Świnoujście Fortress Opens Its Gates - 9th Fortress Days Mark City’s 260th Anniversary
After a multi-year hiatus, one of the most prominent historical and cultural events on Poland’s Baltic coast has returned: the 9th Fortress Days in Świnoujście. Coinciding with the 260th anniversary of Świnoujście receiving city rights, the event celebrates the city's maritime and military heritage through a rich program of reenactments, exhibitions, and open-air spectacles.
In brief
The ninth edition of the Fortress Days has returned to Świnoujście after a break of several years, in the year of the 260th anniversary of the city being granted its town charter. The programme includes displays of FT-17, T-34, T-72 and Leopard 2A4 tanks, re-enactments involving re-enactors from Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Belarus, a reconstruction of an 18th-century settlement and the Starcie Imperiów (Clash of Empires) spectacle. Agata Kucharska of the Świnoujście Tourist Organisation called the event the largest open-air historical event in north-western Poland. Admission to all events is free.
Supported by the City of Świnoujście and organized in partnership with the Świnoujście Tourist Organization, this year’s edition brings together historical reenactors from Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, and Belarus, accompanied by iconic military vehicles ranging from the WWI-era FT-17 and WWII T-34 to the modern Leopard 2A4. Both static and dynamic displays are featured, including live-action tank demonstrations and pyrotechnic-enhanced battle reenactments.
- We're proud to restore Fortress Days as a flagship event for the city, says Agata Kucharska from the Świnoujście Tourist Organization. - It’s a celebration not only of our military heritage, but also of our maritime roots and civic history.
The event opened with a popular science session at the Museum of Sea Fisheries, exploring the city’s origins as a strategic harbor at the mouth of the Świna River. A special historical exhibition reconstructing a 19th-century mayor’s office was also inaugurated.
Among the maritime highlights was a ceremonial flag-raising at the Świnoujście Lighthouse, the tallest of its kind on the Baltic coast, accompanied by performances from Poland’s only mobile carillon and trumpet ensemble. Over the weekend, Fort Angel and Fort West opened their gates to the public, alongside night tours of the Underground City, a Cold War-era fortified complex beneath the dunes.
Reenactments include "Clash of Empires", an 18th-century battle scenario, and "Tanks Through Time", showcasing armored vehicles in action. The program culminates in a concert by legendary Polish rock band Perfect+ on Saturday night.
While Fortress Days officially conclude on Sunday, Świnoujście will continue its 260th-anniversary celebrations into the following week with Sea Days festivities.
Admission to all events is free. Full program and media resources are available at dnitwierdzy.pl.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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