Kolobrzeg

History of origin

The first mention of the settlement Kolobrzeg, located on the bank of the river Parsenta, which flows into the Baltic Sea, dates back to the VII century. The inhabitants of Kolobrzeg had long been involved in fishing and salt mining, which was then sold to Scandinavian and Western European countries. Not surprisingly, the name of the village is translated from Polish as "near the shore". After centuries of active trade in fish and salt, the village became a small town.

Even more development of Kolobrzeg was promoted by the establishment of a bishopric on its territory by the Polish prince in the year 1000. Already in the year 1255, the settlement was officially granted the status of a city, and in 1284 the newly minted city was included in the Hanseatic League of Germanic States and was given a second name - Kolberg. As in the Middle Ages, Kolberg was an advanced and rich settlement, where buildings were built of stone, a sewerage system appeared, political and state issues were solved, and trade in herring and seasonings with salt reached the international level.

In the following centuries, Kolberg survived the Seven Years' War, withstood the French siege in the Napoleonic Wars, and in the 18th century was even transformed into a military fortress to successfully repel the increasing attacks of the enemy armies. In the XIX century the city got a break and became a large industrial center with agricultural production, sawmill, factories and plants. At the same time, thermal salt springs were found on the territory of Kolberg, the chemical composition of which was ideal for the recovery of the human organism. This discovery contributed to the construction of several therapeutic baths and initiated the development of the town as a resort.

During the Second World War, unfortunately, Kolberg was almost completely destroyed, and then remained for several years one big hospital where wounded soldiers were taken to. At the end of the war, the city rejoined Poland and regained its original name - Kolobrzeg. In the 20th century, extensive reconstruction works were carried out on the territory of Kolobrzeg, and the main emphasis was placed not on industry as before, but on spa activities. By the way, since there is almost nothing left of the historical center of the settlement, it was decided to move the center closer to the Baltic Sea. So the city, previously famous for its factories and plants, has suddenly acquired green parks, blossoming alleys, bathing, embankments, Renaissance-style spa house and spa hotels near the healing springs.

Nowadays Polish resort Kolobrzeg is called "the pearl of the Baltic", it is one of the most popular places for recreation and recovery on the Baltic Sea. The beach strip of Kolobrzeg with well-appointed places for rest and bathing lasts for 12 km. In addition, the resort's spa hotels offer drinking courses, mud wraps and other ways to improve your health.

Attractions

The resort offers numerous entertainment and leisure options: participation in bright festivals and music concerts, visiting clubs and restaurants with theme nights, sailing on yachts and boats, sailing on a pirate ship or a Viking boat, hiking in the oceanarium, tourist bike tours and traditional Kolobrzeg fishing.

Museum of Polish Arms

In the Braunschweig Palace and the branch on Gerchak Street, you can visit the weapons museum, which houses a rich collection of weapons from different eras. In the museum, you can learn more about medieval weapons, see knight's armor, rings, rapiers, swords and spades, as well as siege weapons such as catapults and cannons. There is also a separate exposition in the museum, devoted to marine thematic, where ancient navigation tools are of special interest. Weaponry from the Polish uprisings of the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as uniforms of soldiers from the 20th-century world wars, are equally interesting to see. By the way, the museum has an open courtyard with models of military aircraft, cars, artillery and armored vehicles.

Powder Tower

The building of the Powder Tower is one of the two historical sites of Kolobrzeg that survived during the World Wars. The Powder Tower, or as it is called Lotow Tower, was built back in the medieval era (approximately in the XIV century) and was then part of the city's defensive system. In fact, only one of the towers was left from the entire castle wall that once surrounded Kolobrzeg and protected it from raids.

City Hall

In the heart of Kolobrzeg, there is a historic town hall building, built in 1829 in Neo-Gothic style by architect Karl Schinkel. Interestingly, the Town Hall building was built on the foundations of the medieval town hall, so this place has always been occupied by the city administration. Unfortunately, the old building was destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars. But when planning the new town hall, the architect tried to reproduce the harsh and sublime look of the previous building. So it turned out to be a two-storey building in the form of a medieval defense tower with an inner courtyard and high gothic vaults. The red brick facade is decorated not only with high windows, but also with a compulsory clock with the coat of arms of the city Kolobrzeg. By the way, in the north-eastern part of the town hall, some architectural elements have survived since the 16th century, including the shameful pillar to which criminals were tied.

Historical Museum

In the Town Hall building there is a museum, exhibits of which are devoted to the history of Kolobrzeg. With the help of a guide, visitors can learn many interesting facts about the historical past of Kolobrzeg and immediately watch a movie about the resort.

Gallery of Modern Art

And again in the Town Hall, you can visit the art gallery with original exhibits of modern art from famous artists.

Cathedral Church

The Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is another ancient landmark of the city, partially preserved from the XIV century. The cathedral was built in the Gothic style on the site of an even older church of St. Nicholas, and was able to accommodate up to 9 thousand parishioners under its ceiling. But during the Second World War, the building was destroyed by bombs, only a small part of it survived, which after reconstruction became a basilica. Nowadays, the former cathedral can be seen from afar thanks to its high spire, and nearby you can admire the arched high windows decorated with colored mosaics of biblical themes. Inside are miraculously preserved treasures such as a 15th-century wooden altar, some medieval tombstones with still visible epitaphs, biblical frescoes and a Gothic candlestick dating back to 1327.

Schlieffen House

The mansion, built in the Gothic style in the XV century, immediately stands out among other houses with its dark brick walls, gable tiled roof, unusual shape and arched windows, shrinking upward in size. It is now the oldest residential building in the resort.

Museum of Amber

Another interesting and informative place for tourists in Kolobrzeg can safely be called the Amber Museum. There is an extensive collection of "sunny stones" of various ages, sizes and shades. The guests of the museum can learn everything about the formation of amber, its properties and qualities, its use in cosmetic and therapeutic purposes. By the way, among the exhibits, one can see ancient tools used for processing gems and creating jewelry. There is also a souvenir shop in the museum, where you can buy products made of amber, ready-made jewelry or order the creation of an individual product with the stone you like.

Lighthouse

Kolobrzeg has its own 26-metere-high lighthouse, which not only points the way for ships, but also invites tourists to admire the views of the Baltic from its double gallery. In addition, inside the lighthouse, there is an operating museum of minerals with an extensive collection of minerals.

Pierce

An evening walks along the resort's main sea pier are a must for guests of Kolobrzeg. It is a picturesque place with a pier 220 meters long, decorated with pavilions, cafes with views of the Baltic Sea and kiosks, as well as flashlights, which are turned on in the evening and periodically change colors. Such an illumination decision paints the sea in bright and beautiful colors that the photos look magic. By the way, next to the pier there are seagulls and white swans walking along the shore, who are happy to take treats from the walkers.

Hortulus Gardens

On the outskirts of the Kolobrzeg resort there is the picturesque botanical garden Hortulus. The garden is open all year round and is the only one of its kind in Poland, divided into thematic zones, We can say that in Hortulus there is not one garden, but twenty-eight, as each zone is unique and decorated in a certain style. For example, there is an English garden, French, Italian, Chinese and Japanese, alpine meadow, heather meadow, stone park, water park, a garden of aromatic herbs, etc. Gardens of Sense and gardens with different flowers but only one color are of particular interest to visitors. Alleys are decorated with sculptures, mazes, garden houses, figured flower beds, vases with roses, bushes cut in fancy shapes, a pond, elegant bridges and benches.