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Poznan
Poland City Guides: Poznan
City Guide I Tourist Office I Arrival I Accommodation I Entertainment I Internet Cafes
Poznan
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| Poznan |
- Poznan is located in the west of country on the Berlin-Warsaw-Moscow rail route
- City founded in the 9th century
- Vibrant Old Town full of bars, clubs and restaurants
- River Warta flows north-south through Poznan
- Known for its many trade fairs
- Poland's 5th largest city
- Population of 556,000
Poznan is located in the west of Poland and the history of the city is tied up with the history of the Polish nation itself. Poznan is the historical capital of the Wielkopolska ("Greater Poland") region, and it was here that the first proto-Polish kingdom was recognized under Mieszko I, who underwent a public baptism and conversion to Chrisianity in 966 to receive the favour of the papacy and the Holy Roman Emperor of the time. Mieszko's warrior son Boleslaw the Brave was to increase the size of the the territory under the control of the Piast dynasty. Polish monarchs continued to be buried in Poznan until 1296 even after the royal seat moved to Krakow.
Poznan prospered during the Middle Ages due to its strategic location on the main east-west trade route but declined in the mid-17th century in the wars that ravaged Poland at the time. From 1798-1918 the city became part of Prussia and was known as Posen. Once more under German control in World War II, the city was badly damaged during its liberation by the Soviets in 1945.
During the post-War period, Poznan's workers staged a strike in 1956 which was brutally repressed by the authorities leaving over 70 people dead. Today, Poznan is a thriving part of democratic Poland known for its trade fairs and universities.
Town Hall (Ratusz), Stary Rynek Square, Old Town, Poznan
Old Town Square in Poznan, Poland
Things to See & Do In Poznan
The city's Old Market Square (Stary Rynek) is the historical heart of the city and was first laid out in 1253. The main building in the square is the Renaissance Town Hall (Ratusz), which originally dates to the 1550s, and was designed by the Italian architect Giovanni Battista Quadro. The tower on the top of the Town Hall is an impressive 61m tall and was added in the 1780s after the previous one collapsed! Look out for the pair of mechanical goats who appear from the clock at noon to butt their horns 12 times - one of Poznan's main tourist attractions. Part of the interior of the Town Hall is now the Museum of the History of Posnan. Outside the Ratusz is a fountain and a reconstruction of the city's ancient pillory.
Poznan's Old Square is packed with museums and other historic buildings as well as bars, cafes and restaurants as the town's inhabitants relax over a drink and take in the architectural beauty before them.
The Weigh House (Waga Miejska) is a reproduction of the original, also designed by Giovanni Battista Quadro, and was an important building in the business life of the city. Facing the Weigh House to the south are the Guard House (Odwach), built in the 1780s and topped by the statues of two female trumpeteers. The Weigh House now holds the Museum of the Wielkopolska Uprising, commemorating the rebellion which forced out the German occupiers in 1918.
Next door are two post-War Communist-era buildings that add a discordant note to the overall harmony of Poznan's main square. First is the Arsenal City Art Gallery, a venue for contempoary art and next to the Arsenal is the Wielkopolska Museum of Arms, with exhibits of historical uniforms, arms and armour.
Further to the east are the Museum of Musical Instruments with a huge collection of violins, the Archeological Museum, the baroque Parish Church, built for the Jesuits by Italian architects from the mid-17th to early 18th centuries and the former Jesuit College, which opened in 1573.
West of Stary Rynek is the baroque Dzialynski Palace built between 1773-1787 and topped with the statue of a swan. The Henryk Sienkiewicz Literature Museum is housed in the former house of architect Giovanni Battista Quadro, whose statue stands outside sketchbook in hand. Sienkiewicz is considered Poland's most important novelist and this is Poland's major museum dedicated to his life and works.
Also to the west of the Town Hall are the Museum of Decorative Arts, the Baroque Church of St Anthony and the National Museum, which has a wonderful collection of Polish and international art including works by Jaczek Malcewski, Stanislaw Wyspianski, Maria Jarema and Jerzy Nowosielski, post-War Poland's most celebrated artist.
Heading west again is the narrow, rectangular shaped Plac Wolnosci and the elegant, neo-classical Raczynski Library, a 19th century establishment founded by Edward Raczyński (1786–1845) to promote Polish language and literature. Moving westwards again towards the railway lines heading north from Poznan's main railway station are the Teatr Polski, a venue for both traditional and contemporary Polish drama, the German-built Kaiserhaus, a former residence for visiting German rulers, now renamed the Zamek (Castle) and transformed into a new cultural center. Outside is a monument dedicated to the three Poznan University graduates who were first able to break the German Enigma Codes in World War II.
