Szczecinek

Szczecinek (Polish: [ʂt͡ʂɛˈt͡ɕinɛk] ; German: Neustettin) is a historic city in Middle Pomerania, northwestern Poland, capital of Szczecinek County in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, with a population of more than 40,000 (2011). The town's total area is 48.63 square kilometres (18.78 square miles). The turbulent history of Szczecinek reaches back to the High Middle Ages, when the area was ruled by Pomeranian dukes and princes. The majority of the city's architecture survived World War II and, subsequently, its entire Old Town was proclaimed a national heritage monument of Poland. Szczecinek is the location of one of the oldest museums and one of the oldest high schools in Pomerania and northern Poland, and one of the places of production of krówki. It is an important railroad junction, located along the main Poznań - Kołobrzeg line, which crosses less important lines to Chojnice and Słupsk.