Lighthouses of Poland: Swinjouscie and the Odra

Lighthouses of Poland: Swinoujscie and the Odra

Since the end of World War II in 1945, the coast of Poland has stretched from Swinoujscie in the west to the Gulf of Gdansk in the east. Poland has at least 26 lighthouses on its Baltic coast and also many lighthouses on the inland waterway that extends from Swinoujscie to Szczecin. This page lists the lighthouses of the Swinoujscie area and the waterway leading to Szczecin; the remaining Baltic lighthouses are listed on the Poland's Baltic Coast page.

Szczecin (known as Stettin under German rule) is more than 50 km (30 mi) from the sea, located on the Odra (Oder) River. The Odra empties into Szczecin Bay (Zalew Szczecinski in Polish or Stettiner Haff in German), a large lagoon that in turn empties into the Baltic through three channels. The western end of the bay and the westernmost of the three channels lie in Germany. Large ships enter the waterway through the central channel, the Swina, at Swinoujscie (Swinemünde).

Today, Szczecin is Poland's largest port, but until World War II it was Germany's third largest port. The surrounding region, West Pomerania, became part of Prussia in 1720 and thus part of the German Empire when it was formed in 1871. As a result, nearly all the lighthouses in the region were built under German administration.

Active Polish lighthouses are operated by the regional Maritime Office (Urzad Morski). There are three of these offices, in Szczecin, Slupsk, and Gdynia. All of the lights on this page are managed by the Szczecin Maritime Office.

In Polish, a lighthouse is a "sea lantern," latarnia morska, plural latarnie morskie.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Light List numbers are from volume C of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 116.

What's Hot:

Swinoujscie Light
Latarnia Morska Swinoujscie
photo copyright Klaus Huelse; used by permission

