The terrace is constructed on a 19-meter-high embankment supported by a massive retaining wall.
The name 'Hakenterrasse' was changed to 'Wały Chrobrego' in 1945, referencing Polish King Bolesław I the Brave.
The central fountain features a sculptural group depicting a struggle between a Triton and a sea monster.
The buildings flanking the terrace are interconnected by a system of underground passages originally meant for municipal administration.
The terrace area was designed as part of a broader urban renewal plan to transform Szczecin into a 'Paris of the North'.
The National Museum building on the terrace served as the City Museum of Szczecin when it opened in 1913.
Wały Chrobrego is a 500-meter-long viewing terrace overlooking the Oder River in Szczecin, Poland. Designed by city planner Wilhelm Meyer-Schwartau and built between 1900 and 1914, it was originally named Hakenterrasse after Mayor Hermann Haken. The architectural complex incorporates the National Museum in Szczecin, the Regional Office, and the Maritime University. The terrace is built on the site of the former Fort Leopold, a component of the city's 19th-century defensive fortifications. The grand staircase features two stone lighthouses and several large decorative fountains. Much of the site survived the destruction of World War II, preserving its original Neo-Renaissance and Neo-Baroque aesthetic. It serves as a major promenade and a venue for maritime events like the Tall Ships Races.
From the river bank at the base of the central stairs looking upward toward the National Museum.
Walk the entire length of the lower boulevard near the water to get a perspective on the sheer scale of the stone retaining walls.
Explore the area behind the terrace buildings to find hidden courtyards and historical architectural details.
Bring a windbreaker, as the open embankment position makes the area significantly windier than the city center.
Avoid walking only on the upper terrace; you miss the scale of the architecture and the river views from the lower level.
