Journey to Poznan

Poznań’s historic centre still retains traces of its ardent history: Baroque, Romanesque and Renaissance monuments.

Probably no one will refuse the opportunity to visit an extraordinary city. When one thinks of Poland, one thinks of monumental Krakow or the capital Warsaw.

Poznan is not only the country’s industrial and economic centre, but also its cultural centre. It is an important city with a thousand-year history and is becoming more and more important in terms of tourism every year.

It is the capital of the Greater Poland Voivodeship and the fifth largest city in terms of population. It is surrounded by colourful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque houses of the former Poznan bourgeoisie. Its origins date back to the 10th century, when Duke Mieszko I chose it as one of the capitals of his duchy. It was at that time that the first cathedral was built and the first bishopric established. Its heritage includes a large number of old buildings, monuments and landmarks.

One of the most emblematic and beautiful is the old market square – the heart of the city. Every day at 12 noon there is a show that never fails to draw people in: two goats beat each other with their horns 12 times.

The jewel in the square is the Town Hall, a three-storey Renaissance-style palace built in the mid-16th century. Another of its attractions is that it has a fountain in each of its four corners. The oldest is the 18th-century Proserpina.

The house that stands out on it houses a museum dedicated to the 1905 Nobel Prize winner and author of the novel “Quo Vadis?” Henry Sienkiewicz.

Poznan has several religious churches. The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is one of the most famous. It was built in red brick in the Gothic style. It has remnants of other styles, such as Romanesque and Baroque, with two towers on the main façade.

Not far from the church is the Sanctuary of the Spilt Blood of Jesus. It is a very small temple with blue decorations and a peculiar story about three communion loaves stolen by Jews.

The Polish town has everything you need for a holiday. It has wonderful parks, such as the Citadel. A real draw for locals and tourists alike, thanks to its more than 100 hectares of land. Events are held there. There are restaurants, cafeterias and hammocks. There is also a naval museum here.

Wilson Park delights with its rich vegetation. The botanical park is striking with a variety of flowers, sculptures and a pond. Inside you can enjoy the largest botanical gardens in Europe, the Palmyarnia.

Not to forget Lake Malta, which offers recreational amenities such as a ski area, water park and hot spring.

Spending time in Poznan can be enjoyable and entertaining.