On the left bank of the Oder is the castle hill, where the strong fortress certainly existed in the eleventh century. In 1107 years tried to get Boleslaw the Wry-mouthed, this attempt failed, dopiro another, taken in winter 1119 years has resulted. Castle existed for 1243 years, when Duke Barnim I committed against the citizens of Szczecin to break down the embankment, and kept for himself only the mansion.

About 100 years later, Duke Barnim III sought to erect a new defense headquarters. Initially strongly opposed to the townspeople, but eventually won the dispute prince and 1346 years on the site of the old castle stood "Steinhaus" - a brick building with a length of about 30, width 10 and height of 8 meters. To the west of the building was the chapel of St.. Otto surrounded by a wall. The second wall, high on almost 4 meters, surrounded by all the assumptions. Soon after the chapel was extended, possibly in parallel with the expansion of the built in place of the present south wing, the second court building, which preserved vaulted cellars.

In 1430, the Duke Casimir VI, because of constant conflicts with the townsmen, decided to strengthen the castle. However, four years later, dying ordered demolished fortifications. In 1491 years the castle stayed Anna Jagiellon, who married the Duke of Szczecin Prince Boguslaw X. This modernized the south wing, and can both towers at the wing. When in 1530 a fire engulfed the bourgeois buildings west of the castle suffered a southern wing. Barnim XI, son Boguslaw, in 1538 years renovating buildings increases the "New House" by one storey and part nadbudowuje octagonal towers. Southern wing of the highest obtained the same rare height of 30 meters, had 4 floors, and its length was 52 meters. From the time of Prince Bogusław X started glory years of the castle - Prince was an ambitious ruler, grew up in Cracow Dlugosz, his wife had a daughter of the Polish king, and he united Western Pomerania. With their long journeys would bring valuable souvenirs. His son in addition to the modernization of the south wing also raised the eastern wing. After the fire of 1551 years construction work was continued and completed in 1569.

Successor Barnim XI was John Frederick. Two years after the death of his predecessor, he begins construction work to complete the work of the Renaissance remodeling initiated by Barnim. Just two years later, despite the fire of 1576, the reconstruction is completed. The building work was led by the Italians - or Antonius Wilhelm, as they serve at the beginning of the seventeenth century, Joachim von Wedel and Friederborn, or Antonio Guglielmo according to nineteenth-century studies.

Yet by the end of the sixteenth century castle church was demolished, "Steinhaus" and buildings on the west side of the castle grounds, in their place while erected north and west wings. With the exception of the south wing others were now equal to the height of three storeys and were topped with a string of attics. From the extensive courtyard with sides of more than 50 meters along the wings proficient cloisters. The castle was still enriched with new works of art. In the years 1616-1619 were erected along the western wing of a separate building for the purpose of a library and a museum to house the collections gathered by Philip II, brother of the last prince.

During the conflict, the Swedish-German Prince Boguslaw XIV spoke out on the Swedish side. When was the last male representative of the Griffin died in 1637 - the castle became the residence of the governor Bjelke. Duchy fell, and at subsequent owners of the castle ceased to care. Another undertaken reconstruction blurred artistic renaissance details. In 1648 Pomerania was divided as a result of negotiations with Brandenburg Swedes and Swedes stopped Szczecin.

During the invasion of Poland in Szczecin Swedes were attacked by benefiting from the weakening of the army of Brandenburg. It is possible that the castle was damaged, but the biggest damage from the period of fighting with the Swedes castle and the town suffered in 1677. Castle fired by artillery, resulting in a north wing was ruined, and the other required a thorough overhaul. Taken protective works are not likely to complete.

When Brandenburgians were forced to withdraw from the castle Szczecin again fell into the hands of Swedish. The new owners have made the necessary work and brought the best architect to draw up plans for remodeling. Nicodemus Tessin the bold plans Younger, who planned to demolish part of the buildings and the other to completely rebuild fortunately not been realized. Limited funds meant that only the student Tessina Johan Frederik Eosander Gothe could undertake the repair, which was limited to the necessary work. The castle still disrepair, used mostly by the military.

In 1705 due to the planned destination of the castle as a residence for Queen Catherine, wife of Stanislaw Leszczynski, the lock is properly equipped and furnished, but no construction work has not been taken. 1713 the castle was besieged by the coalition forces united against the Swedes. Artillery again heavily strained the walls of buildings. In 1720, the city with the castle became part of Prussia.

The buildings have undergone construction work. While the interior was rebuilt slightly, the facades changed completely. Gate was demolished in the courtyard, museum rebuilt wing of Philip II, the castle was rebuilt roofs. The work was completed in 1736. Over the next few decades the castle several times suffered from the riots of war. In 1806 the castle enter Napoleon's army, and after his defeat, in 1813 Szczecin back into the hands of Prussia. During the nineteenth century, the castle is again gradually rebuilt. There were established the court, administrative offices and archives.

It was not until the early twentieth century began to think about restoring the castle former glory. In the years 1925-1926 was carried out renovations and cleaning, but slowly realized plans interrupted by the Second World War. In 1944 the castle was bombed, leaving only the castle damaged walls, vaults mostly collapsed.

Renovation work began in 1947, but gained momentum until ten years later. Now completely rebuilt the castle became the cultural center of the city, it houses a museum, among others.