Pomeranian Dukes' Castle

The Renaissance Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin, situated on a hill near the Oder River, is one of the most important historic monuments of Western Pomerania. In the past, it served as the residence of the Griffins, the dynasty that ruled the Duchy of Pomerania from the 12th century until 1637.

The castle’s present appearance reflects its turbulent history. The five-winged complex, with two courtyards—the Great Courtyard and the Mint Courtyard (currently undergoing modernization)—is dominated by three towers: the Bell Tower, the Prison Tower, and the Clock Tower. The castle façades are decorated with Late Gothic tracery and Renaissance attic walls. Notable features include the panel of Barnim XI, a Baroque clock featuring a grotesque mask and a jester figure, clearly visible from the Ducal Terrace on the roof of the castle’s North Wing. The panel of Barnim III and the statue of Bishop Otto of Bamberg will once again be visible and accessible after the modernization of the castle courtyards has been completed.

The castle interiors include, among other things, the Study of Lubinus, a distinguished 17th-century cartographer, featuring a valuable copy of his Great Map of the Duchy of Pomerania.

A particularly noteworthy site is the Ducal Crypt, which contains the sarcophagi of former rulers of the Duchy.

The Ducal Terrace is located on the roof of the North Wing and offers an impressive view of Szczecin. A similarly spectacular panorama can be enjoyed from the Bell Tower, the highest viewing point in the castle.

The Duke Boguslaw X hall, which used to be a princely chapel, is now a concert hall with a polychromatic ceiling decorated in Renaissance style.

A new exhibition in the Armoury presents more than 80 military artefacts dating from the 14th to the 18th century, originating from Pomerania and Western Europe.

The historic complex is managed by the local government cultural institution operating under the name Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin, one of the largest cultural institutions in Western Pomerania. It runs its own exhibition galleries, Kino Zamek cinema, Piwnica przy Krypcie theatre, and the Cultural and Tourist Information Centre (CIKiT). The institution organizes numerous cultural events, including exhibitions, concerts, meetings and educational activities, workshops, conferences, lectures, and popular outdoor events such as the Griffin Festival with a Knights’ Tournament and the Wine Festival.

The castle also houses the offices of the Marshal’s Office of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship and the Opera at the Castle.

The castle can be easily reached from the main railway and bus stations not only by public transport but also on foot.