Griffins and Grudges Self Guided Tour of Szczecin

Guided Tours, History, Museums, Beaches, Family Friendly · USD 6.99

Explore Szczecin on a short self-guided walk through broad boulevards, riverside landmarks, and a city where maritime heritage meets elegant Prussian architecture. 4.8( 25 reviews )$6.99Explore Szczecin on a short self-guided walk through broad boulevards, riverside landmarks, and a city where maritime heritage meets elegant Prussian architecture. - Pass by Poland's largest civilian air raid shelter beneath the railway station - Stand at the birthplace of Catherine the Great, a future tsarina - Hear the cursed tale of Sidonia von Borcke and the fall of the Griffin dynasty - Meet Umbriaga, the legendary sailor cat who vanished into folklore - See the Mies van der Rohe Award winning Philharmonic rising from wartime ruins Preview Stop 00:00 / 01:04This is the Pomeranian Dukes’ Castle, and this is where the Griffins lived. The story of this hilltop site begins in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, when the first ducal residence stood here overlooking the Oder River. At that time, it was little more than an earthen stronghold. The castle we see today began to take shape when Duke Barnim the Third ordered the construction of a permanent stone residence. Over the following decades, the complex expanded into the political center of the Duchy of Pomerania. One of the most important rulers associated with this castle was Duke Bogislaw the tenth, often known as Bogislaw the Great. Around the turn of the fifteenth century, he continued the castle's development and helped strengthen the duchy during a period of prosperity. But dynasties don't last forever, and the end of the Griffins in the early seventeenth century is tied to the darkest story in this castle, and to a woman named Sidonia von Borcke. She was born into Pomeranian nobility about five hundred years ago and by all accounts was considered one of the most beautiful women at the Griffin court. According to legend, she and the young Prince Ernst Ludwig fell deeply in love. But the prince, as princes tend to do, married for political advantage instead, wedding Sophie Hedwig of Brunswick. Sidonia, furious and humiliated, is said to have uttered a curse: ""It will not be fifty years, and the Griffin family will perish."" That's the legend. The reality was slower and crueller. Sidonia never married. She lived for decades in increasing isolation, dependent on the charity of the court she had once graced. As she aged, several Griffin dukes died in quick succession, some without heirs. The public, already anxious about the dynasty's future, began looking for someone to blame. Suspicion fell on the old, unmarried noblewoman who had once cursed the family in a moment of heartbreak. Then Sidonia was formally tried for witchcraft. Witnesses were called, accusations were stacked, and the elderly woman who had once been the beauty of the court was subjected to the full machinery of early modern witch prosecution. She was found guilty, beheaded outside the Mill Gate, and her body was burned. The trial records fill over a thousand pages, archived to this day in Greifswald. Seventeen years later, the last Griffin duke died without an heir, and the dynasty that had ruled Pomerania for centuries was extinct. The timing was devastating. Sidonia had said fifty years, and the end came within that window. The curse, whether you believe in such things or not, appeared to have come true. There is a Witches' Cell exhibition that brings the story to life through holographic projections and replica torture instruments from the period. It's genuinely unsettling. You can explore this and the castle if you wish to, but you’ll have to pay an entry fee. Now, follow the map to the last surviving tower of Szczecin's medieval fortifications.Read moreAbout this activity Free Cancellation - Cancel up to 2 hours in advance for a full refund Valid 365 days - Tour is valid for 1 year and can be used multiple times Language Options - English | French | German | Spanish | Italian | Dutch | Polish | Russian | Portuguese Duration - 1 hour and 30 minutes Szczecin Underground Routes - Google Maps - Instructions with link to app and how to access the tour will be sent to your email post checkout - You can gain instant access to the tour by downloading the app and buying the tour on the app Participants Adult Age 14 - 65 Choose a date*]:flex-1 [&>*]:basis-1/3">July 2026MonTueWedThuFriSatSun12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031Showing prices in USD (US Dollars)Booking SummaryTear hereGriffins and Grudges of Szczecin Old Town Self Guided WalkAdult:1Total:Checkout Booking engine BackEnglish$ USD OR Download app for instant tour access Frequently asked questions How does a Tourific self-guided tour work? It is incredibly simple. You can buy your tour directly on our website (in which case you will instantly receive an activation code via email to enter in the app) or purchase it directly on the Tourific app. Once purchased, the tour automatically downloads to your smartphone. When you arrive at the destination, just press play and walk at your own pace. The app features built-in Google Maps integration, using your phone's GPS to help you navigate from stop to stop. Each location includes audio narration, written text, and photos so you always know exactly what to look for. No large groups and no fixed schedules to follow. Why should I choose Tourific over a guided tour or other self-guided tour providers? Tourific combines the freedom of independent travel with the storytelling of a guided experience. Unlike traditional guided tours, you are never tied to a departure time, group or guide. You can start whenever you like, pause for coffee or photos, skip stops that don't interest you, revisit your favourite locations, or even spread the tour across multiple days. Every tour is available in 9 languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Russian, and Portuguese), using cutting-edge AI narration, making it easy to explore in the language you're most comfortable with. We provide unbeatable value with a premium, flexible storytelling experience at a fraction of the cost of a private live guide and most group tours. C