ATTRACTIONS IN THE AREA
SIGHTSEEING
A stay at Manowce Palace can be combined with exploring the surrounding area. If our guests do not have a ready-made plan, we recommend last-minute trips to places near and further away from Manowce. As a rule, we encourage one-day trips, meaning without an overnight stay en route. When planning weekend trips, one must consider larger crowds at tourist sites, so it is best to go during the week. Most of the trips we propose are road trips. The only place that can be explored on foot is Szczecin. We recommend routes only within Western Pomerania, starting with those closest to Manowce. Lastly, we propose a trip to the border regions of Germany. Our suggested cycling trips are described on the page dedicated to activities at Manowce.
THE AREA AROUND MANOWCE
Places: Police – Świdwie – Stolec – Nowe Warpno and Altwarp
Route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FLHLVBdAGHh4ceDCA
Time: driving alone – 1 hour 45 minutes; including sightseeing – 3–4 hours
Note: this can also be a full-day cycling trip.
Police. The ruins of the synthetic gasoline factory. During World War II, 30,000 prisoners worked here, of whom 13,000 died. A designated path leads through the former factory site, so no reservation is needed. On Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., guided tours of the factory are organized, including visits to the underground areas and the permanent exhibition. The tour lasts about three hours and is organized by the Skarb Association.
Świdwie. The Świdwie Nature Reserve is a unique European-scale reserve for water and marsh birds. Over 160 bird species live here during the breeding season. The lake and its surroundings can be admired from an observation tower. It is worth bringing binoculars.
Stolec. The Palace in Stolec is a neo-Baroque-style mansion built in the early 18th century. It belonged to the aristocratic von Ramin family. The estate originally covered several hundred hectares, most of which are now on the German side. The border runs just 20 metres from the palace. The palace is awaiting renovation and can only be viewed from a distance, standing at the gate.
Nowe Warpno. Located at Poland’s edge, Nowe Warpno is one of the smallest Polish towns. It has been part of Poland for over seventy years. Interestingly, for a similar period in the 17th and 18th centuries, it belonged to… Sweden. Visitors should park near the historic town hall and walk around the peninsula via the promenade. It is best to start at Sailors’ Avenue and the port before climbing the observation tower. From Nowe Warpno, one can take a boat to Altwarp, or Stare Warpno, on the opposite shore. The ferry schedule is available on the carrier’s website. On Mondays and Tuesdays, the ferry does not operate.
Szczecin Philharmonic
SZCZECIN
Few of our guests have ready-made sightseeing plans, so they rely on our advice. A last-minute trip can be a double attraction, as the itinerary is often a surprise. If guests are staying with us for several days, we encourage them to visit Szczecin. The city’s main tourist attractions are concentrated in the city centre, making it easy to explore on foot. We have selected interesting places that should appeal to most visitors. We propose a short and a longer route, with the longer one including all the sites from the short route. Visitors can choose the route based on the time they wish to spend sightseeing. Additional attractions, such as the Szczecin Maritime Science Centre or relaxation at the City Summer Zone on Grodzka Island, can be added to the itinerary.
SHORT ROUTE
Places: Kaskada – Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle – Philharmonic Hall – Wały Chrobrego – Kaskada
Route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hNxWq4uwgxuogip46 (car), https://maps.app.goo.gl/uuGyeML3vj8YP2Lw8 (on foot)
Time: driving alone – 1 hour 45 minutes; including sightseeing – 3 hours (without visiting the castle and philharmonic interiors)
Kaskada. The Kaskada shopping centre offers readily available (during the shopping centre’s opening hours) and inexpensive parking close to tourist attractions. After the tour, visitors can eat a meal or dessert here.
Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle in Szczecin. The most impressive historical building in Szczecin is the Renaissance-style Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle situated on a hill near the Oder River. The oldest parts date back to the 14th century. Entry to the castle courtyards is free. The Bell Tower (a viewpoint) is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with paid entrance. Entrance to the exhibitions in the castle’s southern wing is also paid.
Szczecin Philharmonic Hall. Szczecin is worth visiting not only for its historical sites. The ice-like structure of the Mieczysław Karłowicz Philharmonic Hall has been hailed as a new city icon. Designed by the Spanish architectural firm Barozzi Veiga, the project won first place in the prestigious Eurobuild Awards 2014 in the "Best Architectural Design of the Year" category. Generally, visitors can enter the Philharmonic Hall’s lobby without any issues. However, guided tours of the building are available only on select days, so it is worth checking the schedule on this page. Unfortunately, due to holidays, guided tours are not available in July.
Wały Chrobrego. When entering Szczecin via the Castle Route, visitors can see Wały Chrobrego – a scenic terrace on a slope along the Oder River, a famous urban-architectural complex shaping the city's waterfront skyline. First, visitors should walk along Wały Chrobrego to admire the opposite riverbank, then descend to the foot of the embankment to appreciate three monumental buildings: the Maritime Academy, the West Pomeranian Voivodeship Office, and the National Museum in Szczecin.