General Sources
Polnische Leuchttürme: Photos posted in 2005 by Klaus Huelse, including many photos of the inland lighthouses. Special thanks to Klaus for the use of some of these photos here!
Online List of Lights - Poland: Photos posted by Alexander Trabas.
Leuchttürme der ehemaligen deutschen Ostgebiete: Postcard views of historical German lighthouses in Poland and other former German territories, posted by Klaus Huelse.
Swinoujscie Area Lighthouses
**** Swinoujscie {Swinemünde} (2): 1857 (station established 1828). Active; focal plane 68 m (223 ft); white light 4 s on, 1 s off; red light is shown southwestward over the Swina for outbound ships. 65 m (213 ft) round brick tower with lantern and gallery rising from an octagonal base with a second gallery. Tower is unpainted yellow brick; lantern painted black. 1° Fresnel lens in use. Adjacent 2-story brick keeper's house. Huelse's photo is above, Trabas has a good photo, a 2008 closeup is available, and Google has a satellite view. This magnificent lighthouse is surely one of the tallest brick lighthouses ever built; it is nearly 4 m (13 ft) taller than the Cape Hatteras Light in the U.S. The view from the gallery is about 45 km (28 mi) in clear weather. The tower was restored in 1902-03 to repair spalled brickwork; this project converted the tower's cross-section from the original octagonal to circular. In 1945, retreating German troops ordered the destruction of the lighthouse, but the German keeper could not bring himself to light the fuses and the tower survived. Damage from World War II was repaired belatedly in 1959. In 1998-2000, as a Millennium project, the lighthouse was completely restored and opened to the public, along with a lighthouse museum in the keeper's house. Located on the east bank of the river Swina just inside the entrance. Site open, museum and tower open Monday through Friday. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-019; Admiralty C2668; NGA 6116.
Kosa (Marine Pier) North End: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); green light occulting once every 4 s. 8 m (26 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery black. Huelse has a photo, the Anke/Jens lighthouse site also has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of a long pier along the west side of the Swina channel about 2 km (1.2 mi) south southwest of the Galeriowa lighthouse. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-036; Admiralty C2678; NGA 6136.
Kosa (Marine Pier) South End: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); green light occulting once every 4 s. 6.5 m (21 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted green. Google has an indistinct satellite view. We're guessing this tower is a twin of the North End light. Located at the end of a long pier along the west side of the Swina channel about 2 km (1.2 mi) west southwest of the North End light. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-037; Admiralty C2678.2; NGA 6140.
Mielen North End: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 11 m (36 ft); three red flashes, in a 2+1 pattern, every 12 s. Square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. The tower is similar to the Mielen South End and Piastowski Kanal North End lights. Located at the north end of the island of Mielen, which divides the Swina for about 3.5 km (2 mi). Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-064; Admiralty C2680; NGA 6156.
Mielen South End: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 6 m (21 ft); red light, 2 s on, 2 s off. 7 m (26 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a fuzzy satellite view. Located at the south end of the island of Mielen, which divides the Swina for about 3.5 km (2 mi). Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-065; Admiralty C2685; NGA 6176.
Piastowski Kanal North End (Karsibor North End): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 7 m (23 ft); red or green light, depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s. 8 m (26 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the north end of the Piastowski Kanal, a dredged channel about 8 km (5 mi) long connecting the Swina to the Zalew Szczecinski (Stettiner Haff). Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-068; Admiralty C2689; NGA 6188.
* Karsibor Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 39 m (128 ft); orange light, occulting once every 4 s, synchronized with the front light. 38 m (125 ft) triangular pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder. Lighthouse painted red with one white horizontal band. Huelse has a fine photo, and Google has a satellite view. The Karsibor range lights are located west of the Piastowski Kanal; they guide vessels northbound through the waterway. Located about 800 m (1/2 mi) west of the north end of the Piastowski Kanal. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-059; Admiralty C2690.1; NGA 6196.
* Karsibor Range Front: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); orange light, occulting once every 4 s, synchronized with the rear light. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical metal tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern roof is red. Huelse has a photo; in Google's satellite view the tower is partially concealed by the shadows of nearby trees. Located on the west bank of the Piastowski Kanal, 1.3 km (3/4 mi) southeast of the rear light. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-058; Admiralty C2690; NGA 6192.
Zalew Szeczecinski (Stettiner Haff) Lighthouses Piastowski Kanal Entrance East (Brama Torowa 1E): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off, visible only along the line of the Kanal. 26 m (85 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder, mounted on a 1-story square masonry base. Everything but the base painted red. Huelse has a photo. This is the first of the Brama Towers, a chain of lighthouses guiding ships across the Zalew Szczecinski (Stettiner Haff) to Szczecin. Located adjacent to the base of the east mole at the entrance to the Piastowski Kanal from the Zalew Szczecinski. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-066; Admiralty C2693; NGA 6200.
Piastowski Kanal Entrance West (Brama Torowa 1W): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off, visible only along the line of the Kanal; also a red general navigation light, occulting twice every 8 s, at a focal plane of 23 m (75 ft). 26 m (85 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder, mounted on a 1-story square masonry base. Tower painted green, lantern and watch room red. Fog horn (Morse code "K," long-short-long, every 60 s). Located adjacent to the base of the west mole at the entrance to the Piastowski Kanal from the Zalew Szczecinski. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-067; Admiralty C2694; NGA 6204.
