Castles: Szczecin

Castles in Szczecin: the ducal castle above the Oder, a Gothic tower beside it and four palaces of the Old Town within easy walking distance.

Szczecin has one true castle, and around it cluster several former residences and grand buildings that listings place under the same tag. All six places lie in the Old Town, close together, so you can see them in a single afternoon. The castle and palaces tell of the age of the Pomeranian dukes and of the later story of the city.

What can you see on Castle Hill in Szczecin?

On Castle Hill start with the castle itself and the tower, the best known stop on the list. A few minutes of walking separate the two.

The Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes stands above the Oder at Korsarzy 34 and was the seat of the Griffins, rulers of the Duchy of Pomerania. It was rebuilt after the war, and its walls now hold cultural institutions, a ducal crypt and a viewing tower. Two articles take the story further: Castle Hill in Szczecin before the castle: a stronghold, a fishing settlement and a temple and How Barnim III's stone house became a Renaissance castle.

Right next door, at Panieńska 47, rises the Maiden Tower (Baszta Panieńska), also nicknamed the Tower of the Seven Cloaks. This Gothic structure of the fourteenth century belonged to the defensive walls and was reconstructed in 1964. Many see it as a symbol of Szczecin.

Which Old Town palaces are worth seeing?

Four palaces stand around Orła Białego Square and Staromłyńska Street, so the visit comes down to a short walk. All can be viewed from outside, and some now house museums and colleges.

At Orła Białego Square 3 stands the Ionic Palace, a neoclassical building whose name comes from its Ionic pilasters, not from an owner. Since 2021 it has belonged to the Academy of Art. On the corner of the same square stands the Velthusen Palace, raised in the late 1770s. Wine was once sold there and pianos made, and since 1963 pupils have studied music inside.

At Żołnierza Polskiego Square 2 you will find the Palace under the Heads, a neoclassical building that once served as the fortress commandant's seat. Today it shelters an art museum and a cultural club. On Staromłyńska at number 27 you find the Palace of the Pomeranian Estates' Diet, a Baroque edifice of 1726-1729 that today houses part of a museum.

How do you plan a walk around the castle and palaces?

Simplest is to start at the castle, go down to the tower, then turn towards Orła Białego Square and Staromłyńska. The whole walk takes about two hours with a visit to one museum.

Along the way you can add more stops: the overview of castles in the region shows longer trips, and things to do in Szczecin points to places nearby. For the region's family castles read Family castles: the Tuczno and Resko circle.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a castle in Szczecin?

Yes, the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes on Castle Hill above the Oder. It was the seat of the Griffins, and today it holds cultural institutions, a ducal crypt and a viewing tower.

Why do the palaces in Szczecin carry the castles tag?

Because they stand next to the castle and together form a group of former residences in the Old Town. Only one place on the list is a castle in the strict sense.

Which palace in Szczecin houses a museum?

Two: the Palace under the Heads, with its art museum, and the Palace of the Pomeranian Estates' Diet, which holds a museum branch.

What is the Tower of the Seven Cloaks?

It is a nickname of the Maiden Tower at Panieńska 47, a Gothic structure from the fourteenth century that was rebuilt in 1964.