LONGER ROUTE
Places: Kaskada – St. James Cathedral – Loitz House – Old Town – Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle – Wały Chrobrego – Philharmonic Hall – Kaskada
Route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hNxWq4uwgxuogip46 (car), https://maps.app.goo.gl/NAhYZkbP8cRMxvsb7 (on foot)
Time: driving alone – 1 hour 45 minutes; including sightseeing – 4 hours (without visiting interiors and meal breaks)
St. James Cathedral. The Archicathedral Basilica of St. James in Szczecin is the city’s largest church and the second tallest church in Poland after the Licheń Basilica. Its tower is 110 metres high, with a 56-metre observation deck offering beautiful panoramic views of Szczecin and, on clear days, its surroundings. The cathedral features 19 chapels and a massive organ.
The Loitz House. This is one of Szczecin’s most valuable late Gothic monuments. The townhouse was built in the 16th century by a wealthy family of Szczecin merchants engaged in trade and money lending. Unfortunately, soon after its construction, their business went bankrupt, partly because they never received repayment of a loan given to the Polish King Sigismund Augustus. Today, the building houses an art high school. The interiors are open for visitors.
Old Market Square. Szczecin’s Old Town was 90 percent destroyed during World War II due to British bombings, as this area was home to Szczecin's main arms industry centres. We recommend visiting the Old Market Square, known as Rynek Sienny. Here, visitors can admire the Old Town Hall and reconstructed townhouses. The market square is also home to many restaurants and cafés, making it an excellent spot for a meal or coffee break.
PLACES OUTSIDE THE CITY CENTRE
Although Szczecin’s city centre offers plenty of attractions, interesting tourist sites can also be found beyond the downtown area. Each of these places requires travel by car or public transport. A one-day trip to Szczecin may include some or all of these locations, as well as museums and exhibitions.
Central Cemetery in Szczecin. While some may find it surprising that we encourage visiting a cemetery, Szczecin provides compelling reasons to do so. The Central Cemetery in Szczecin is the largest cemetery in Poland, the third largest in Europe, and one of the largest in the world. Today, it covers more than 172 hectares. This cemetery is worth visiting not for its size but for its beauty. The older section resembles a park or garden. In some areas, individual graves are scattered among the trees. A significant portion of the cemetery features green spaces, ponds, hedges, and wide avenues lined with decorative trees.
Aleja Wojska Polskiego is Szczecin’s longest street. A stroll along this avenue is recommended not because of its length, but for the beautiful 19th-century villas that line it. We suggest the section from Szarych Szeregów Square to Piotra Skargi Street. The most impressive is the Lentz Villa at number 84. The Hoerder Villa [link to at number 76 is also worth seeing. From Piotra Skargi Street, visitors can walk to Jasne Błonia and then continue to Kasprowicz Park.
Kasprowicz Park is the largest park in Szczecin. This is where the Wkrzańska Heath begins, stretching all the way to Manowce Palace and several dozen kilometres beyond. The park is home to the amphitheatre of the Summer Theatre, where concerts and other performances take place during the summer. It is worth checking the current event schedule. Part of Kasprowicz Park features the Różanka rose garden, which we mention above in the section on botanical gardens.
the Baltic Sea
Sometimes, guests staying at Manowce Palace for a longer period organize a one-day trip to the Baltic Sea. The route depends on whether children are in the group and on the purpose of the trip. We recommend the following places:
Świnoujście – beach. We describe it above in the section BEACH.
Świnoujście – Fort Gerhard. Unfortunately, currently accessible only by boat from the port in Świnoujście.
Dziwnów – Miniature and Railway Park.
Trzęsacz – church ruins on a cliff.
Trzęsacz – Coastal Narrow-Gauge Railway. Visitors can choose the Trzęsacz – Niechorze – Trzęsacz route. In Niechorze, they can visit the lighthouse.
Niechorze – lighthouse. Open to visitors.
Recław – Slavic and Viking Centre. An open-air museum with many attractions, especially for children.
germany
From Manowce Palace, guests can also take a one-day trip to Germany, visiting attractions along the nearest German Baltic coast and around Manowce. Here are the places we recommend:
Ahlbeck – Beach. Ahlbeck is located right next to Świnoujście. The beach is just as beautiful but less crowded.
Stralsund – Ozeaneum . One of the largest aquariums in Europe, featuring 50 large tanks.
Stralsund – Störtebeker Braumanufaktur. A tour of the Störtebeker brewery, whose beers are served at Manowce Palace.
Peenemünde – Historisch-Technisches Museum. This museum showcases the history of the facilities that produced rockets between 1936 and 1945.
Peenemünde – U-Boat Museum. While in Peenemünde, visitors should see the Soviet submarine U-461.
Ueckermünde – Zoological Garden. We mention this zoo above in the section ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN.