Gubin: City History, Theatre Island and Green Spaces

City history in the museum room

Located in central Gubin, the museum room of the Association of Friends of the Gubin Region was established in 2004 at the initiative of its members. It displays artefacts covering six themes: prehistory, city history, applied arts, places, honorary citizens of Gubin and “Our City”. Early history, urban themes and local figures are presented side by side, and visitors can shift their focus from art and objects to the city’s places and people. If you are travelling with children, the themes offer starting points for questions to explore together: What does city history tell us, and how does it differ from applied art?

The museum room’s opening hours are listed as Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 10:00 to 14:30. Check locally whether these hours apply on the day of your visit.

Theatre Island and cultural landmarks

The park on Theatre Island is on a river island near the confluence of the Lubsza and the Lusatian Neisse. The park includes a monument to the former city theatre, two sculptures and natural monuments. The former city theatre opened in 1874 with Goethe’s “Faust” and was destroyed in 1945. A 20th-century entrance façade with original columns and stone steps serves as a symbol of the former building.

Another example of Gubin’s cultural history is the monument to Corona Schröter, unveiled in 1905. The opera singer and actress, who was born in Gubin, is depicted only in part: the monument has not been fully preserved.

Historic green spaces and routes

The former Albert Koenig Park covered 25 hectares and had a rich stock of trees. It was named after its benefactor, a respected founder and owner of a local daily newspaper, a publishing house and a printing works. The name of the former park thus connects it with the history of a local publisher and entrepreneur.

For route planning, distinguish between two connections: a 21-kilometre Eurotown Guben-Gubin cycling route leads to the former Albert Koenig Park; the park on Theatre Island is part of the cross-border Green Path. The cycling route also runs along the western bank of the Neisse, near the ruins of a bridge between Gubin’s former industrial district and its villa district. Check local route conditions before setting out.

Squares, bridges and fortifications

Plac św. Jana Pawła II is a paved area of 0.3 hectares in Gubin’s historic centre. It is next to the Renaissance town hall and the Gothic parish church. Its specific size and neighbouring buildings give the square a distinct urban scale, setting it apart from individual bridges and towers.

The small Jungfern Bridge is part of the city’s Renaissance heritage and is located at the roundabout where Piastowska and Roosevelt streets meet. Its construction history includes several changes: in 1843, the wooden bridge was rebuilt and widened. In 1907, a simple stone structure with wrought-iron railings replaced the wooden one.

The Ostrowska Gate Tower was built around 1530 during modernisation works carried out from 1523 to 1544. It is the best-preserved element of the medieval fortifications in the Eurotown of Guben-Gubin. The tower is not open to visitors and can only be viewed from the outside.

Discover more destinations: Lubiatow, Marcinowice, Gryzyna, Osiecznica, Budachów, Dychów, Łagów, Bronkow

For the broader travel overview: Crossen An Der Oder.