The Odra Estuary is an area of relatively early human settlements. First Germanic and Slavonic tribes arrived here around 4200-1700 BC. In historic times this area used to be of particular interest for neighbouring peoples: Germans, Danes, Swedes and Poles. More than a thousand years ago the nearby Wolin was already a thriving town while Świnoujście appeared on the historic scene much later.
1128Bishop Otto of Bamberg arrives to christianize the inhabitants of Wolin1181First castles built at the mouth of the Świna River1184Castles destroyed by the Danes 1230First mention of the ferry across the River Świna1261'A castle on the Świna River' mentioned in a document issued by Prince Barnim I1630Troops of the Swedish King Gustav Adolf arrive at Uznam and Wolin (legend has it that the king took a rest in the presbytery in Karsibórz)1720The Treaty of Stockholm - Wolin and Uznam islands consigned to Prussia1738-1780Dredging works and construction of the port at the mouth of the Świna River1747Świnoujście becomes a seaport, Szczecin's outer harbour1765New settlement on the Świna River acquires civic rights1818-1823Construction of breakwaters at the outlet of the Świna1824Świnoujście becomes a seaside resort, soon to become the most popular European spa1848Construction of the Świnoujście Fortress is launched1859Construction of the then tallest lighthouse in the world is completed1876Świnoujście linked to Berlin by a railway1880Opening of the Piastowski Channel1907German Kaiser and Russian Tsar meet in Świnoujście1934-1939Świnoujście becomes the naval station of Hitler's Kriegsmarine12.III.1945Heavy bombings by allied air forces cause damages and kill thousands of residentsi4-5.V. 1945Russian troops enter the islands and take control of Świnoujście4-6.X.1945The town taken over by representative of the Polish Authorities1948-51Construction of the 'Odra' fishing base1958Resolution of the Council of Ministers in favour of the reconstruction of Świnoujście1959The health treatment company 'Uzdrowiska' is established24.XII.1992Last Soviet troops leave Świnoujście