Szczecin turns to the water: a new Contemporary Theatre, a water tram to Germany, and 150 drones over the Tall Ships

Szczecin is turning towards the water, quite literally. June's news from the city forms a single story: about the Oder, Łasztownia and the new waterfront identity the city is building for years to come.

The Contemporary Theatre: the city's second icon

The international architectural competition for the new Contemporary Theatre headquarters on Łasztownia, between the Oder embankment and the Castle Route, has been decided. From 140 firms and 43 finalist entries the jury chose the concept by studio SAAW (PLN 300k main prize). The city promises a "second icon", alongside the award-winning Philharmonic, set to become an architectural symbol of the boulevards.

By water tram to Germany

This summer the first cross-border water connection from Szczecin sets off: a water tram on the Szczecin, Mescherin and Gartz route. The roughly three-hour cruise runs through the Międzyodrze and the Lower Oder Valley, one of the most ecologically valuable areas in Central Europe, home to cranes, white-tailed eagles and herons. It sails on weekends from 4 July to 5 September; bikes are welcome aboard, and the "Explore Oder" app provides an audio guide in three languages.

150 drones over the Tall Ships

The August weekend of the Tall Ships festival gains a luminous finale: 150 drones will rise over Gródzka Island, forming ten three-dimensional figures inspired by the city's history and symbols, from the Griffin and the Dźwigozaury dinosaurs to Wały Chrobrego and Szczecin's crocuses. The light designs were chosen in a competition among local school classes.

City briefs

The bathing season has opened and public transport is shifting into summer mode: bus line 70 changes its route and traffic is reorganised on Warcisława street, with new stops added on Kwiatkowskiego and Nehringa. More city news is gathered in our news section, and the full events calendar is updated continuously.