Międzyzdroje (; ), historically known as Misdroy in English, is a city and a seaside resort in northwestern Poland on the island of Wolin on the Baltic coast. The city is located in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, and is the seat of Gmina Międzyzdroje. In 2016, it was inhabited by around 5,500 people. Following the fragmentation of Poland, it formed part of the Duchy of Pomerania. Towards the very end of the 12th century two settled camps or settlements have been established within the present-day town limits. Both of these settlements, with a mining and agricultural focus, were property of the Bishopric of Kamien Pomorski. The first initial name of the town appeared in the 15th century as Misdroige. According to sources, the early Slavic settlers were involved primarily in agriculture, cattle-breeding, fishing, bee-keeping and hunting. A wooden pier on the Baltic Sea was constructed and eventually upgraded in 1906. The pier was 360 metres in length and the coffee-house situated at its very end still operates to this day.

In 1899, Misdroy was connected via railway with nearby Szczecin and Świnoujście, which contributed to an even greater number of patient and tourist arrivals. Shortly before the outbreak of World War I, over 20,000 visitors were recorded, The town did not suffer destruction during the course of the war. After the war, the Międzyzdroje became part of the Polish People's Republic in 1945 in accordance with the Potsdam Agreement, and was granted town status.

The town's Polish name comes from its original 16th-century meaning of the "town between salts springs", or Międzyzdroje in Polish.

In 1959, town limits were expanded.

Sights

  • Beach and pier
  • Fryderyk Chopin Spa Park with a monument of the Polish composer
  • Wax museum
  • Nature Museum of the Wolin National Park
  • Walk of Fame (Promenada Gwiazd)
  • Baltic Miniature Park (Bałtycki Park Miniatur)
  • Saint Peter church
  • Culture Center

<gallery mode="packed" heights="160">

File:Międzyzdroje 31, wejście na molo.jpg|alt=Right Pier|Międzyzdroje Pier

File:Miedzyzdroje molo.jpg|Aerial view of the pier

File:Międzyzdroje-Fryderyk Chopin bust.jpg|Bust of Fryderyk Chopin

File:Miedzyzdroje Bohaterow Warszawy 19 2021.jpg|Wax museum

File:Miedzyzdroje muzeum WPN.jpg|Nature Museum of the Wolin National Park

File:Miedzyzdroje kosciol sw Piotra Apostola (1).jpg|Saint Peter church

</gallery>

Transport

thumb|Międzyzdroje railway station

Międzyzdroje is located at the intersection of the S3 expressway and Voivodeship road 102. There is also a railway station.

International relations

Międzyzdroje was the birthplace of the Harvard World Model United Nations Conference in 1991.

Międzyzdroje is twinned with:

  • Bakhchysarai Raion, Ukraine
  • Čačak, Serbia
  • Helsingborg, Sweden
  • Izola, Slovenia
  • Lomma, Sweden
  • Sellin, Germany

Notable residents

  • Ernst Eiselen (1792 - 1846 in Misdroy), German gymnast and a promoter of the Jahn style of gymnastics
  • Hermann Wilhelm Ebel (1820 – 1875 in Misdroy), German philologist
  • Albert Sauer (1898–1945), German Nazi SS concentration camp commandant
  • Prince Claus of the Netherlands (1926–2002), husband of Queen Beatrix, he attended the Baltenschule Misdroy from 1938 until 1942
  • Grischa Huber (1944–2021), German actress
  • Wiesław Chmielewski (born 1957), Polish modern pentathlete
  • Międzyzdroje (pl). Official website.
  • Międzyzdroje (pl). Official website for tourists.

References