Jasne Błonia

Jasne Błonia (the Bright Meadows) Square, named after John Paul II, is an extensive green area north of the City Hall building in Szczecin. It was created in 1925-1927 and is now entered in the heritage register. It has 213 London plane trees.

Creation of the square

The green area was laid out on land belonging to the Quistorp family, and at first it was called Quistorp-Aue. Avenues were laid along the sides of the lawn, with flower beds in the middle, and plane trees were planted along them. According to the Visit Szczecin website, the land of the neighbouring park was donated to the city by Johannes Quistorp on condition that it should serve residents for recreation. The square is rectangular, and on the north it was closed off by a street that after the war was named after Piotr Skarga.

The largest group of plane trees in Poland

There are 213 London plane trees here, which according to the Visit Szczecin website and the description of the square is the largest group of this species in Poland. The trees form rows on both sides of the lawn. The avenue on the north-west to south-east axis leads on to Kasprowicz Park, and then to Arkonka Forest.

Monuments and a place of large gatherings

In 1946 mass ceremonies called “We Keep Watch on the Oder” were held here, and in 1959 a meeting of residents with Nikita Khrushchev. The Polish Deed Monument of 1979 shows three eagles taking flight, symbolising three generations of Poles taking part in the rebuilding of Szczecin. When John Paul II visited Szczecin on 11 June 1987, he celebrated Mass on the square, attended by hundreds of thousands of the faithful, and the field altar stood next to the Polish Deed Monument.

In 1995, in memory of the visit, the square was given the Pope's name and his monument was set up. It does not stand on the site of the altar but on the opposite side of the square, near the City Hall.

Practical information

• The square is bounded by Michała Ogińskiego, Karola Szymanowskiego and Stanisława Moniuszki streets.
• It is about 300 m to the Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic and about 800 m to the former synagogue.
• The square is open to everyone.