Sights of Poznan: list, photo and description. Poznan (Poland): attractions, photos and reviews of tourists Poznan works and has fun
- Moscow, so it is from this city that many tourists begin their acquaintance with Poland. Poznań is considered the cradle of the Polish nation, but it is also diverse and dynamic.
Sights of Poznan
For seven hundred years, the Old Market Square has been bustling with life, surrounded by numerous bars and restaurants. The building of the town hall rises on the square, and the greenish pilasters of its eastern facade frame a frieze depicting Polish monarchs. Inside is the Poznań Historical Museum. Visit the Renaissance Great Hall on the ground floor, whose vaults are decorated with bas-reliefs depicting episodes of the legends of Samson, King David and Hercules. Behind the baroque facades of the houses surrounding the Old Market Square, medieval and renaissance interiors are often hidden, an example of which is the building of the Museum of Musical Instruments at number 45.
To the west of here, on Marcinkowskiego 9, is the excellent National Museum (Tuesday-Saturday 9.00/10.00-16.00/18.00; admission free on Saturdays) with the largest collection of old paintings. Located to the east of the Old Market Square, the Bolesław the Brave Bridge leads to the quiet island of Tumski, overlooked by the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. Most of this cathedral, the oldest in the city, was restored after the war in the Gothic style, but the lack of documentary evidence of the eastern aisles led to the preservation of the Baroque spiers. Two Polish monarchs are buried in the crypt of the cathedral.
Arrival and accommodation in the city of Poznań
The main station (Poznan Glowny) is located 2 kilometers southwest of the historic center, where tram 5 runs from the west exit from platform 7. The bus station is located behind the bridge, 5 minutes walk east of the station. The city travel agency is located next to the EMPiK store at the corner of Ratajczaka and 27 Grudnia streets (Monday-Friday 10.00-19.00, Saturday 10.00-17.00). House number 59 on the Old Market Square hosts a regional tourist office (Monday-Friday 9.00-17.00, May-September plus Saturday 10.00-14.00). Hotel rates double during trade fairs.
Two inexpensive hotels are recommended for accommodation: Mini-Hotelik at Niepodleglosci avenue 8 and Dom Turysty PTTK at house number 91 on the Market Square. There are two hostels in Poznań, the best of which is located just to the west of the station, on Berwinskiego 2/4. In July and August, the Dizzy Daisy hostel is open (reception 6.00-10.00 and 17.00-22.00; beds are offered in double and triple rooms). Accommodation in the private sector can be booked through Biuro Zakwaterowania Przemyslaw at Glogowska 16, opposite the train station (Monday-Friday 8.00-18.00, Saturday 10.00-14.00), or through the Globtour agency at the station (daily until 22.00).
Food and drink in Poznań
You can eat cheaply at the Apetyt milk bar near the Market Square on Szkolna Street or at the slightly more expensive Tylko u Nas at Wroclawska 2 Street. At number 41 on the Old Market Square, there is a good and inexpensive restaurant Dramat, which offers delicious pancakes, and on the street Wozna 2/3 is an excellent Jewish restaurant called Cymes. A very popular restaurant is Pod Pretekstem on Sw. Marcin 80/82 (recommended to try local pasta and drinks).
The best cafe in Poznań is Za Kulisami, Wodna street 24. In the evenings, young people gather in bars on Nowowiejskiego street, such as Pod Minoga (house number 8) or W Starym Kinie next door. At number 60 on the Old Market Square is the trendy Tapas club with a VIP area, and the club Puzon (house number 9) plays great jazz. Internet access can be obtained from Klik on Jaskolca street south of the Market Square.
In contact with
You can get from Minsk to Poznan by buses of the Eurobus-Sindbad carrier. Flights with a three-hour transfer in Vilnius are operated every day, the entire journey takes about 19 hours. Such a trip will cost € 60 one way. Tickets and prices look on the website infobus.eu .
Alternatively, you can get to Warsaw and take the train, and in 3 hours you will be there. Bus PolishBus It will cost less and provide Internet on the way, but it will take about 5 hours.
A flight from Minsk is quite expensive - about €200 - and takes about 8 hours with a transfer in Kyiv or Warsaw.
The best option to get to Poznan from Kyiv - direct flight Wizz Air. Ticket prices start from €22.
Buses also run from Kyiv to Poznan. Ecolines runs 3 times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, travel 24 hours and costs 960 hryvnia (€ 30).
Poznan Airport Lawica (Bukowska 285) located within the city, from it you can get by taxi or by buses number 59 during the day and 242 at night, they will take you to the main railway station Dworzec Zachodni.
The main transport in Poznań is trams and buses. The fare depends on the time: PLN 3.80 (€ 0.90) - ticket for up to 10 minutes, PLN 4.60 (€ 1) - ticket for up to 40 minutes, PLN 13.80 (€ 3.30) - ticket for 24 hours. ISIC holders are entitled to a 50% discount. If you find yourself in Poznań on the weekend, you can save money: a daily ticket validated after 20:00 on Friday will be valid all weekend until 00:00 Sunday.
At night, Poznań is served by a network of night buses and trams, the fares are the same, the service interval is usually 30 minutes. You can find the transport timetable in Poznań on the website and in the application from jakdojade .
Tickets can be bought at small shops of the Zabka, Malpka, Lewiatan networks, at Ruch network kiosks and at ticket machines at stops (they accept all types of payments). You can also buy tickets for a one-time trip using the mobile application mobilet. It's better to pay for the fare - controllers meet often and go without uniforms, and the fine for stowaways starts from € 100.
