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Świnoujście [ɕfinɔˈujɕt͡ɕɛ] ( listen) (German: Swinemünde) is a city and seaport on the Baltic Sea and Szczecin Lagoon, located in the extreme north-west of Poland. It is situated mainly on the islands of Usedom and Wolin, but also occupies smaller islands, of which the largest is Karsibór island, once part of Usedom, now separated by a canal dug in the late 19th century to facilitate ship access to Stettin (today Szczecin).
Since 1999 Świnoujście has been a city with the administrative rights of a county (powiat) (Polish: miasto na prawach powiatu), within West Pomeranian Voivodeship. It was previously part of Szczecin Voivodeship (1975–1998). The city lies in the geographic region of Pomerania and had a population of 41,100 in 2006.
History
The river Świna (German: Swine) was formerly flanked by the fishing villages of Westswine and Ostswine. Towards the beginning of the 17th century it was made navigable for large ships, and Swinemünde, which was founded on the site of Westswine in 1748, was fortified and received town privileges from King Frederick II of Prussia in 1765. It served as the outer port of Stettin (Szczecin) and was administered within the Province of Pomerania. Swinemünde became part of the German Empire after the Kingdom of Prussia completed the unification of Germany in 1871.
The town had broad unpaved streets and one-story houses built in the Dutch style, which gave it an almost rustic appearance, although its industries, beyond some fishing, were entirely connected with its shipping. The river mouth, which was the entrance to the harbor, and which was regarded as the best on the Prussian Baltic coast, was then protected by two curving long breakwaters, and was strongly fortified. On the island of Wollin, on the other side of the narrow Swine, a great lighthouse was erected. In 1897 the canal of the Kaiserfahrt was opened to navigation, and this waterway between the Stettin harbour and the Baltic Sea was deepened between 1900–01. From then on Stettin could be reached directly by ships, and Swinemünde's importance diminished somewhat.
On March 12, 1945 during World War II, Swinemünde suffered heavy destruction by USAAF bombing. At least 23,000 civilians died, mainly refugees fleeing from East Prussia and from surrounding areas. The uncomplete German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin was scuttled in the harbor to save it from the advancing Russians. The city was placed under Polish administration in 1945 after the war ended and officially renamed Świnoujście. Its German population was expelled and replaced with Poles, themselves refugees from Polish areas annexed by the Soviet Union. Red Army occupied part of the city till 1957 and navy harbour till about 1990.
Population
- 1900: 10,300
- 1925: 18,200
- 1938: 30,100
- 1947: 5,800
- 1960: 17,000
- 1970: 28,100
- 1975: 42,400
- 1980: 47,100
- 1990: 43,300
- 1995: 43,361
- 2003: 41,188
- 2004: 41,098
- 2005: 40,993
- 2006: 41,100
Source:
- 1900, 1925, 1938, 1947:[citation needed]
- 1960, 1970, 1975, 1980: [1]
- 1990:[citation needed]
- 1995, 2003, 2004, 2005: [2]
Infrastructure
Transport
The town is located on both banks of the river Świna, and since there is no road connection across it, transport is provided by regular ferries. Under current plans, a tunnel will be built under the river some time before 2013.
Świnoujście has the largest and most modern ferry terminal in Poland, with regular connections to Denmark and Sweden. The city lies at the northern terminus of Polish National Route 3 (DK3, in the future express road S3), which is in turn part of the European route E65 running across Europe from Sweden to Greece. Świnoujście has four railway stations on the eastern bank of the river Świna, on Wolin island, with regular regional connections to Szczecin and long-distance connections to other cities in Poland.
Land border controls were abolished 21 December 2007, and free automobile traffic to and from Germany was allowed for the first time since 1945, as Poland implemented the Schengen Agreement and the German authorities agreed to remove traffic restrictions. In the near future the city will gain a railway connection to its western portion as well, when the railway line to Ahlbeck is extended eastward to Świnoujście, giving it a direct link to the German railway network. The nearest airport at Heringsdorf in Germany, 13 km west of Świnoujście, will likely become more important for travelling to the city, if it ever acquires year-round scheduled passenger connections; it currently has a number of summer connections to German cities only. The nearest airport with year-round traffic is the Szczecin-Goleniów "Solidarność" Airport, 80 km southeast in Poland.
Tourist attractions
- The former town hall houses the Museum of Deep Sea Fishing. Exhibits include the history of sea fishing, sea animals, the town and its region, and old navigation equipment.
- The Angel's Fort, built from 1845-1858, is a replica of Hadrian's Mausoleum (Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome).
- Concerts and art exhibitions are held at the Western Fort. Built between 1843-1863, it has been modernized a few times in the past. From after World War II until 1962 it was a headquarters of the Red Army.
- The 18th Christ the King Church in the centre of the town was erected on the site of a Gothic temple. A wooden ship replica is in the main nave. Organ concerts are presented during the summer.
- The neo-Gothic church of the Holy Mother "Stella Maris" has stained glass windows of great artistic value. It was erected at the end of 19th century.
- The "well" is a preserved tower of a Protestant church damaged during World War II and demolished afterwards.
- A shelter built in 1942 has the exposition "The town yesterday and now", presenting pictures of the town's history and other exhibits.
- The stawa Młyny is a navigation beacon built in the form of a windmill on the 19th century breakwater.
- The lighthouse, built in 1858, is at 68 m the highest lighthouse on the Baltic sea.
- The Eastern Fort, or Gerhard's Fort, is one of three preserved forts from the 19th century. An exhibition inside the building presents the history of the town's forts, as well as objects found there.
- The district of Karsibór contains an Evangelical cemetery established in the first half of 19th century.
- The Gothic church from the 15th century contains an altar from the 15th century and a pulpit from the 17th century.
- A monument honours the memory of Royal Air Force pilots shot down while raiding harbour targets in April 1945.
- Karsiborska Kępa, an island near the town, contains a bird sanctuary with approximately 140 species.
Districts of Świnoujście
Towns near Świnoujście
See also
References
- ^ Rocznik Statystyczny 1981, Główny Urząd Statystyczny, Warszawa 1981.
- ^ Official website of Świnoujście: O mieście -> Świnoujście w liczbach, [1] (Polish)
External links
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