Łękno,''Szczecin stary i nowy'' by T. Białecki and L. Turek-Kwiatkowska, 1991, Szczecińskie Towarzystwo Kultury,

Szczecin Szczecin ( , , ; ; ; or ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in northwestern Poland. Located near the Baltic Sea and the Poland-Germany border, German border, it is a major port, seaport, the la ...

, page 155 officially known as Łekno,
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is a municipal neighborhood of the city of

, Poland, within the

Downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in American and Canadian English to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business district ( ...

district. It is a low-rise housing estate with historic villas. The neighbourhood has an area of 1 km², and in 2022, had population of 2,947 people. It features the

Jan Kasprowicz Park The Jan Kasprowicz Park, also known as the Kasprowicz Park, and until 1945 known as Quistorp Park, is the biggest urban park in Szczecin Szczecin ( , , ; ; ; or ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of the West Pomeranian Voivo ...

, the largest urban green space in the city, as well as the Summer Theatre, one of the largest

amphitheatre An amphitheatre (American English, U.S. English: amphitheater) is an open-air venue used for entertainment, performances, and sports. The term derives from the ancient Greek ('), from ('), meaning "on both sides" or "around" and ('), meani ...

s in the country. The area was settled in the 14th century, and in 1817, it became known as Friedrichshof, after its owner Friedrich Carow, who built there his manor house. In 1871, the area was sold for the development of the housing estate of Westend, with villas for the upper class. In 1900, there was opened the Jan Kasprowicz Park and in 1927, the Bright Meadows Square. The neighbourhood was incorporated into the city in 1910.

History

Within the boundaries of modern Łękno were discovered remains of a human settlement dating to the late

Bronze Age The Bronze Age () was a historical period characterised principally by the use of bronze tools and the development of complex urban societies, as well as the adoption of writing in some areas. The Bronze Age is the middle principal period of ...

, and the

Hallstatt culture The Hallstatt culture was the predominant Western Europe, Western and Central European archaeological culture of the Late Bronze Age Europe, Bronze Age (Hallstatt A, Hallstatt B) from the 12th to 8th centuries BC and Early Iron Age Europe (Hallst ...

of the early

Iron Age The Iron Age () is the final epoch of the three historical Metal Ages, after the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. It has also been considered as the final age of the three-age division starting with prehistory (before recorded history) and progre ...

.Marek Łuczak: ''Szczecin Pogodno, Łękno''. Szczecin: Pomorskie Towarzystwo Historyczne, 2009. ISBN 978-83-751817-6-0. (in Polish) In the Middle Ages, a portion of the Osówka Street was dammed during the construction of two

gristmill A gristmill (also: grist mill, corn mill, flour mill, feed mill or feedmill) grinds cereal grain into flour and Wheat middlings, middlings. The term can refer to either the grinding mechanism or the building that holds it. Grist is grain that h ...

s, forming lake Rusałka. It received its modern shape in 1885, during another damming works. In the 14th century, in the area was founded a small farming community. In 1792, it was acquired by a local politician Friedrich Carow, who built there a manor house, and named it ''Friedrichshof'' in 1817. The estate also included around 200 ha of farmland and forest. In 1818, on the fields near the settlement was opened a

military training area A military training area, training area (Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom) or training centre (Canada) is land set aside specifically to enable military forces to train and exercise for combat. Training areas are usually out of bounds ...

. In 1864, part of Friedrichshof, was parcelled and sold for the development of housing. In 1871, rest of the estate, together with nearby settlement of Schwankenheim, was sold for 300,000

thaler A thaler or taler ( ; , previously spelled ) is one of the large silver coins minted in the states and territories of the Holy Roman Empire and the Habsburg monarchy during the Early Modern period. A ''thaler'' size silver coin has a diameter o ...

s to company Westend Stettin Bauverein auf Aktien, owned by

Johannes Quistorp Johannes Heinrich Quistorp (14 November 1822 – 9 May 1899Berlin registry office; some encyclopedias incorrectly state May 8 - instead of May 12 - as burial date. source:Familial Biography with Sources/ref> ) was an entrepreneur and philanthro ...

, Heinrich Christoph Burmeister, and August Horn. Throughout 1870s, there was developed a housing estate Westend, with villas for the upper class. It also included part of modern neighbourhood of Downtown-North.Tadeusz Białecki: ''Encyklopedia Szczecina'', vol 1: ''A–O''. Szczecin: University of Szczecin, 1999. ISBN 83-87341-45-2. (in Polish) In 1890, to the north begun being developed the suburb estate of Neu Westend (''New Westend''), now known as

Pogodno Pogodno is a municipal neighbourhood of the city of Szczecin, Poland, within the Zachód, Szczecin, West district. It is mostly a low-rise housing estate with detached houses. The neighbourhood has an area of 4.2 km2, and in 2015, was inhabite ...