Poznan has a good cycling infrastructure, you will find about 100 PRM city bike stations (Poznanski Rower Miejski). To use it, register on the site nextbike.pl, pay 10 PLN (€ 2.36) and enjoy the city. This is the fastest and cheapest way to move around Poznań for short and medium distances. The first 20 minutes are free, then you pay PLN 2 (€ 0.50) for the first hour, PLN 4 (€ 1) for the second and each subsequent one. You cannot rent a bike for more than 24 hours.
Recently, a network of electric scooter rentals has appeared in the city. Blenkee, so if you have rights - wellcome on board! Pay only 69 groszy per minute and cut across Poznan with a breeze!
Works great in Poznan Uber, you will pay PLN 5 (€ 1.20) for landing and PLN 1.4 (€ 0.33) for each kilometer. It is even cheaper to travel for short distances and with a company than by tram or bus.
Poznan has quite a lot of affordable good accommodation, but it is better to book it in advance, because. various exhibitions are often held in the city, and the best sleeping places are quickly snapped up by their participants and visitors.
Rosemary's Hostel (Wrocławska 13) located on the party street Wroclawska adjacent to the Old Market, in the old stone house. If you like to live in the thick of events, clubs and bars - you can't think of a better place. It offers wi-fi, parking, breakfast buffet and free bikes. Rooms for 2 and 3 people. The cost is from € 17. The rooms are decorated and named after the films of Roman Polanski.
Tey Hostel (Świętosławska 12) also located near the Old Market, but on a quiet and peaceful street. If you are traveling with a company, then this option is for you - a 4-bed room will cost only € 50. The cost for a place in a dormitory room starts from € 9.5. Guests have free wi-fi, tea and coffee, and parking, which is very valuable in the old city.
Green Hostel (Roosvelta 10/7) located between the old town and the hipster district of Jeżyce, close to public transport interchanges, the train station and the exhibition center, which will allow you to explore Poznań off the tourist trails. The prices here are very affordable - you can find a place on a double bed in a dormitory room for only € 8.
Cinema Hostel & Apartments (Strzałowa 6a/27) is located in the historical part of the city next to the large Stary Browar shopping center, a green park and the Półwiejska pedestrian street with many shops and cafes. This place is perfect for traveling couples. A double room in it costs from € 23, and a 4-bed room costs only € 42. The rooms are quite spacious and comfortable, and their design is pleasantly minimalistic.
As in most Polish cities, in Poznań the main tourist attraction remains Old Market (Stary Rynek, Starowka) . Destroyed during World War II and painstakingly restored from drawings and photographs, Poznań's Old Market boasts a unique Town Hall designed by an Italian architect. The Town Hall is located City History Museum (Stary Rynek 1) which can be visited for free on Saturdays. Exactly at noon, the main tourist action takes place on the Market - two goats - symbols of the city - leave the clock on the town hall and butt heads for several minutes.
In addition, in the Market and its immediate surroundings you will find an art museum Museum Narodowe (Al. Marcinkowskiego 9) , city art gallery Arsenal (Stary Rynek 6) and Museum of Applied Arts Muzeum Sztuk Uzytkowych (Gora Przemysła 1). In the latter, in addition to dishes and furniture, you will also find an observation deck with a view of the old city. If art is not your forte, then please - here are located Archaeological Museum (Wodna 27) And Museum of Musical Instruments (Stary Rynek 45) .
Deserves special attention Muzeum Rogalowe (Stary Rynek 41, entrance from Klasztorna street) - Museum of traditional Poznań bagels. The local specialty is always prepared in November for the city's feast, don't forget to try them (a whole bagel can replace a hearty lunch - count your strength!).
From religious buildings, pay attention to the Jesuit church Fara Poznanska (Klasztorna 11), admire it inside and out, and don't forget to look into the courtyard of the city hall nearby, where you will find a quiet and cozy square, arranged here instead of a parking lot a couple of years ago.
Not far from Fara, you can again meet butting goats. The most popular urban legend says that the goats, butting heads, galloped up the mountain from the butcher, who chased them and noticed from a height that the enemy was approaching the city. Since then, goats have been held in high esteem here, and in 2013 there was even a competition for the best names for them, and now their names are Pyrek and Tyrek.
Through plac Wolności with a fountain, a favorite hangout place for Poznań rollerbladers and skaters, you will go out to Fredry street, where you can see the old university buildings and Opera theatre (Fredry 9) By the way, there are also performances in Russian. On Swięty Marcin Street, be sure to check out the neo-Gothic castle built by the German emperor and used as Hitler's headquarters during World War II. Now it works like Zamek Cultural Center (Św. Marcin 80/82), it houses cinema and concert halls, exhibitions and various festivals are regularly held. Check their poster even if you don't speak Polish - films are often shown here in their original language. The oldest cinema in Poznań, Kino Muza, is located on the same street.
If you like hiking, then feel free to leave the Old Town towards the Warta River. Heading for Woźna street, you will reach the gallery Nowa Gazownia (Zeylanda 1/2) and park Stare Koryto Warty and, passing through it, you will get straight to the shore. Drinking alcohol on the streets is forbidden in Poland, but a few years ago Poznan made an exception for the banks of the Warta, so here you can join the many picnics and students drinking beer.
Poznan is one of the oldest Polish cities, it is considered that the Polish statehood was born here. Crossing the river on the Bolesława Chrobrego bridge, you will find a church, which is considered the first church in Poland. Katedra Poznańska stands on the island of Tumsky (Ostrów Tumski). There is also an interactive history museum. Brama Poznania (Gdańska 2) well worth a visit despite the above average price (€3.5). Adjacent to these two major attractions is a small area called Sródka, a few cozy streets - a local food district. And right behind the Raj and La Ruina cafes, the most famous mural in Poznań (and possibly all of Poland) is waiting for you, created in 2015 by order of the owners of this cafe in order to increase the tourist attractiveness of the area (it turned out).
