Stettin barrels

If a city can have a historical scent, then Szczecin undoubtedly smells of barrels full of fish. One can discuss whether this scent is pleasant or not, but it undoubtedly testifies to the former power of this city.

To understand this, one must go back in time to the 12th century, when the Hanseatic League, a federation of maritime merchants, was established in Lübeck. Szczecin became a part of this league in 1278. Like every significant city, it had its own specialties. According to the saying: “Stettin ist Fischhaus, Lübeck ein Kaufhaus, Köln ein Weinhaus, Danzig ist ein Kornhaus” – Szczecin was about fish. Thanks to its membership in the Hanseatic League, it was possible to catch fish in the northern parts of the Baltic Sea, especially rich in herring. The fish ended up at Szczecin’s Fish Market, where trade continued until World War II.

Today, fresh herring is hard to come by in Szczecin. However, it is possible to see, and even touch, a bronze one. In the Sailors' Alley, a monument has been erected to remind us of the city's traditions. Five bronze-cast barrels, one of which is open and displays its contents, is the work of Michał Batkiewicz. The barrels appeared on the waterfront in May 2019 when the city hosted a meeting of marine industry representatives – Herring 2019. Thus, symbolically, Szczecin returned to its roots, and yet another interesting place appeared on the city’s tourist map.

The author of the photos and text - Bogusława Bandyk