Editing West Pomeranian Voivodeship (section)

==Geography and tourism==
[[File:Festiwal Słowian i Wikingów 2009 12.jpg|thumb|left|Viking Festival in [[Wolin (town)|Wolin]]]]
West Pomeranian Voivodeship is the fifth largest voivodeship of Poland in terms of area. The largest cities in the region are the capital [[Szczecin]], as well as [[Koszalin]], [[Stargard]], [[Kołobrzeg]] and [[Świnoujście]].

This is a picturesque region of the [[Baltic Sea]] coast, with many beaches, lakes and woodlands. Szczecin, [[Świnoujście]] and [[Port of Police|Police]] are important [[port]]s. Other major seaside towns include [[Międzyzdroje]], [[Dziwnów]], [[Kołobrzeg]], and [[Mielno]].

[[File:Stargard Kolegiata6.JPG|thumb|left|Church of the Virgin Mary, Queen of the World, in [[Stargard]]]]
West Pomerania is also rich in various forms and styles of architecture that were built during the Middle Ages as well as the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]], [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]], and [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] periods. [[Darłowo]], the birthplace of [[Eric of Pomerania]], King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, contains a preserved old town with the Gothic Our Lady of Częstochowa church, which holds the king's sarcophagus. The [[St. Mary's Church, Stargard|St. Mary's Church]] in Stargard and Saint John Co-Cathedral in [[Kamień Pomorski]] are considered two of the most precious Gothic churches of entire Poland, and as such are listed as [[Historic Monument (Poland)|Historic Monuments of Poland]],<ref>{{Cite Polish law|title=Rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 17 września 2010 r. w sprawie uznania za pomnik historii "Stargard Szczeciński - zespół kościoła pod wezwaniem Najświętszej Marii Panny Królowej Świata oraz średniowieczne mury obronne miasta"|year=2010|volume=184|number=1236}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Polish law|title=Rozporządzenie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 25 sierpnia 2005 r. w sprawie uznania za pomnik historii "Kamień Pomorski - zespół katedralny"|year=2005|volume=167|number=1401}}</ref> whereas the Saint Stanislaus Kostka church in [[Chwarszczany]] is a nationally unique former [[Knights Templar]] church. In [[Cedynia]], the westernmost town of Poland, there is a memorial commemorating the [[Battle of Cedynia]] of 972, the oldest recorded battle in the history of Poland. The [[Świnoujście Lighthouse]] is the tallest brick lighthouse in the world. The War Cemetery in Stargard is the burial place of over 5,000 Allied soldiers and prisoners of war from both world wars, including Polish, French, Serbian/Yugoslav, Russian/Soviet, Italian, Romanian, Belgian, British, Moroccan, Portuguese and Dutch. There are also numerous World War II memorials, including memorials to [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] POWs from World War II at the former Oflag II-B, [[Oflag II-D]] and [[Stalag Luft IV]] German POW camps in [[Choszczno]], [[Kłomino]] and [[Tychowo]], and a memorial to British pilots of the [[No. 617 Squadron RAF]] shot down by Germany in [[Karsibór]], [[Świnoujście]].

There is a diverse repertoire of theaters, festivals, museums and galleries. During a few-day long annual Sea Festival in [[Szczecin]], a number of free [[open-air concert]]s take place. In [[Świnoujście]] during the summer, the [[FAMA]] Academic Youth Arts Festival takes place – an event with several years of tradition, which attracts not only young people but also older alumni. In [[Międzyzdroje]], there is a Festival Of The Stars, which draws many popular actors. In [[Wolin (town)|Wolin]], a Viking Festival takes place, which draws "Vikings" from all across Europe.

Another draw to the area is a wide array of health resorts. [[Brine]] and [[peloid]], discovered in the 19th century, together with [[Geothermal activity|geothermal]] water resources, are popular attractions in Świnoujście, [[Kamień Pomorski]] and [[Połczyn Zdrój]].

A notable phenomenon on a worldly scale is the [[Crooked Forest]] outside the town of [[Gryfino]].