Tired of the old days, do you like outdoor activities? No problem, then you can safely take a bike, rollerblades or a board and go to Vartostrada or to Lake Malta. Wartostrada is a special track along the river for cyclists and rollerbladers, which has sports fields, cafes and picnic areas. You will find something similar around Lake Malta, except that the number of cafes and picnics is not so great here, and the people around you also come here to play sports. There is also a water park here. Termy Maltanskie (Terminal 1), and in the cold season there is a ski hill on the south side of the lake Malta Ski (Wiankowa 2). Here you can also ride the Maltanka children's railway, the last stop of which is Nowe Zoo (Krańcowa 81), a huge new zoo, which is best visited in the summer, because in winter many animals are hidden from the cold and the importunity of visitors. Poznań also has Star Zoo(Zwierzyniecka 19)- a cozy century-old zoo with some animals that have not moved to a new place of residence.
If you want to go beyond the tourist trails, then head towards the Theater Bridge and cross Roosevelt Street to the Jeżyce area. In recent years, it has become very popular among students and the creative class, and many cute cafes and spaces have opened here. Take a walk among the quarters designed by the Germans at the beginning of the 20th century - during the period when the city was part of the German Empire - admire the balconies and murals, stop by for a bite to eat at one of the many street cafes and buy something delicious from local farmers at the Jezhitsky Market.
There are many food trucks with street food scattered in the center - we rent you the best localizations. In most of them, prices fluctuate in the range of 10-15 złoty (€2.5-2.5) for a generous Polish portion.
A visit to Poland is hard to imagine without traditional Polish cuisine with huge portions and the famous “feathers”. In addition, in Poznan you can easily find cuisine for every taste - from Vietnamese to Arabic, from Georgian to American.
Homemade Polish food can be found in numerous “milky bars”, which are somewhat reminiscent of post-Soviet canteens. “Zurek”, “feathers”, herring and, of course, “shabovy” (breaded chop). You can dine here very inexpensively and quite tasty, also in the company of nostalgic Polish pensioners. One of these establishments Bar Mleczny Apetyt you will find at Szkolna 4. There are also more modern versions of this type of establishments, for example, Pyra Bar (Strzelecka 13)- Polish dishes are served here from potatoes so beloved by the Poznanians - pyry in the local dialect. If you want to join, try pyry z gzikiem - a baked potato dish with low-fat salted cottage cheese.
From the pizzerias we highlight Baraboo (ul. Taczaka 11, ul. Jana Pawła II 14) : large and tasty wood-fired pizza from PLN 18 (€ 4.25), Italian and Polish cuisine, inexpensive cocktails. During popular times, there may be a queue of people eager to take a table.
For coffee and dessert go to piece of cake (Swięty Wojciech 27) . The most friendly coffee shop, where they will meet you with a dazzling smile and immediately switch to “you”. Here you can eat delicious Polish cheesecake or brownies, look through beautiful magazines, and buy grain from the iconic Berlin “father” of all 3.0 The Barn coffee houses. Another coffee place in the center - Stragan (Ratajczaka 31), there is an excellent aeropress and delicious bagels with fillings.
Take a look at the small and cozy Plac Cyryla Ratajskiego, a book coffee shop is located here Kahawa Kawa i Książka (Cyryla Ratajskiego 10) . Here you can watch coffee beans being roasted, enjoy a cup of freshly roasted African coffee from highly trained baristas, and flip through books from the comfortable steps.
For a delicious breakfast go to Bo Poznań (Kosciuszki 84). It serves breakfast throughout the day - all types of eggs, porridge and granola for 12-18 zł (€ 2.80-4.25), as well as first and main courses (€ 2.36-7). You can find their menu.
If you want to discover places "for locals", go from the Old Market to the street Taczaka. A tourist here is an infrequent guest, and almost all the first floors are given over to public catering. It has everything from coffee shops and fast food to key places on the culinary map of Poland. We recommend the already mentioned pizzeria Baraboo (Taczaka 11) and a coffee shop Taczaka 20, and for connoisseurs of haute cuisine - a restaurant Ośla Lawka (Taczaka 23) .
Despite a strong love for meat products, Poland is now a paradise for vegans. The best vegan restaurant in Poznan called Wypas (Jackowskiego 38) you will find not in the center, but in the trendy Jeżyce district. Here you will find a simple democratic interior, local products, the famous huge Polish portions and 100% plant-based food.
It is impossible not to mention Falla (Wawrzyniaka 19)- Mecca of local vegetarians. Here you can taste fresh falafel, hummus or shakshuka and wash it all down with ayran or Turkish coffee.
For connoisseurs of Asian cuisine, we recommend eating ramen in a cafe Yedztu (Krysiewicza 6), here it is better to book a table in advance, because the place is quite small. The ramen costs around 30 złoty (€7) but is totally worth the price. The portion seems to exceed half a liter. The king of Vietnamese cuisine - pho soup - and other Vietnamese dishes can be eaten at your choice or in a new trendy cafe Pho bar (Wawrzyniaka 19), or in a Vietnamese canteen
Poznan is one of the oldest cities in Poland, located in the central part of the west of the country, on the banks of the Warta River. It was in these places that the clearing lived, from which the name of the state of Poland originated. The first mention of Poznan dates back to the 10th century, and in 1253 it officially became a city. Now Poznan is the administrative center of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, as well as a major industrial, commercial and educational center of Poland, famous for its international exhibitions and fairs.
