Ferry from Ystad to Swinoujscie

Ystad Guide

The town of Ystad is located in Skane County in the south west of Sweden. The town's origins date back to the 11th century when the mouth of the River Vassa was settled by families fishing for herring which was became the settlement's main source of income. It was another several centuries before the town was mentioned again when in 1244, a record was made of King Eric's visit to the town with his brother Abel. Shortly after the King's visit a Franciscan Monastery, Grabrodraklostret, was founded in 1267 and later Ystad joined the Hanseatic League in the 14th century. Of particular interest to visitors to the town is one of Sweden's best preserved medieval monasteries, the Greyfriars Abbey. There is also a medieval church in the town, the Church of the Virgin Mary (Mariakyrkan). Both buildings were influences by Gothic Hansa architecture and are excellent examples of Brick Gothic architecture in Sweden.

Ystad today is a busy ferry port, administrative centre and tourist attraction spurred on perhaps because of the town's association with the fictional police officer Kurt Wallender. The creation of Henning Mankell, Wallender is mainly set in Ystad and the surrounding area. The town's ferry port has services to the Danish island of Bornholm and to Swinoujscie (formerly Swinemünde), in Poland.

Swinoujscie Guide

The city of Swinoujscie is located in the far north western part of Poland, at the mouth of the River Swina, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. The town's area is made up of 44 islands although only three of them are inhabited. They are Wolin, the largest island in Poland, Uznam and Karsibor and around 80% of the city's inhabitants live on the Polish part of Uznam island. The city is bordered by Szczecin Bay, the Baltic Sea and the German border and the city covers an area of around 200 sq. km. Swinoujscie is also the closest Polish town to Denmark, which is 150 km away, and is 175 km from Sweden and Berlin is only 160 km away.

The town's symbol, its historic lighthouse, is located on Wolin Island and at a height of 68 meters is the tallest on the Baltic Sea coast. The lighthouse was restored in 2000 and since then it has been open to the public and provides visitors with lovely views of the city and the surrounding area. Swinoujscie has the largest and most modern ferry terminal in Poland, with regular connections to destinations in Denmark and Sweden.