We are on good terms with Szczecin
Szczecin, the capital of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, is a city with over a thousand years of rich tradition and a turbulent history. Szczecin's strategic location earned it a reputation as a major trade center. Its heyday and dynamic socio-economic development are attributed to the reign of the House of Griffin until the 17th century. The extinction of the Pomeranian dukes meant that the city found itself on the borders of various countries (Denmark, Germany, and even Sweden) more than once throughout its history.
The 20th century saw the rapid development of Szczecin's port and maritime economy. Unfortunately, World War II severely affected the city, which was part of the Third Reich – it became a target of Allied bombing. After 1945, the German population was expelled, and with it, new Polish settlers arrived in Western Pomerania. The ruined city was gradually rebuilt. It's worth noting that despite the changes in the city's appearance, Szczecin retained its unique atmosphere and character – it's not without reason that it's called the "Paris of the North."
Szczecin, a city of greenery and beautiful monuments, is also very friendly to us cyclists. Szczecin has over 120 km of roads and lanes dedicated to bicycles. Several times a month, cycling rallies are organized in our city and throughout the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. Furthermore, Szczecin, like most other Polish cities, is implementing a "city bike" project, which is why there are over a dozen bike stations on both the left and right banks of the river.
In response to the competition's challenges, I'd like to present five cycling routes of varying difficulty. Each route offers a distinct journey through Szczecin, showcasing its cultural and natural assets. The introduction will present the length and difficulty of each section, along with a map of Szczecin and the route to be followed. The text also includes original photos showing the most important and noteworthy points along the route. Additionally, each map will feature a city bike station, making navigating the city easier. There will also be plenty of interesting facts about each location, as well as potential cafes and bike repair shops.
As part of the competition, Jakub submitted a very comprehensive cycling guide to Szczecin. We're including it in its entirety for download in a PDF format:
pdf Szczecin by bike
City bikes in Szczecin
City bikes, although their condition sometimes leaves much to be desired, are a good alternative. If you don't have a bike but need one, you can quickly and easily use one. Exploring Szczecin's beauty depends not on the bike you ride, but on your own attitude. However, technical condition is still important, and to avoid any problems along the way, I've included the addresses of bike repair shops in our city below.
I also recommend downloading the NEXTBIKE app, which will allow us to rent bikes more efficiently.
Bicycle services in Szczecin
Cieślak Bicycle Shop: Stanisława Witkiewicza Street 21C
Cieślak Bicycle Shop: 15 Andrzeja Struga Street
Marathon bike service: ul. Traugutta 99
Konik Sport. Tarnowski Ryszard. Bicycle service: ul. Źródlana 7
Fat Cyclist Bike Service: Grodzka Street 13
JAROS BIKE BIKE SHOP: ul. Arkońska 38
Kadrzyński Bicycle Shop: Piotra Skargi Street 20 / Jagiellońska Street 32
The complete cycling guide to Szczecin by Jakub Wierzba can be downloaded here:
pdf Szczecin by bike
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