Sightseeing in Poznań usually starts from the Old Town - a territory of 20 hectares, on which Poznań was located in the 13th century. The heart of the Old Town is the square market, considered one of the most beautiful Market Squares in Poland and Eastern Europe. With its size, it is second only to the Krakow and Wroclaw Markets. Incredibly colorful and bright houses in the Old Market are the visiting card of Poznan. Previously, these were houses of artisans, on the first floor, as a rule, there was a trading room, and on the second - living rooms and workshops.
Stone houses were built in Poznań in the 13th century. and the first such building was the city. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by fire in 1536. The building of the Town Hall, which can be seen today, was built from 1550 to 1560. The architect of the project, Giovanni Battista di Quadro, managed to create a masterpiece, and the Town Hall in Poznan, with its arcades of loggias and Renaissance forms, has become one of the best symbols of the Renaissance in Europe.
Later, the Town Hall was rebuilt several times, as it suffered from natural disasters: in 1675 lightning hit the high clock tower, destroying it, and in 1725 a hurricane demolished the upper part of the tower, and since then its height has decreased from 90 to 61 m A two-meter eagle, one of the symbols of the city, is fixed on the tip of the tower's spire. The second symbol is located below, in the turret with a clockwork, - these are two butting goats installed in 1651, starting their performance every day at 12 o'clock in the afternoon. Now in the building of the Town Hall you can visit the Museum of the history of the city.
It is located in front of the Town Hall, built in 1766. The sculptural statue depicts a scene from ancient Roman mythology - the abduction of Proserpina by Pluto, the king of the underworld. Not far from the fountain there is a pillory - a Gothic column with a figure of an executioner at the top. Here criminals who committed petty offenses were chained with chains. In the Market in the 2000s, 3 more fountains were installed: Apollo, Neptune and Mars. The same fountains stood on the Market Square before, but their originals, unfortunately, have not been preserved.
On the Market Square of Poznań is the only one in Poland where national Polish instruments are presented, starting from the 11th century. There are also exhibits of European and world instruments from the 16th century, and even exotic instruments from Zanzibar, Japan, China, Congo, India and other countries. The museum has a separate room dedicated to the work of Frederic Chopin, where there is a piano that belonged to the great composer.
Cloth rows and an arsenal were once located on the southern side of Rynok Square, but since their exact images have not been preserved, they could not be restored. Now there are two buildings of a modern look, one of which is located. Here you can get acquainted with the historical events of the Polish uprisings and see an entertaining collection of weapons and armor.
Next to the museum is monument to st. Jan Nepomuk, patron saint of the drowning. The stone figure of the saint was erected to protect the city from floods, which, however, did not protect Poznań from the great flood of 1736. A memorial plaque can be seen on house no.
Nearby is another of the symbols of Poznan - Bamberka well 1915 Bambers were called those who moved in the 18th century. to Poland by Germans from the Bavarian city of Bamberg. The monument depicts a waitress in Bamber clothes, serving visitors to pubs.
Houses on the square The old market is very beautiful, with bright facades, and, of course, many of them have their own names and have a fascinating history: the Mielzhinski Palace (Jan Dombrovsky once lived here), the Dzialynski Palace, the "House under the Roof" and others.
Sventoslavskaya Street overlooks the corner of the Market Square, offering a beautiful view of. This one of the best architectural monuments of Poznan was built by the Jesuits from 1649. The author of the project was the rector of the Jesuit Collegium Nathaniel Bartholomew Vazovsky. The construction lasted for half a century, but the resulting church fully conveys the luxury and expression of the Roman Baroque. The pink facade of the church is decorated with statues of saints and pilasters. The interior of the temple looks even more magnificent and elegant than the outside. Church of St. Mary Magdalene has the status of a minor basilica and is one of the main Roman Catholic churches in the city.
The oldest cathedral in the city is called. Back in 968, the very first temple was built on this site, and in the middle of the 11th century. a Romanesque church was erected here, which was rebuilt and remodeled many times. This church is located on Tumskyisland, where various church institutions are located, for example: the Palace of the Archbishop of the XVIII century. and Church of St. Virgin Mary 15th century
Not far from Tumsky Island there is a large one (i.e. Maltese), formed in 1952, when the Tsybina River was blocked by platinum. On the shores of the lake there are sports facilities, beaches and the largest zoo in Europe. The Malta International Theater Festival is held here every year. The green shores of the Malta Lake are the favorite place for walks and recreation for residents and guests of Poznań.
In the west of Poland, on the coast of the Warta River, lies the main city of the Greater Poland Voivodeship - Poznań. A large educational, industrial, historical, industrially developed center. One of the oldest cities in Poland, a city where all customs and traditions are sacredly honored and observed. Tourists are attracted by its rich centuries-old history and unique flavor. In addition, countless interesting sights are concentrated on the territory of Poznań.
A bit of history
The history of Poznań has its roots far back in antiquity. According to historical reference books, in the 10th century the city was the capital of the Grand Duchy of Poland. In the 11th century, it was captured by the Czechs, most of the city was destroyed and burned. In the 13th century, the Polish princes of the Piast dynasty built a magnificent castle-fortress here, inside which the royal residence was located. Soon, several residential areas and temples already adjoined the castle. The city gradually grew and developed. The 12th century was marked by the feudal fragmentation of Poland. Poznan, as the main trophy, passed from one hand to another. Internecine wars between the heirs flared up again and again. A huge danger came from the Roman Empire. At the beginning of the 19th century, the city became part of Prussia. A century later, the Poles raised the Poznan uprising, defeating the Prussian troops. As a result, Poznan joined the Polish state. During World War II, the city was under the control of Germany. It was repeatedly bombarded by the enemy. In 1945, Poznan returned to its "native nest" and became part of Poland. After the war, the city was restored - several new residential areas, cultural and educational institutions, and industrial enterprises appeared on its territory.