. The area was incorporated into Szczecin in 1910. Szczecin ul Wawrzyniaka 7d-g

In 1871, in the area were opened the Bethany hospital complex, run by a

diaconate A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian denominations, such as the Catholi ...

, and located between Wawrzyniaka, Mickiewicza, and Beyzyma Streets. In 1891 next to it was also opened a small cemetery, currently destroyed. From 1945 to 1992, the complex was used as a

Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

military hospital, being closed afterwards. In 1957, a building at 43 Mickiewicza Street, was adopted into the Church of the Protection of Virgin Mary, belonging to the

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) is a Major archiepiscopal church, major archiepiscopal ''sui iuris'' ("autonomous") Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Catholic church that is based in Ukraine. As a particular church of the Cathol ...

denomination, and in 1961, nearby 7 Wawrzyniaka Street begun housing the Bethany commune of the

Pentecostal Church Pentecostalism or classical Pentecostalism is a movement within the broader Evangelical wing of Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes direct personal experience of God in Christianity, God through Baptism with the Holy Spirit#Cl ...

. In 1999, a building at 47 Mickiewicza Street became headquarters of the Academy of European Integration. In 1898, at Majdańskiego Street was opened the Szczecin Łękno railway station, which operated until 2002. Currently, it is located within the neighbourhood of

Arkońskie-Niemierzyn Arkońskie-Niemierzyn is a municipal neighbourhood of the city of Szczecin, Poland. It is situated on the left bank of the Oder River The Oder ( ; Czech and ) is a river in Central Europe. It is Poland's second-longest river and third-longest ...

. In 1900, on the lands donated by Johannes Quistorp, was developed the

(originally known as the ''Quistorp Park''), which, with the area of around 27 ha, became the largest urban park in Szczecin. It was formed to the east of current Słowackiego Street, in the Niemierzyn Valley and around lake Rusałka, and forming part of the

Ueckermünde Heath Ueckermünde Heath (, ) is a large area of forest and heath, 1,000 km2 in area, in northeastern Germany and northwestern Poland, on the Oder river and the Szczecin Lagoon. In 1945, the eastern part went to Poland and is now called the ''Pus ...

.''Encyklopedia Szczecina''. vol. 2: ''P–Ż'' Szczecin: University of Szczecin, 1996, p. 540. . In 1927, to the south, at current Skargi Street, was also developed the Bright Meadows Square (originally known as the ''Quistorp Meadow'').''Encyklopedia Szczecina''. vol. 1. ''A–O''. Szczecin: University of Szczecin, 1999, p. 391. . In the 1930s, within the park was opened the Summer Theatre with wooden openair stage. In 1976, in its place was built a new concrete building, becoming one of the largest

s in Poland. It was renovated in 2022. Additionally, around 1926, to the north of the park, begun being developed the Szczecin Botanical Garden, with an

alpine garden An alpine garden (or alpinarium, alpinum) is a domestic or botanical garden, or more often a part of a larger garden, specializing in the collection and cultivation of alpine plants growing naturally at high altitudes around the world, such as in ...

and

greenhouses A greenhouse is a structure that is designed to regulate the temperature and humidity of the environment inside. There are different types of greenhouses, but they all have large areas covered with transparent materials that let sunlight pass an ...

growing exotic plants. The works were halted by the outbreak of the Second World War, and it was eventually finished in the 1950s.''Encyklopedia Szczecina''. vol. 1. A-O. Szczecin: University of Szczecin, 1999, p. 683. . In 1928, as part of its complex, next to Zaleskiego Street, was opened the Różanka Rose Garden. It was renovated in 2007. In 1947, following the incorporation of the city into Poland, Westend was renamed to ''Łekno'', though it is commonly referred to as ''Łękno'' instead. In 1979, at the boundary of Kasprowicz Park and Bright Meadows was unveiled the Monument to the Polish Endeavour. Designed by Gustaw Zemła, it consists of three

bronze Bronze is an alloy consisting primarily of copper, commonly with about 12–12.5% tin and often with the addition of other metals (including aluminium, manganese, nickel, or zinc) and sometimes non-metals (such as phosphorus) or metalloid ...

colossal statues of eagles, installed on

stainless steel Stainless steel, also known as inox, corrosion-resistant steel (CRES), or rustless steel, is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion comes from its chromi ...

