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Archaeological and Historical Museum in Stargard
Start your Family Constellation where the life of the town has unfolded for centuries. Go into the Museum and discover the Stargard of merchants, craftsmen and goods brought from far-off lands.
- The Hanseatic cog - see how medieval merchants travelled and how goods reached the Hanseatic towns.
- Hanseatic trade - find out what goods came to medieval Stargard and where they came from. It's a good moment to imagine the Market Square in the days of the merchants – full of people, smells, conversations and goods from all over Europe.
- The museum exhibits - everyday objects, archaeological finds, unique documents and works of art help you imagine Stargard hundreds of years ago.
Stargard was a trading town – its location on the Ina River and the trade routes that crossed here meant that for centuries trade was a key driver of the town’s development and a source of its wealth.
What was life like for Stargard’s merchants?
Two of the 16 Stargard Griffins are also hiding around the Market Square. Look carefully. When you find them, scan the QR code and find out what story of Stargard they have to tell. Meet all the Griffins.
Before you leave the Market Square…
Don’t go just yet. One more attraction on the Market Square is waiting for you, and you mustn’t miss it. Go over and say hello to the Railwayman. It is a tribute to Stargard’s railway history and to the people who helped build the town after the war. Note the lamp and timetable in his hands. Every year on 12 May Stargard celebrates Pioneers’ Day, commemorating its first Polish residents. It was on this day that the Polish town administration took over the whole of what was then called Starogród (Stargard).
Bastion (Basteja)
Now it’s time to see how the medieval town protected its residents and everything within its walls. Go into the Museum.
- The hoarding - walk along the wooden defensive gallery running along the walls. It's a chance to see the fortifications from a completely different perspective and imagine how the town was defended.
- The cog hologram - see a medieval merchant ship in a thoroughly modern form. The cog shown as a hologram is a reminder of the days when Stargard belonged to the Hanseatic League and traded with other towns.
- The executioner's sword - take a close look at the original Stargard executioner's sword. It was not used for fighting – it was a tool for carrying out sentences. Find out how it differs from a knight's sword.
What was the hoarding for? The wooden gallery allowed defenders to move along the walls and defend them from above. Today’s reconstruction lets you see part of the fortifications from a perspective you can’t experience on an ordinary walk around town.
How was medieval Stargard defended? Discover the history of the Bastion, the walls and the town’s old fortifications.
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Bolesław Chrobry Park
After leaving the Bastion, it’s time for a change of pace. Head towards Bolesław Chrobry Park. On the way you’ll pass the Pyrzyce Gate and the Red Sea Tower. On the way to the playground you can also visit the Water Tower.
- Take a break at the playground – a bit of greenery, a bit of exercise and a short break from sightseeing. Here the youngest can take over the plan for a while. Stop, play and set off again when you’re ready.
- Something sweet along the way? Fancy an ice cream, a cake or a coffee break? Look for the Stargard star in nearby partner cafés and restaurants and choose a place for a sweet little break. Click to see the places marked with the “Gothic Constellation Partner” star
- Pyrzyce Gate - One of the old gates leading into the town. Its origins date back to the 13th century.
- Red Sea Tower - stand beneath the tower and look up – at 34 metres it is the most impressive of all the surviving towers in Poland.
- Water Tower - rising above Stargard's Planty, it is a remarkable monument of 19th-century engineering.
- Bolesław Chrobry Park - explore Stargard's picturesque parks.
After a short rest, carry on through the park. Another little resident of Stargard is waiting nearby – look out for the Griffin with a cannon. Click for more and discover the story of the Roundel.
Near the Park you’ll also find the Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Stargard, a fascinating building whose history you can read about in its description.
Right next to it is St John’s Gate, which, together with the Pyrzyce Gate and the Rampart Gate, was one of the three main land gates of medieval Stargard. Its origins are linked to the construction of the town fortifications at the end of the 13th century.