Behind Poznan Railway Station are the Trade Fair Grounds and Wilson Park (named after the US President Woodrow Wilson) with its wonderful glass Palm House.
East of the Town Hall across Most Boleslawa Chrobrego is the Ostrow Tumski area of Poznan. It was here on this island in the River Warta that the early King Miesko I constructed a castle and the city's cathedral the Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul was built. The basilica has been much damaged and restored over the ages and contains the tombs of both Miesko and his son Boleslaw. Lake Malta is south west of Ostrow Tumski and a water sports playground in the summer with beer gardens, mini-golf, a dry-ski slope and places to eat.
Around Poznan
The historic, lakeside town of Kornik with its lovely castle is 22km southeast of Poznan while the quiet village of Rogalin has an 18th century Baroque palace built by the Raczynski family of Polish nobles. Other places around Poznan include Wielkopolska National Park, Lake Lednica, Wolsztyn and Gniezno.
Nightlife & Entertainment In Poznan
There are many pubs, bars, restaurants, and clubs in Poznan around the Stary Rynek catering to just about every taste. Life music is a feature on weekends.
Poznan Shopping
Stary Browar is a modern mall that opened in 2003 and is south of the main square near the bus station and Park Henryka Dabrowskiego. Poznan Plaza is another recent mall out to the north near Lechicka.
Ostrow Tumski - Cathedral by Night, Poznan
The Rogalin Palace makes for an interesting side trip from Poznan
Tourist Offices
The main tourist office is located at Stary Rynek 59-60, Poznan; (Tel: 061 852 6156). There is another branch at the corner of ul. Ratajczaka and ul. Grudnia (Tel: 061 851 9645). Pick up the Poznan City Card (1, 2 or 3 days) here for free public transport and free or reduced entry to museums and galleries.
Getting To Poznan
Air
Poznan Airport is 7 km (5 miles) west from the center of the city in the suburb of Lawica. Express bus #L operates every hour making the 20 minute journey to the Central Railway Station or take bus #59 runs which runs twice an hour to nearby Baltyk. Night bus #242 also goes to the Central Railway Station.
Direct and charter flights arrive from around Europe into Poznan Airport from Bristol, Cork, Doncaster Sheffield, Dublin, Liverpool, Luton, Stansted, Frankfurt, Munich, Dortmund, Munster, Warsaw, Barcelona, Faro, Malaga, Madrid, Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and Paris Beauvais.
Rail
From Warsaw, the train journey is around 3-4 hours. From Poznan to Wroclaw is 2 hours, 30 minutes as is the train journey to Szczecin. Krakow is around 7+ hours. Gdansk is around 5 hours, 30 minutes. There are international rail services to Berlin, Cologne, Kiev and Moscow.
Bus/Car
There are local buses to Kornik and Rogalin from the main bus station 750m east of the train station Poznan Glowny. The A2 motorway once fully completed will connect Warsaw and Poznan with the A12 Autobahn which runs from Berlin to the Polish border at Frankfurt-an-der-Oder.
Getting Around Poznan
Wroclaw has a comprehensive system of buses and trams running from around 5.30am to 11pm after which there is an infrequent night bus service on some routes. The central part of the city can easily be managed on foot or bicycle. The Municipal Stadium in Poznan is home to local team Lech Poznan and can be reached by green and yellow city bus or a new fast tram line.
Accommodation in Poznan
Hotels in Poland - find and book hotels in Poland with Booking.com
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Hostels & budget hotels in Poland - low cost accommodation in Poland with BookHostels.com.
Recommended Hotels in Poznan
Sheraton Poznan, ul. Bukowska 3-9 Tel: 061 655 2000. Located near the trade Fair site and offering fantastic facilities and service
Eating
There are a number of good eateries in Poznan including traditional Polish, Italian, and other international choices including a Spanish style tapas bar at Stary Rynek, 60. List your restaurant in Poznan here for FREE. Contact Us
Drinking
There are lots of places to enjoy an excellent Polish beer or vodka on the Stary Rynek as well as a quirky selection of bars and cafes catering to both high and low-brow clientele such as the Communist-chic Proletaryat at ul. Wroclawska 9. List your bar, cafe or club here. Contact Us
Internet Cafes
List your internet cafe here for FREE! Contact Us
Weather in Poznan
Poznan is on Poland's slightly warmer western side so the weather in winter is usually less cold than Warsaw to the east. Summers are warm with the possibility of some heavy rain in the form of thunderstorms.
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