Zalew Szeczecinski Southeast (Brama Torowa 3E): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); three white flashes every 8 s, visible only along the northwest-southeast channel crossing the sound; also a directional light, white, red or green flash every 4 s at a focal plane of 22 m (72 ft), shown over a sector to the north. 21 m (69 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder, mounted on a circular concrete base. Lighthouse painted red, except the central cylinder is white. Huelse has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the southeastern part of the Zalew Szczecinski, about 5 km (3 mi) north of the south shore west of Trzebiez. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-077; Admiralty C2702; NGA 6224.
Zalew Szeczecinski Southwest (Brama Torowa 3W): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); three white flashes every 8 s, visible only along the northwest-southeast channel crossing the sound. 21 m (69 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder, mounted on a circular concrete base. Lighthouse painted green, except the central cylinder is white. Huelse has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the southeastern part of the Zalew Szczecinski, about 5 km (3 mi) north of the south shore west of Trzebiez. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-029; Admiralty C2703; NGA 6228.
Chelminek North: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 13 m (42 ft); red light occulting twice every 8 s, synchronized with the south end light. 13 m (42 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. Huelse has a photo, additional photos of this and other lights of the Chelminek area are available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the northwestern end of a mole along the edge of Chelminek Island that parallels and protects the channel leading into the southeastern extension of the Zalew Szczecinski, about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) north of Trzebiez. Accessible only by boat; there should be good view from Trzebiez. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-050; Admiralty C2719; NGA 6276.
Chelminek South: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 8 m (26 ft); red light occulting twice every 8 s, synchronized with the north end light. 8 m (26 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, painted red. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the southeastern end of a mole along the edge of Chelminek Island that parallels and protects the channel leading into the southeastern extension of the Zalew Szczecinski, about 1.2 km (3/4 mi) northeast of Trzebiez. Accessible only by boat; there should be good view from Trzebiez. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-051; Admiralty C2720; NGA 6280.
Brama Torowa 4E: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off, visible only along the northwest-southeast channel crossing the sound. 24 m (79 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder, mounted on a circular concrete base. Entire lighthouse painted red. Huelse has a good photo and a historic postcard view, a second photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the channel a short distance south of the Chelminek South light. Accessible only by boat; there should be good view from Trzebiez. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-046; Admiralty C2722; NGA 6284.
Brama Torowa 4W: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white light, 1 s on, 1 s off, visible only along the northwest-southeast channel crossing the sound. 24 m (79 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder, mounted on a circular concrete base. Entire lighthouse painted green. Huelse has a good photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the west side of the channel a short distance south of the Chelminek South light. Accessible only by boat; there should be good view from Trzebiez. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-047; Admiralty C2721; NGA 6288.
Stepnica Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 25 m (82 ft); white light occulting every 8 s. 24 m (79 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder, mounted on a circular concrete base. Upper half of lighthouse painted orange, lower half white. This lighthouse is identical to the Brama Towers. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The range guides northbound ships headed for the main part of the sound. Located in the southeastern extension of the Zalew Szczecinski, about 4 km (2.5 mi) southwest of Stepnica. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-072; Admiralty C2730.1; NGA 6336.
Stepnica Range Front: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white light occulting every 8 s. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical metal tower with lantern and double gallery, mounted on a circular concrete base. Lower half of lighthouse painted white, upper half red. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located in the southeastern extension of the Zalew Szczecinski, 740 m (1/2 mi) south southeast of the rear light and about 5 km (3 mi) southwest of Stepnica. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-071; Admiralty C2730; NGA 6332.
Zulawy: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white or red light, depending on direction, occulting every 4 s. 15 m (49 ft) square cylindrical skeletal tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on a circular concrete base. Upper half of lighthouse painted black, lower half white. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. This directional light guides vessels in both directions. Located about 2 km (1.2 mi) southeast of the Stepnica range lights. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. Operator: Urzad Morski w Szczecinie. ARLHS POL-032; Admiralty C2732; NGA 6372.
Odra River (Szczecin Area) Lighthouses Radun Range Front: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white light occulting twice every 8 s. 15 m (49 ft) round metal tower with lantern and double gallery. Upper half of lighthouse painted orange, lower half white. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. This is the southbound entrance range for the Odra. Located on the east bank of the river about 2.5 km (1.5 mi) north of Police. Site status unknown. ARLHS POL-024; Admiralty C2734; NGA 6376.
Radun Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white light occulting twice every 8 s. 28 m (92 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder. Upper half of lighthouse painted orange, lower half white. This lighthouse is identical to the Brama Towers. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the east bank of the river 800 m (1/2 mi) south southeast of the front light. Site status unknown. ARLHS POL-025; Admiralty C2734.1; NGA 6380.
