilczkowo. You can get to the city by car or by train. 53°42’36.2″N 16°41’35.3″E
SCENIC CHARACTER
The name of the city, New Szczecin, referred to Szczecin, the capital of the Pomeranian Duchy. Due to its location – surrounded by three lakes, at the edge of the Pomeranian Duchy near a border with the Teutonic state – the city was of great defensive importance. The first seat of the Pomeranian dukes built in this place was more of a knight’s watch than a ducal castle. The building of a huge castle by the Teutons in the nearby Człuchów was a challenge for the Pomeranian dukes who soon expanded their castle in Szczecinek. In that castle, the Teutonic master Ulrich von Jungingen asked Pomeranian dukes for support before the Battle of Grunwald. The castle was rebuilt many times. The most important person of Griffins for Szczecinek is duchess Jadwiga Brunswick, wife of Pomeranian prince Ulric. Although she only stayed in Szczecinek during the Thirty Years’ War time, the Duchess became an important person in the city’s history (and Pomeranian education), funding in 1640 the middle school and scholarships for the most talented students. She also funded a hospital and many valuable items for the church of St. Nicholas. Due to that fact, council members did not respect her last will about burial in Szczecinek and she was buried in Darłowo instead. One of the legends says she wanders around the streets of the city as “white lady”. Another place associated with the Griffins dynasty is the Marientron Hill, on which the Pomeranian dukes in the 14th century founded the Augustinian monastery. Here is where Princess Elżbieta was buried, wife of Bogusław V and daughter of the Polish King Casimir the Great. The building fell into ruins. During World War II, this place was turned into a Nazi concentration camp for women.
Today, in the rebuilt Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle, there is a Conference Center with gastronomy and hotel. You can learn more about the history of the Griffins dynasty, the Duchy of Pomerania and duchess Jadwiga in the nearby Regional Museum, but when it comes to the Augustinian monastery and princess Elżbieta, they remained only as memories.
ATTRACTIONS
Lakes are a great attraction of Szczecinek. The city in its coat of arms has a black princely griffin on a golden background (Kashubian griffin) and a silver fish – probably a sturgeon, inhabiting the waters of Szczecin’s lakes. Next to the Castle, one of the longest lifts for wakeboarding and water skiing in Europe awaits for lovers of being active. There is a bike rental network in the city and a water tram runs on the Trzesiecko lake – one of the tram’s name refers to the duchess Jadwiga, adored by the inhabitants of Szczecinek. In the summer there are many sports and cultural events taking place in the city.