Sights of Poznan
Imperial Castle
In the 20th century, the Imperial Palace was built on the territory of Poznan - the residence of the Prussian King Wilhelm II. It is a majestic neo-romantic building made of sandstone, concrete and brick, in the shape of a polygon. Nearby rises a beautiful Byzantine tower, inside which is a charming chapel. The inner palace interior is made in the Byzantine style. The royal rooms are located in the western wing of the castle. They are united by a long narrow corridor, which is decorated with four original statues. The pride of the imperial palace is its delightful Throne Room. Spacious bright room with huge windows, carved arches, wall niches. Today, within the walls of the castle there are several art museums, cafes, cinemas and puppet theaters.
Tumsky Island
There have been myths and legends about Tumsky Island for a long time. According to ancient legend, it was here that the meeting of the three Slavic brothers Lech, Rus and Cech took place. Archaeological excavations have not stopped on the island for several centuries. According to their results, in the 10th century the center of the island was occupied by a ducal castle, later a cathedral was erected nearby. In the 16th century, Tumsky fell under the authority of the Polish bishopric. But in the 18th century, he again joined Poznań. Currently, there are several very interesting sights on its territory. Among them are the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary dating from the 15th century, the Diocese Museum, a large cathedral and many others.
Old Town Hall
Poznań is a charming "medieval" town. Its main attraction is the huge city square - the Old Market. The largest number of cultural and historical buildings and monuments is concentrated here. The center of the square is crowned by a beautiful renaissance town hall. An unsurpassed masterpiece of architectural art, made in the Renaissance style. The top of this grandiose structure is crowned with a large sovereign eagle. The building is decorated with snow-white towers, expensive stucco, original carvings and sculptures of goats, which are rightfully one of the symbols of Poznan.
Fountain of Proserpina
The decoration of the square is the fountain of Proserpina, dating back to the 18th century. One of the scenes of ancient Roman myths appears before the eyes of tourists. In the center of the composition is the beautiful Proserpine, escaping from the hands of Pluto, who kidnaps her. A pillory rises nearby. At the top of the Gothic column is a sculpture of an executioner. Sometime in the distant past, this pillar was used to punish criminals. In addition to the fountain of Proserpina, there are three more fountains on the square - Mars, Apollo and Neptune.
Museum of Musical Instruments
The museum of musical instruments, nestled next to the city hall, is very popular among tourists. Currently, its exposition includes more than two thousand various exhibits. These are musical instruments belonging to different countries and different eras.
Church of the Virgin Mary
The Church of the Virgin Mary is a magnificent, luxurious building in the Roman Baroque style, dating from the 17th century. The facade of the building is painted in a "warm" pink color and decorated with elegant pilasters, antique columns and statues of saints. The interior decoration is striking in its beauty and richness. High vaulted ceilings, gothic columns, sculptures, expensive stucco, ancient frescoes. In the center is a gilded altar and a huge organ.
Citadel Park
Citadel Park is a favorite place for citizens and tourists. Charming park complex, which houses several attractions dedicated to the war. Here is the famous military museum of Poznan, a monument dedicated to the Red Army soldiers - liberators, several military cemeteries. Citadel Park is a wonderful place for walking - shady alleys, bright flower beds, artificial ponds, small fountains, a well-groomed lawn, special walking paths.
old zoo
The Old Zoo awaits the youngest guests of the city. It was built in 1871. Today, thousands of different animals have found shelter within its walls. Among them are giraffes, zebras, hippos, bears, tigers, lions, etc. On the territory of the zoo you can also see pools with fish and several bird yards.
Information for tourists
Poznan is a modern city with well-developed transport links. The easiest way to get to it is from Warsaw. You can use the bus or train. The cost of a railway ticket is from 50 PLN, a bus ticket is from 15 to 20 PLN. There is an international airport within the city. It serves several dozen flights daily. Among them are Poznan - Warsaw, Milan, London, Rome, etc. Every day, trains and buses depart from the Poznan railway station and bus station to different parts of the country. Numerous buses, trams and taxis run inside the city.
The city, which is over a thousand years old, was the capital of the country in the past, Poznań is also called the "cradle of Poland". It was here, along the Warta River, that the glade lived, which gave the name to the state. On the island of Tumski, in ancient times considered a sacred place, in 966 the first Polish prince Mieszko I was baptized, this year became the date of the adoption of Christianity by the entire Polish nation. His son, Bolesław the Brave, became the first king of Poland here. In 968, a Gothic cathedral was built on the site of the Mieszko castle, which still stands today - this is the symbol of Poznań, and it is best to view it from the top floor of the Academy of Economics (building height 85 m) located on the western bank of the river. It is there that since 1925 the famous international trade fair Poznań takes place every year.
Today, Poznań can safely be called one of Poland's most dynamic and prosperous cities, with a beautiful historic centre, rich gothic, renaissance and neoclassical architecture, as well as the city's commitment to business development and international trade fairs. However, traces of the stay of the Swedes, Prussians and Russians (not to mention the brief but tragic periods of occupation by the troops of Napoleon and Nazi Germany) visible on different sides of the market square. The old town boasts an abundance of curious museums, light-hearted and fun bars, clubs and restaurants. The Renaissance town hall is framed by equally magnificent baroque façades, and the nearby church of Fara is European-style. Off to the side is Kaiser Wilhelm II's palace, a gloomy white neo-Romanesque building that the Kaiser never visited. The throne room of the palace is now a museum. Of course, Poznan, like other cities in Poland, is marked by the scars of history, but among the factories and sprawling residential areas there are genuine masterpieces of Art Deco style. The bottom line is that, wherever history turns, Poznan has always chosen its own path, giving all events a truly Greater Poland charm.
