Przełomy Dialogue Centre Museum

The Przełomy Dialogue Centre is a branch of the National Museum in Szczecin on Solidarity Square. It tells the story of the most recent history of Szczecin and West Pomerania, from the city's incorporation into Poland in 1945 to the changes of 1989. The exhibition pavilion was opened to the public on 25 January 2016, and most of it is hidden underground.

The building under the square

The architectural competition was announced on 30 June 2009. From 55 entries the jury chose the design by the KWK Promes studio of Robert Konieczny from Katowice. Construction began in March 2012. The design keeps the square open, with almost the whole volume below ground level. An external ramp leads visitors from the square down to the main entrance, and the lobby can also be entered directly from Św. Piotra i Pawła Street.

The building won first place in the “Culture” category at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin in 2016, and the festival's highest distinction, the title World Building of the Year 2016. In the same year it was also named the best public space in Europe in the European Prize for Urban Public Space competition, ex aequo with a Spanish project from Caldes de Montbui.

The exhibition on the turning points

The exhibition is built around the theme of “breakthroughs” (przełomy): moments when society rose up to resist the authorities. According to the premises described in the Wikipedia entry, it covers, among other things, the border, migration and the Szczecin Shipyard after 1945, the events of December 1970 and January 1971, August 1980 and martial law, and August 1988 and the year 1989. The museum also runs temporary exhibitions, museum lessons, conferences and an oral history archive.

December 1970

Solidarity Square was one of the sites of demonstrations and fighting in December 1970. The museum writes about the tragedy of the 16 people who died in clashes with the army and the militia. Part of the exhibition is devoted to these events, and a monument commemorating the dead stands on the square above the museum.

Practical information

• Address: Solidarity Square 1, Old Town.
• Hours according to the museum's website: closed on Monday, Tuesday and Sunday 10:00-16:00, Wednesday-Saturday 10:00-18:00. Separate rules apply on public holidays and are given on the museum's website, so check them before your visit.
• Tickets are bought at the ticket offices of the branches of the National Museum in Szczecin.
• The Royal Gate stands by the square.
• A few hundred metres further on rises the Ducal Castle.