Stargard Szczecinski

About

Dating back to at least the 12th century, this scenic medieval city has seen its fair share of ups and downs. One of the most important towns in Pomerania, it was strongly fortified in the 14th century, and became the residence of the Pomeranian Dukes in the 15th. During the Thirty Years’ War, it was badly damaged, and around 75% of the city was destroyed during World War II. Even so, the city is full of historical sites, such as the 13th century St. Mary’s Church, an impressive example of Brick Gothic, and the 16th century town hall with its highly ornamented facade. As the city was also an important stronghold, many of the original fortifications still survive today. The unusual 15th century town gate, spans the river, and is one of only two surviving water gates in Europe.