Poles sometimes make fun of Poznan residents because of their excessive accuracy and commercialism, but their attitude to work is the main reason that Poznan is the second city after Warsaw in terms of international investment. Numerous trade fairs in Poznan attract a huge number of businessmen, but the city also enchants those who come here to relax; visitors visit mainly three areas: the Old Market Square (Stary Rynek), Tumsky Island and New City (Now Miasto).
The area surrounding the city is just perfect for hiking and cycling.
During various fairs, housing prices in Poznań skyrocket, and finding this very housing can be very problematic, so book in advance.
old market square
old market square (Stary Rynek) Poznan is considered one of the largest and most beautiful in Poland. Castle-like Town Hall (Ratusz), a masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance designed by Giovanni Battista di Quadro, replaced a smaller 14th-century building that was destroyed by a devastating fire in 1536.
The building, built in 1550, is a magnificent three-story Renaissance loggia with arcades, as well as a classical tower, added in 1783 and crowned with a Polish eagle. The bright colors of the frieze above the loggia, depicting the Jagiellonian royal dynasty, have recently been restored and now shine in all their splendor, returning the town hall to the title of one of the most beautiful in Poland. Directly in front of the town hall there are two more sights - a copy of the pillory of 1535 and the rococo fountain of Proserpina, dating from the 17th century.
The Town Hall houses the Museum of the History of Poznań (Muzeum Historii Miasta Poznania, Stary Rynek 1, open: Tue, Thu, nm 9.00-16.00, cp 11.00-18.00, Sat 10.00-16.00, Sun 10.00-15.00, admission fee). The Great Hall is a vaulted room with a Renaissance ceiling, luxurious stucco, coats of arms, symbols of the sky and images of exotic animals. The museum presents a collection of paintings, medieval sculpture, unusual "coffin portraits" (images of dead people that were attached to their coffins), as well as products of artisans from the 10th to the middle of the 20th century. The frescoes in the Courtroom depict the four continents known at that time - Europe, Asia, Africa and America.
Interestingly, the vaulted Gothic cellars of the town hall have been preserved from the previous building.
From the south, the town hall adjoins a row of narrow multi-colored houses of fishmongers, built in the 16th century. The four sides of the square form elegant burgher houses with arcades, painted in bright colors, and two majestic palaces. After World War II, in the 1950s. many remarkable buildings - Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance - had to be restored to their original state. Almost all the houses in the market square have vaulted Gothic cellars, which now house cozy restaurants. The best-preserved house is No. 37, formerly the oldest pharmacy in Poland, as well as houses No. 40, 41, 42 and 43. House No. 41 still houses the White Eagle Pharmacy, opened in 1564. On the facade of the Literary Museum of Henryk Sienkiewicz (Muzeum Literackie Henryka Sienkiewicza, Stary Rynek 84, open: Mon-Fri 10.00-17.00, admission fee) you will see a statue depicting the Italian architect Battista di Quadro, who lived in this house when he built the town hall.
The Dzyalynski Palace, located on the corner of Franciscanska Street on the western side of the square, is a beautiful building of classical architecture, painted in light green and decorated with statues and bas-reliefs. At the top is a figure of a pelican - a symbol of the revival of Poznań after the partition of Poland. In addition to the facade, the Red Hall attracts attention in the palace, where “literary Thursdays” were held between the two world wars. On the north side of the square stands another palace (house number 91), owned by the Melzhinsky family.
The center of the square is occupied by a large, obviously out of place and ugly pavilion in the style of the 1950s-1960s, built after the war on the site of the old buildings of the cloth rows and the arsenal; it houses the Gallery of Modern Art (Galeria Miejska Arsenal, Stary Rynek 3, open: em-Sat 11.00-18.00, Sun 11.00-15.00, admission fee). The building breaks the delicate harmony of the square, and although there is debate in the municipality as to whether it is better to demolish it or build facades more suited to the Renaissance appearance of the square, both are unlikely.
In the passage between the pavilion and the town hall is the Bamberka well - a figure of a girl in a folk dress, who goes to the well with two jugs in her hands. The statue was erected in memory of the settlers from the German city of Bamberg, who arrived in Poznan in the 18th century. Also pay attention to the Museum of the Poznań Uprising - June 1956 (Muzeum Powstania Poznanskiego - Czerwiec 1956, ul. Sw. Marcina 80-82, open: Tue-Fri, ec 10.00-18.00, Sat 10.00-16.00, admission fee)- a small but touching museum that tells about the uprising that took place in the city in 1956.
One of the most magnificent houses in Poznań is the Gorki Palace, built in the 16th century. and occupying a whole block at the corner of Vodna and Svetoslavska streets (southwest corner of the Old Market Square). Pay attention to the Renaissance portals and the beautiful courtyard with covered galleries.
During the Reformation, the palace passed from the Gorka family, one of the most influential families in Poland, to the nuns of the Benedictine Order; currently it houses the Archaeological Museum (Muzeum Archeologiczne, ul. Wodna 27, open: Tue-Fri 10.00-16.00, Sat 10.00-18.00, Sun 10.00-15.00, admission is paid) with a collection of artifacts dating from the prehistoric era and the period of the creation of the Great Poland, as well as those related to Ancient Egypt. Both new excavations and restoration works are being carried out on the territory of the palace.
During the summer, the Old Market Square fills with outdoor cafe tables; concerts and theatrical performances are often held here. At night, the square is beautifully illuminated, turning into a great place for walking.
Musical interlude
Museum of Musical Instruments (Muzeum Instrumentow Muzycznuch, Stary Rynek 45-47, open: Tue-Sat 11.00-17.00, Sun 11.00-15.00, admission fee)- the only one of its kind in all of Poland. Here you will see the first phonographs, church and army drums, a Celtic horn, Polish violins of the 17th century. works by Groblitz, a piano played by Chopin, as well as unusual Polish folk instruments and exotic drums from all over the world.
