Arriving at Hotel 104 late yesterday afternoon, Marcin and I were keen to explore the town of Stargard Szczeciński, also known as the town of towers, and better understand its offerings which warranted it as a must-do on our West Pomeranian adventure.

Lying on the 15th Meridian line, the Gothic town traces its roots back to the 13th century, through periodic reigns of numerous nations. Up until 1945, Stargard was governed by German ruling;following the fall of the Nazi party, however, the Soviet Union claimed their stake in the Governance of the town.The dwelling was then transformed intoa large film set for the recording ofcommunist propaganda films: approximately 90% of the town’s buildings were destroyed for the dramatic purpose of film production after World War Two. The town was then rebuilt throughout the 1950s and 1960s in typical communist form, although managing to retain certain features which helped characterise the once strong fortress: drab apartment blocks and various homages to political heroes form the basis of the town as it appears today, yet the town walls make for an interesting feature. Erected by the Communist Party in 1945 to commemorate those killed in warfare, the striking Victory Statue occupies a roundabout in the centre of town and symbolises the glorification of their memory. Such sights provide for a fascinating insight into the political turbulence which determined the lifestyle of the town’s inhabitants. The variety of ruling nations, which have each affected the development of the town and created a melee of cultural influences, established a discernible difference between towns in my home country and the town of Stargard in Poland.

The first stop on today’s sightseeing tour was to the newly constructed archaeological and historical museum, named Basteja ( which translates to bastion). The museum, which constitutes a new access-point to an existing heritage, is set over four floors, includes various multimedia exhibitions, and presents relics from the rich history of Stargard from as early as the 13th century. Built in the 16th century, the bastion itself formed an important feature of the town’s fortification for hundreds of years and so provides a fitting location for a gateway to the town’s heritage.

Marcin and I were granted a private tour by the fantastic tour guides at the museum, even
having the opportunity to get hands-on with the interactive exhibitions. Divided into four section – science and religion, the town and its council, a section on the dramatic 17th century and the contemporary town – the museum was comprehensive in demonstrating the dramatic changes which are identifiable over the course of the town’s history. I particularly enjoyed this colourful globe, which displayed other towns on the 15th Meridian and explored other features of our planet today. Leaving the bastion, we were then able to walk along the renovated battlements, built to replicate the typical Gothical bricked style for which the town is renowned. Visible in the picture below is The Pyrzycka gate – one of three remaining gates to the town of Stargard, from which the neo-Gothic Holy Ghost church is visible, constructed between 1874 and 1877. 

After leaving the Basteja museum, we began our walk around the perimeter of the town, observing numerous attractions along the way, such as the church of St. John, which boasts a towering steeple at 99m high. This church was the only remaining building after the great fire in the 17th century, which devastated the town. Passing picturesque flowered gardens, the second of the city’s gates and an amphitheater which was constructed in the 1960s, we arrived at the final remaining gate to the city – The Mill gate, which is unique in its construction and crosses the river Ina. The penultimate attraction on our tour was the breathtaking St. Mary’s Queen of the World Church, which towers above the centre of the town. Also devastated by the great fire, the church has undergone numerous renovations to become the town’s most prized architectural construction:

A trip to the museum’s main building in the centre of town concluded our tour of the town of Stargard. This building is a great attraction, which brings history to life. Here, children and adults alike can learn through educational exhibitions.

Before heading to the third location on the trip – Mirosławiec – we had time for a quick lunch. Where else but the fantastic Tajemniczy Ogród restaurant, which quenched our appetites and perfectly culminated a fun visit to a fantastic town. The road to Mirosławiec was long, direct, and perfectly illustrated the sheer beauty on offer in the region of Western Pomerania; the soundtrack of choice was music by The Beatles, naturally. Mirosławiec hosted two of the most unusual, eccentric and provocative destinations of the trip so far: the Hotel Park and Republika Wyobraźni.

Set amid a vastly expansive forest on an unassuming sideroad, the Hotel Park is a colourful lake house, housing a staggering array of military memorabilia. One gets the feeling that not a single trinket has been changed, or even moved, in decades. From a German bazooka bicycle to a rusty Russian machine gun, all manner of objects demanded our attention. We spent a good half an hour listening to the charismatic owner talk history, before following the desolate trail to the nearby lake. Joined by an inquisitive frog, we made our way to the water’s edge. Here, we stood for a long while; the view was spectacular. I was surprised by the beauty of the countryside in Western Pomerania. I had heard that the region was attractive, but I’d have to travel a great deal to witness such spectacular natural beauty.

We rounded off an action-filled day with a trip to Republika Wyobraźni, our accommodation for the evening, which attacked the senses and the imagination in a most creative, colourful manner. From the foundations to the roof tiles, every inch of the building was playfully designed to evoke the downright bizarre. Mismatched tiles form mosaics on the floors, murals and works of art fill every space of every wall, and each bedroom warps reality with a dreamlike decor. Unsurprisingly, the building is owned by the same family that owns the Hotel Park: both buildings encapsulate the concerted efforts of a vision aimed at creating unique experiences for visitors. It is ostensible that Republika Wyobraźni was built over a great deal of time, by guests who stayed in exchange for their artistic talents.

Thinking we had experienced all surprises on offer in Mirosławiec, there was still time to discover further unexpected attractions in the form of an army tank and a fighter jet!

With another exciting day planned for tomorrow, you’d be crazy not to check in on the blog again!

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Marcin’s video from today: