Szczecin

Szczecin is a city in northwestern Poland, and the capital of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. Located on the Oder River near its mouth on the Baltic Sea, it is a major port and economic center with a long maritime heritage. The city is the seat of regional government and the largest urban center in the historical region of Pomerania.

Historically, the area has been inhabited since the early Middle Ages and was part of the Duchy of Pomerania. It later came under the Holy Roman Empire, then Prussia and Germany, where it was known as Stettin. Following World War II, in 1945 the border changes along the Oder–Neisse line placed Szczecin in Poland. The German population was expelled and Polish citizens settled the city, which rebuilt and expanded as a major port and administrative center.

Economy and transport: Szczecin hosts one of Poland’s largest port complexes, the Port of Szczecin–Świnoujście, with cargo handling, ferries and ship traffic contributing to the economy. Shipbuilding, ship repair, logistics and manufacturing are important sectors. The city is connected by road and rail to Germany and the rest of Poland, and is served by the Solidarity Szczecin–Goleniów Airport (SZZ).

Education and culture: Szczecin is home to several higher education institutions, including the University of Szczecin, the West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, and the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. Cultural life centers on institutions such as the National Museum in Szczecin, the Szczecin Philharmonic, and historic sites like the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes and the Wały Chrobrego (Chrobry Embankment). The Old Town contains examples of architectural styles from different periods.