Bleat time
Crowds of curious people gather daily under the town hall tower to see the two mechanical goats that appear on the parapet of the clock tower. According to a tradition that has been preserved since the 16th century, metal goats beat their horns 12 times, announcing the beginning of a new hour.
Around the Old City
One block south of the Gorki Palace is the magnificent parish church of St. Stanislaus. (Kosciol Sw. Stanislawa, ul. Golebia 1).
This one of the most beautiful Roman Baroque churches in Poland belonged to the Jesuits until 1701. It was badly damaged during the war, but the baroque interior, with magnificent stucco and frescoes, has now been carefully restored. As in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, the new colors shone so brightly that the restoration caused a wave of criticism. Notice the unusual flat dome and the optical illusion that gives the impression of a dome. The organ is an excellent work of a 19th-century mater. Friedrich Ladegast.
Adjoining the church are beautiful orange-pink buildings - the former College of the Jesuits, which now houses the municipality.
Several attractions are located west of the Old Market Square. Baroque Franciscan Church (Kosciol Franciszkanow, ul. Franciszkariska 2) attracts with two identical towers; The building dates from the second half of the 18th century. Inside, pay attention to the luxurious stucco and wall paintings.
On the opposite side of Franciskanska Street is the Museum of Applied Arts. (Muzeum Sztuk Uzytkowych, ul. Gora Przemysta 1, open: Tue-Wed, nm, Sat 10.00-16.00, from 10.00-15.00, admission fee); The museum is housed in a former royal castle and exhibits ceramics, glass and silverware. In the XIII century. a real castle stood on this site, but over the past centuries it has been constantly destroyed and rebuilt again. The current building does not look like a castle at all - it is a reconstruction of the 18th century.
City center
Further west is the National Museum. (Muzeum Narodowe, al. Marcinkowskiego 9, open: Tue 10.00-18.00, cp 9.00-17.00, Thu, Sun 10.00-16.00, nm, Sat 10.00-17.00 admission fee), whose facade looks at Freedom Square (Plac Wolnosci), which would be more correctly called Bank Square due to the number of Polish and foreign banks. The main museum building is the oldest; it was built at the beginning of the 20th century. modeled on the Berlin arsenal. It houses an impressive collection of medieval art, 16th-18th century paintings, including Spanish artists and Flemish Old Masters, as well as contemporary Polish art, including works by Malczewski, Matejko and Wyspiański. The new wing of the museum, opened in 2001, is not really new - its construction began in 1980, and therefore it has a somewhat outdated look. It houses temporary exhibitions.
There is also the Raczynski Library, built at the beginning of the 19th century, on Svoboda Square. modeled after the Louvre in Paris. It is one of the oldest public libraries in Poland.
You can get acquainted with the architecture of the period when Poznan belonged to Prussia to the east of the Freedom Square. Find the Bolshoi Theater (Teatr Wielki, ul. Fredry 9) with a colonnade and a classical portico, and the neo-Renaissance Collegium Minus, owned by the university. In front of the university there is a monument to the victims of the Poznań uprising in June 1956, two crosses of which were erected in honor of the workers killed during mass demonstrations against the communist government.
On the opposite side of the street rises the monolith of the Kaiserhaus (locals also call it "castle"), built for the German Emperor Wilhelm II, although he never spent the night here. Currently, this imposing building houses a cultural center.
To the west begins the territory of the Poznań International Fair, which has been held since the 1920s. and is considered the largest and busiest in Poland. A 10-minute walk southwest along Franklin Roosevelt Street, behind the main railway station, on the opposite side of Glogowska Street, is Wilson Park - an island of greenery named after US President Woodrow Wilson.
The park is home to the Palm House - a giant greenhouse with 17,000 tropical plants and a large collection of cacti.
Cathedral Island
The city of Poznań began as a settlement on the quiet Cathedral Island (Tumsky Island), surrounded by the rivers Tsybina and Warta, which is only a 15-minute walk from the Old Square. As Pope John Paul II once said, the island (currently a quiet area of church institutions) is the place "where Poland began".
Pride of the island - Cathedral (Katedra, Ostrow Tumski 17). At the beginning of the ninth century The Piast kings founded a settlement on the island and built a castle. The true foundation of the first Polish state lies under the cathedral, the oldest building on the island, dating back to 968. The main part of the cathedral is Gothic, built in the 14th and 15th centuries. (roof, two towers and most of the interior decoration were destroyed during World War II); the unusual vaulted gallery above the altar performs an exclusively decorative function. To the left behind the altar is the Golden Chapel (Zlota Kaplica)- a riot of luxurious gold jewelry of the first half of the 19th century. The chapel was built as a mausoleum for two rulers who played a major role in the construction of the Polish state, Mieszko I and his son Bolesław the Brave. In the chapel of the right aisle, 1616 magnificent frescoes are located on the arches, and in the back on the right is the Royal Chapel, where the last of the kings buried in Poznań is buried. (all subsequent ones were buried in Krakow). In the Chapel of the Holy Communion you will see the impressive Renaissance tomb of the Gorka family. Five unique bronze plates are exhibited along the aisles, which were discovered in 1991 in the St. Petersburg "Hermitage" and returned to the cathedral. In the crypt of the cathedral, the excavated in the 1950s has been preserved. the ancient foundation of the first church that stood on this site; The Archaeological Museum is also located there.
It is believed that the remains of the first two rulers of Poland are buried here, but there is no convincing evidence of this fact.
