Szczecin

Szczecin and Stettin are the Polish and German equivalents of the same name, which is of Proto-Slavic origin, though the exact etymology is the subject of ongoing research. In her Etymological Dictionary of Geographical Names of Poland, Maria Malec lists 11 theories regarding the origin of the name, including derivations from either: an Old Slavic word for 'hill peak' (Polish: szczyt), the plant fuller's teasel (Polish: szczeć), or the personal name Szczota. The city's name is first recorded as Stetin in a document dating from 1112–1118. It continued to appear in this or closely related forms (e.g. Stetyn in 1188). The name Stettin is first documented in 1253. This spelling gradually became established over the following centuries, though other variants remained in use during the High Middle Ages – such as Stettyn in 1259 and Stethin in 1271. …

The recorded history of Szczecin began in the eighth century, when Vikings and West Slavs settled in Pomerania. The West Slavs, or Lechites, erected a new stronghold on the site of the modern castle. Since the 9th century, the stronghold was fortified and expanded toward the Oder bank. Mieszko I of Poland took control of Pomerania during the Early Middle Ages and the region became part of Poland in the 10th century. However, Mieszko II Lambert (1025–1034) effectively lost control over the area and had to accept German suzerainty over the area of the Oder lagoon. Subsequent Polish rulers, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Liutician federation all aimed to control the territory. After the decline of the neighbouring regional centre Wolin in the 12th century, the city became an important and powerful seaport of the Baltic Sea. …

Szczecin has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb), typical of Western Pomerania. The winters are colder than on the immediate coast and the summers are warm, but still with some moderation, especially due to the Baltic Sea. The average air temperature in Szczecin ranges from 8 to 8.4 °C. The hottest month is July with a temperature of 15.8 °C to 20.3 °C, the coldest January from -1.1 °C to 2.6 °C. Air temperature below 0 °C occurs on average over 86 days a year, most frequently in January and February. The average annual rainfall is 537 mm, the average rainfall in the cool half-year is 225 mm, and in the warmer half-year is 350 mm. On average, 167 days with precipitation occurs. See or edit raw graph data. …

There are a few theatres and cinemas in Szczecin: The Castle Cinema (Polish Kino Zamek) Pionier 1909 Cinema (Polish Kino Pionier 1909) Kana Theatre (Polish Teatr Kana) Modern Theatre (Polish Teatr Współczesny) Opera in the Castle (Polish Opera na Zamku) Polish Theatre in Szczecin (Polish Teatr Polski w Szczecinie) The Cellar by the Vault Cabaret (Polish Kabaret Piwnica przy Krypcie) The Crypt Theatre (Polish Teatr Krypta) The Pleciuga Puppetry Theatre (Polish Teatr Lalek Pleciuga) The Niema Theatre (Polish Teatr Niema) Szczecin Philharmonic and many historic places as: Bismarck tower Szczecin (ruins of) The Quistorp's Tower (Polish Wieża Quistorpa) Napoleon mound (at the intersection of Klonowica Street and Unii Lubelskiej Street) The statue, Monument of Sailor stands at the Grunwald Square at John Paul II Avenue.

The local cuisine in Szczecin was mostly shaped in the mid-20th century by people who settled in the city from other parts and regions of Poland, including the former Eastern Borderlands. The most renowned dishes of the area are pasztecik szczeciński and paprykarz szczeciński. Other local traditional foods and drinks include Szczecin gingerbread and beer. Pasztecik szczeciński is a deep-fried yeast dough traditionally stuffed with minced meat (pork and beef) or vegetarian filling - cheese and mushrooms or cabbage and mushrooms, served in specialised bars as a fast food. Pasztecik szczeciński is usually served with clear red borscht. Paprykarz szczeciński is a paste made by mixing fish paste (around 50%) with rice, onion, tomato concentrate, vegetable oil, salt and a mixture of spices including chili powder to put it on a sandwich. It is available in most grocery stores in the country. …

Szczecin is a center of the maritime economy; it employs 13279 people. The seaport of Szczecin serves shipowners from all over the world and is the home port of two shipping companies: Polsteam and Euroafrica. In addition, other maritime-related companies are headquartered here. In 2013, a subzone of the Szczecin-Kostrzyn-Slubice Special Economic Zone was established. As of September 2016, the number of registered unemployed in Szczecin included about 8,400 residents, representing an unemployment rate of 5.0% to the economically active population. The average employee salary in October 2012 was PLN 3807.73, with the number of employed workers in Szczecin - 90,754 people. According to data from the District Labor Office in Szczecin, effective 1 January 2023, the minimum wage is PLN 3490, while the average salary of residents of the capital of West Pomerania is at PLN 6733.49. …