pillars, with the total height of 22.5 m. It is meant to represent three generations of

Polish Polish may refer to: * Anything from or related to Poland, a country in Europe * Polish language * Polish people, people from Poland or of Polish descent * Polish chicken * Polish brothers (Mark Polish and Michael Polish, born 1970), American twin ...

residents of the city.''Encyklopedia Szczecina'', vol. 2: ''P–Ż''. Szczecin: University of Szczecin, 2000, ISBN 83-7241-089-5. (in Polish) On 11 June 1987,

Pope John Paul II Pope John Paul II (born Karol Józef Wojtyła; 18 May 19202 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 16 October 1978 until Death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, his death in 2005. In his you ...

performed a

mass Mass is an Intrinsic and extrinsic properties, intrinsic property of a physical body, body. It was traditionally believed to be related to the physical quantity, quantity of matter in a body, until the discovery of the atom and particle physi ...

in front of the monument, during his third visit to Poland. In 1987, at 2 Papieża Pawła VI Street, was opened the new building of the Higher Theological Seminary.Roman Kostynowicz: ''Pomniki architektury sakralnej diecezji szczecińsko-kamieńskiej i kościoły miast biskupich w malarstwie i grafice Wiesława Śniadeckiego''. Szczecin: Wydawnictwo Polskie Pismo i Książka, 1991. (in Polish) In 1998, it became a branch of the

Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań The Adam Mickiewicz University (; Latin: ''Universitas Studiorum Mickiewicziana Posnaniensis'') is a research university in Poznań, Poland. Due to its history, the university is traditionally considered among Poland's most reputable institution ...

, and in 2003, it was turned into the Faculty of Theology of the

University of Szczecin The University of Szczecin () is a public university in Szczecin, western Poland. It is the biggest university in West Pomeranian Voivodeship, West Pomerania, with 33,267 students and a staff of nearly 1,200. Faculties The university consists o ...

. In 1990, following the administrative reform in the city, Łękno became one of its neighbourhoods governed by locally elected council. Southern historic portion of the neighbourhood, between Mickiewicza, Skargi, Monte Casino, Wielkopolska, and Piątego Lipca Streets, became part of Downtown-North. That year, Łękno had around 5,000 residents. In 2010, it had a population of 3,505 people, and 2022, a population of 2,949 people.

Overview

Łękno is a housing estate, mostly consists of historic villas. Within its boundaries, to the east of Słowackiego Street, is located the

, the largest urban park in the city, with an area of around 27 ha. It features lake Rusałka, Osówka stream, Niemierzyn Valley, and its woodland forms part of the

. There also located the Summer Theatre, one of the largest a

s in Poland. To the south, the park borders the Bright Meadows Square at Skargi Street. At their boundary stands the Monument to the Polish Endeavour, designed by Gustaw Zemła in 1979. It consists of three

colossal statues of eagles, installed on

pillars, with the total height of 22.5 m. The monument represent three generations of

residents of the city. Additionally, to the north, park borders the Różanka Rose Garden, which is part of the Szczecin Botanical Garden. Other urban green placed in the neighbourhood includes the Gałczyński Square and Badetko Square at Polish Army Avenue. Additionally, within the neighbourhood are also present the Academy of European Integration at 47 Mickiewicza Street, and the Faculty of Theology of the

at 2 Papieża Pawła VI Street, was opened the new building of the Higher Theological Seminary. At 43 Mickiewicza Street, is also placed the Church of the Protection of Virgin Mary, belonging to the

denomination, and the Bethany commune of the

denomination. At 19 Skarki Street is also located the civilian department of the

District Court District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations, some call them "small case court" usually as the lowest level of the hierarchy. These courts generally work under a higher court which exercises control over the lower co ...

of Szczecin.

Government

Łękno is one of the municipal neighbourhoods of Szczecin, governed by a locally elected council with 15 members. Its headquarters are located at 12 Bogumiły Street.

Boundaries

The neighbourhood is located between Niemierzyńska Street, Papieża Pawła VI Street, Słowackiego Street, around Kasprowicz Park, Bright Meadows Square, Skargi Street, Wawrzyniaka Street, Mickiewicza Street, Sienkiewicza Street, and tracks of the railway line no. 406. It borders

, Niebuszewo-Bolinko, Downtown-North, Turzyn, and

. It has a total area of 1 km².

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lekno Neighbourhoods of Szczecin Populated places established in the 14th century Populated places established in 1871 1871 establishments in Prussia Former villages in Poland Suburbs