Malta
For relaxation and sports, head to Malta - an area with a lake and a park to the east of the Old City. The artificial lake Malta appeared in the 1950s, and regattas and competitions in beach and water sports are often held here; on the shore there is also an artificial ski run and a summer toboggan run. The path around the lake is popular with joggers and cyclists. In summer, concerts and theatrical performances are held in the park; there are good restaurants and some of the best hotels in Poznań on the lakeshore.
Roguelike Madness
Poznan is famous for the holiday on November 11 in honor of the one who lived in the 4th century. Saint Martin. On this day, the inhabitants of Poznań consume incredible amounts of Martin's bagels with poppy seed filling, shaped like bull horns.
Excursions from Poznań
Two popular excursions from Poznań are the castle in Kournik and the palace in Rogalin. Both places can be reached by bus and you can visit first Kurnik and then Rogalin without returning to Poznań. However, it is faster and easier to get there by your own transport.
Castle in Kournik
Castle in Kournik (Zaraek w Korniku), about 20 km southeast of Poznań, was built in the 15th century. the richest and most influential family in Poznań, Gorka. In the 19th century, when the Dzyalynskys owned the castle, it was rebuilt. The castle houses an art collection and military equipment; the original furniture has also been preserved. Everywhere there are beautiful hardwood floors and carved wooden portals. The most unusual room of the castle is the Moorish Hall, modeled after the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain.
On the territory behind the castle in the XIX century. an arboretum was created, where more than 2,500 plant species now grow.
Palace in Rogalin
The palace in Rogalin, 13 km west of Kurnik, was opened in 2010 after restoration. The Baroque palace of the 18th century, which belonged to Kazimir Raczynski, the royal secretary, is famous for its park and a small museum. In the right wing of the museum you can see portraits of the Raczynski family, as well as a model of the London apartment of Edward, who was a diplomat. To the left of the main building is a gallery of "salon painting" with works by such Polish masters as Wyspiański, Podkowinsky and Malczewski. Three huge oaks grow in a beautiful English park, each of which is about 600 years old. The trees were given the names of three princes - Lech, Czech and Rus, who, according to legend, were the founders of Poland, the Czech Republic and Rus'.
Gniezno
If you are planning to stay in Poznań for a long time, we advise you to visit Gniezno, one of the oldest settlements in Poland. According to some reports, it was here that the Polish prince Mieszko I was baptized in 966; this place became the starting point for the spread of Catholicism in the country. In 1025 Bolesław the Brave, the first king of Poland, was crowned in the city cathedral. Some scholars also believe that Gniezno was the first capital of the state before this role was taken over by Posen.
In any case, you can spend a very exciting day here or even stop for a while. Starting from its spacious market square. visit the ancient cathedral. dating back to the 14th century, as well as a museum located on the shore of the lake, dedicated to the origins of the Polish state.
To the north of Gniezno there is a Bronze Age settlement. It was discovered in 1930 and partially reconstructed. A tourist walks past it, plying between the cities of Zhnin (Znin) and Gonzava (Gasawa). Each of these cities can be reached separately by bus from Gniezno. Trains and buses run regularly from Gniezno to Poznań during the day.
Svebodzin
If you love extravagant sights, head to Swiebodzin, 100 km west of Poznań. In November 2010, a local priest, along with a group of followers, erected a 33-meter statue of Jesus Christ (it is even higher than in Rio) on a hill outside the city. This project caused a lot of criticism in the Catholic community, and journalists added fuel to the fire, saying that the statue was made using cheap technology, which is why it is extremely unstable. In general, if you want to see this miracle, hurry up, otherwise it may be too late.
Swiebodzin is located on the railway line between Poznań and Berlin, and there are three direct flights from Poznań every day.
Best time to visit
In summer - not far from the city there are many wonderful parks with lakes, palaces and castles.
Do not miss
- The Poznań Nightingales is a boys' choir that performs throughout the year.
- Organ concerts at Fara Church take place from July to September every day at 12:15.
- Bazaar building near Freedom Square. It was there, after the appeal of the pianist and patriot Paderewski, that the shot was fired, which became the signal for the Wielkopolska uprising in 1918, thanks to which Poznan was withdrawn from Prussia and returned to Poland.
- Museum of Musical Instruments in the Old Market Square.
- Palace in Rogalin, south of the city.
Should know
During the period of Prussian rule, Poznan became a military center, which was called Festung Posen. ("Poznań Fortress").
The road there and back
Airport
Poznan Airport (www.airport-poznan.com.pl) per day serves at least three LOT flights to Warsaw, two to Frankfurt and two to Munich. Tickets can be purchased at the LOT office (tel.: 0801 703 703), which is located at the airport, or at Orbis Travel (Tel.: 61 851 2000; Al Marcinkowskiego 21).
Jet Air planes fly five times a day to Krakow and Gdansk. There are flights from Poznań to many European cities such as London (by Wizz Air and Ryanair aircraft, at least once a day), Dublin (Ryanair, four times a week) and Copenhagen (SAS, five times a week). The airport is located in the western suburb of Lavitsa (Lawica), 7 km from the Old Town. You can get there by bus line L from the main train station, or by bus number 48, 59 or night 242 from the Battyk stop near Rondo Kaponiera.
Bus
bus terminal (St. Tovarova, 17) is a ten minute walk from the train station. However, it is worth noting that a more convenient way to get to another city is still a train. From Poznań main railway station (Dvortsova st., 1) trains leave for Krakow (56zt, seven and a half hours, 14 flights a day), Szczecin (42zt, two and a half hours, departures at least hourly), Gdansk and Gdynia (53zt, six hours, eight flights a day), Torun (25zt, two hours, eight flights a day), Wroclaw (37zt, two and a half hours, departures at least hourly) and Warsaw (51zt, three and a half hours, departures at least hourly).