Police Range Rear: Date unknown (modern). Active; focal plane 60 m (197 ft); red light, 7.5 s on, 2.5 s off, synchronized with the front light. Approx. 54 m (175 ft) round hourglass-shaped concrete tower with two galleries but no lantern. Upper third of the lighthouse painted orange, middle third white, lower third black. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a good satellite view. These range lights are similar to the tall modern range lights common on the Elbe and Weser Rivers in western Germany. The range guides northbound ships departing Szczecin. Located about 250 m (0.15 mi) west of the river in an industrial area on the northeastern edge of Police. Site and tower closed. ARLHS POL-070; Admiralty C2738.51; NGA 6389.1.
Police Range Front: Date unknown (modern). Active; focal plane 37 m (121 ft); red light, 7.5 s on, 2.5 s off, synchronized with the rear light. Approx. 34 m (112 ft) round concrete tower with a flared (funnel-shaped) top and a gallery. There is a light atop the structure, but the range light is probably shown through a square window at the top of the tower. Upper half of the lighthouse painted orange, lower half white with a black band at the bottom. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a good satellite view. Located on a wharf on the west bank of the river in Police, adjacent to an industrial plant. Site and tower closed. ARLHS POL-069; Admiralty C2738.5; NGA 6389.
Domance (Cross Light): Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white or red light depending on direction, occulting twice every 8 s; white light is shown over the upstream and downstream channels. 14 m (56 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white, lantern and gallery red. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse probably resembles the Zulawy and Inskie lights. The light helps guide ships around a change in the direction of the channel at Police. Located on the west bank of the river at Police. Site status unknown. ARLHS POL-023; Admiralty C2741; NGA 6384.
* Domance (Politzer Wiesen) Range Front: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); yellow light occulting every 4 s, synchronized with the rear light. 15 m (49 ft) round cylindrical metal tower with lantern and double gallery. Upper half of lighthouse painted red, lower half white; lantern roof is black. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. This range guides southbound ships toward Szczecin. Located on the west bank of the river at Czaoliniec, just south of Police. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS POL-052; Admiralty C2743; NGA 6392.
* Domance (Politzer Wiesen) Range Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white light occulting every 4 s, synchronized with the front light. 25 m (85 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder. Upper half of lighthouse painted orange, lower half white. This lighthouse is identical to the Brama Towers. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located 660 m (0.4 mi) south of the front light. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS POL-053; Admiralty C2743.1; NGA 6396.
Ina Range Common Rear: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white light, 5 s on, 3 s off. Approx. 24 m (79 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery; the two sides of the tower facing the range lines are covered by metal panels as a daymark. Upper half of tower painted red, lower half white. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located east of the river about 625 m (0.4 mi) southeast of the southbound front light and 850 m (0.5 mi) north northeast of the northbound front light. Site status unknown. ARLHS POL-054; Admiralty C2747; NGA 6432.
Ina Range Northbound Front: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white light occulting every 8 s. 17 m (56 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery; the front of the tower is covered by metal panels as a daymark. Top of tower painted red, lower portion white. No photo available, although the two Ina front towers are probably quite similar. Google has a satellite view. Located on the east bank of the river about 4 km (2.5 mi) south of Swieta; there is a road leading to this area. Site status unknown. ARLHS POL-055; Admiralty C2747.1; NGA 6436.
Babina: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 12 m (39 ft); white or red light depending on direction, occulting every 4 s. 14 m (46 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Upper half of lighthouse painted red, lower half white; lantern roof is black. Huelse has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. This directional light is located on the west side of the island of Mewia, at the northwestern corner of Czarna Laka, a large lake through which the river flows north of Szczecin. Accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS POL-045; Admiralty C2750; NGA 6444.
Bykowo Range Front: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white light occulting every 4 s. 16 m (52 ft) round metal tower with lantern and double gallery. Upper half of lighthouse painted orange, lower half white; lantern roof is black. Huelse has a photo showing both range lights, and Google has a satellite view. This range guides vessels southbound to the entrance of a canal (originally the Königsfahrt) west of Czarna Laka, leading to Szczecin. Located on the east side of the canal; accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS POL-048; Admiralty C2762; NGA 6448.
Bykowo Range Rear: Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white light occulting every 4 s. 25 m (82 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder. Upper half of lighthouse painted orange, lower half white; lantern roof is black. This lighthouse is identical to the Brama Towers. Huelse has a photo showing both range lights, and Google has a satellite view. Located on the east side of the canal about 600 m (0.4 mi) south of the front light; accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS POL-049; Admiralty C2762.1; NGA 6452.
Swieta Range Front: Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); white light occulting every 4 s. 16 m (52 ft) round metal tower with lantern and double gallery. Upper half of lighthouse painted orange, lower half white; lantern roof is black. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. This is the southbound range guiding ships down the canal (originally the Königsfahrt) west of Czarna Laka, leading to Szczecin. Located on the west side of the canal; probably accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS POL-073; Admiralty C2764; NGA 6456.
Swieta Range Rear: Active; focal plane 26 m (85 ft); white light occulting every 4 s. 27 m (89 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower with lantern, watch room, double gallery, and enclosed central cylinder. Upper half of lighthouse painted orange, lower half white. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on the west side of the canal; probably accessible only by boat. Site status unknown. ARLHS POL-074; Admiralty C2764.1; NGA 6460.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

{Winkbake} (1896-?), Swinoujscie {Swinemünde} East Mole. ARLHS POL-039.

Notable faux lighthouses:

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