Mill Gate
For centuries it guarded the entrance to the town from the harbour side. It is one of those buildings where it’s worth stopping for a moment to look not only at the gate itself, but also at its extraordinary location. The Mill Gate is the only one in Poland (and one of two in Europe) spanning directly over the river’s current. It dates from the mid-15th century.
- The gate over the water - see how the building was placed over the current of the Ina. It is this location that makes the Mill Gate so distinctive.
- The two towers - take a close look at the two slender towers joined by the gate section. Together they create one of Stargard's most recognisable views.
- The view from the Ina - step back a few paces and look at the Gate from the river – this is where you can best see its unusual construction.
The name Mill Gate comes from the mills that once operated nearby. The gate also controlled the waterway leading into the town.
Białogłówka Tower
It was right here that Stargard’s history began – much earlier than you might think.
- The distinctive "white" top - look up – it's the pale top of the tower that makes it impossible to confuse with other parts of Stargard's fortifications. The defensive walls – go closer and see how the Białogłówka Tower joins the surviving section of the old town fortifications.
- The defensive walls - go closer and see how the Białogłówka Tower joins the surviving section of the old town fortifications.
Stargard began here much earlier. Imagine that before the brick walls were built, there was a completely different settlement on this spot. It was founded as early as the 9th–10th century, and in the 11th–12th centuries around 1,500–2,000 people may have lived here. There were wooden wattle huts with hearths, and the inhabitants benefited from their location where important trade routes crossed.
The “Site of the Old Stronghold” Griffin is hiding somewhere nearby. You’ll recognise it because it is studying a model of the old stronghold and its outer settlement. But finding the Griffin is only the beginning… Look at your feet! Near the Białogłówka Tower, tracks of animals connected with life in the old stronghold have been hidden. Try to find the tracks of a cow, a horse, a goose and a marten.
Meet all the Griffins – more.
Discover the history of the old stronghold.
Read more
Filary Science Centre Stargard
Here the rules change – you don’t just look, you touch, switch on and experiment. FILARY combines science, Stargard’s history and new technologies. You can find tickets here.
- Over 55 interactive exhibits - here you take science into your own hands. Experiment and see for yourselves why the world works the way it does.
- History hidden in the experiments - FILARY is unusual because science has been combined with the history of medieval Stargard. Each exhibit is part of a bigger story, so your visit also becomes a journey through the town's history.
- The Floor of the Future - on the top floor, take a look into the world of new technologies, with topics including artificial intelligence and 3D printing.
You’re allowed to touch here! At FILARY, touching the exhibits is part of the visit. Follow the instructions, try things yourselves, and if there’s something you don’t understand, you can ask the Educators on site for help and extra fun facts.
What else does FILARY have in store? Visit the FILARY website, check the current events and plan your visit.
Still got energy? Science doesn’t end at FILARY’s doors. Visit the Science Playground and swap experimenting for some exercise in the fresh air.
Look for the Star
You’ve already made quite a few discoveries! You’ve been merchants, visited the Bastion, tracked down Griffins and found out how the world works. Now it’s time to slow down, rest and discover Stargard’s culinary side too. Choose a place marked with the Gothic Constellation Partner sign. A star in the window or by the entrance will show you where to stop for lunch, coffee or something sweet.
Aquastar or the SCK Cinema? The timing is up to you
The Family Constellation is slowly coming to an end. For the last stop of the day you have two options: fun in the water or a film together. Choose whatever you feel like right now.
- AquaStar - Jump into the water! Swap exploring the town for fun in the water. Aquastar is a great way to end a family day on the move, in the water and at your own pace. Scan the code to check opening hours and tickets.
- SCK Cinema - End the day with a good story! Or perhaps, after a long day, it's time for a film together? Check the current programme at the SCK Cinema, choose a screening and end your Family Constellation in front of the big screen. Scan the QR code to see what's on.
Still have time?
Your day doesn’t have to end here. Go to the planner and choose what else you want to discover: Griffins, murals, culture, events or places marked with the Gothic Constellation Partner star.
Create your own plan