Poznan - the best sights that are interesting
There is a strange attraction in this Poznan... Since there is no shortage of sights in Poznan, you can return for this happiness several times. Okay, take a list of places you must see in Poznan!
What is worth seeing in Poznan?
Our list of attractions for a successful weekend.
1. Ostrov Tumski - Poznan, the beginning of Polish statehood
The undoubted favorite and important attraction of Poznan for every history buff will be a visit to the historical center of the city - Tumski Ostrov. Those who read Cherezinskaya will look for the fragrances described in books, while those who associate the first Piast dynasty only from textbooks will come face to face with them - literally!
This island has witnessed many important national histories. First, Mieszko I and Bolesław the Brave built a fortress, a bishopric and the first cathedral on it. Later, the bishops of Posen played an important role in the efforts of Przemysl II, who sought to unite the Polish state, divided as a result of the fragmentation of the districts. In turn, in the 16th century, the first Polish Academy of the Humanities was established here, where adherents of science from all over the country gathered. Even the famous Golden Chapel in Poznan Cathedral with images of the first Polish rulers is not accidental - its foundation was an expression of a patriotic gesture. Walk around the Island, visit three museums and one cathedral, and you will feel the importance of this place.
2. Archaeological Reserve Genius Loci
This is a very inconspicuous exhibition, which will not be difficult to get around, and the memory of the visit should remain with you forever. Here you will see amazingly well-preserved fortifications that belong to the very beginnings of Polish statehood. How did the wooden structure survive to our times…? Find out on the spot! An interesting fact is that, according to scientists, 28,000 oak trees were used to build the embankment around Poznan - that's about 350 trucks of timber. Of course, they cut and transport with the power of the muscles of humans and animals...
3. The Archbishop's Museum - the building of the Lubran Academy
While a visit to the Archbishop's Museum may not seem like the most exciting stop on your trip, if you're even a little bit into seeing sacred art, it's worth making time for this place in your schedule. The objects presented at the exhibition are of the highest class, extremely important for the history of Christianity in Poland. The most famous item in the collection is the sword of St. Peter, who came to Poznan together with Bishop Jordan, the first Bishop of Poznan. Whether the saint actually used it or not, scholars date it to the 1st century AD.
4. Poznan Cathedral
Certainly, Ostrov Tumski is undoubtedly dominated by one building - the soaring Poznan Cathedral. The cubic capacity of this building, dating back to the 10th century, is impressive - although the interior is modest, compared to cathedrals of the same rank, it is nice to look at Poznan walls and vaults.
The most visited place in the cathedral is the Golden Chapel with the tombs of 3 kings and 5 Piast princes. Has the place of their burial not changed for almost 1000 years? This is not entirely true - yes, Poznan Cathedral is the first royal necropolis in Poland, but the ashes of the rulers were not always exhibited in this chapel. The idea of creating such an open and decorative place originated in the 19th century, when Bishop Wolicki and Count Raczynski wanted to recall the origins of the Polish state. The construction of the Byzantine-style chapel required a lot of effort and money, but the pioneers achieved their goal, and the effect of the work is still impressive today. Although you can’t enter the chapel, you can clearly see it because of the bars.
5. Ruins of the Palatium and Church of Our Lady
Probably, wanting to photograph the cathedral as best as possible and capture its imposing silhouette in its entirety, you will have to head towards the monument to John Paul II. After taking a picture, pay attention to the model of Tumsky Island and the building on the left.
A small and somewhat "cut off" church of the Blessed Virgin of the 15th century stands today on the ruins of the Mieszko I palace and the Dobravska chapel. The Palatium, the residence of the duke, became a symbol of the new power in the Piast state. Modeled on similar buildings of the German emperors, the buildings have not survived to our times, but on the basis of archaeological research we are able to recreate their appearance and we know that a beautifully decorated chapel adjoined the palatium.
6. Walk around Tumsky Island
An interesting form of supplementing the tour of the Island will be a walk with the content of the quest "The Beginning of Poland in Poznan", which will take you to the most important places on the island, and also add some interesting facts that we would not pay attention to. Since we are still in Tumsky Ostrov, we must mention one important place.
7. Gate of Poznan ICHOT
At the end of Posadzego Street, where the Genius Loci Archaeological Reserve is located, you will find an interesting brick building - the Cathedral Castle, which is a remnant of the Prussian Poznan Fortress, and at its end - the passage to the Poznan Gate ICHOT, one of the most interesting museums in Poznan.< /p>
It's up to you whether you start or end your adventure from the Island and the cradle of Polish statehood, but it's worth a visit. The exhibition in a really accessible and modern version presents the history of the first Piast dynasty and their Poznan estates, as well as the later history of the city.
There are a lot of videos, multimedia, but also traditionally presented information. You can go through the exhibition “roughly”, stopping only at films or cartoons, but also deepen your knowledge by reading information-rich screens. It is important to note that the audio guides offered offer guided tours for both adults and families. The ICHOT terrace offers a panorama of the Poznan island.
8. Srudka is a district that has changed its face
After leaving ICHOT, just turn onto the street. An island to be in the heart of Srudka. Recently, Srudka has been accompanied by the aforementioned Poznan luck. Historically, it was a place where life was rather uninteresting - surrounded by the fortification system of the Poznan fortress Srodka. She could not develop, which had a negative impact on living conditions. In addition, a communication artery was laid through Srudka, cutting the city in half. The area took a breather when, over time, the fortifications were dismantled and connected to the Island by a practical Jordanian bridge.
In recent years, this place has been radiating an interesting energy and is definitely worth it to continue walking from the Brama of Knowledge. The most characteristic is the fresco from Srudcha, which has become the subject of many photographs. On the other hand, there is a lot of interesting gastronomy on the ground floors of apartment buildings. Srudka is perfect for a tasty stopover after visiting Tumsky Island - but be aware that choosing a restaurant for dinner will not be easy!
9. Holidays in Malta (Poznan)
Srudka is within easy reach of the famous Poznan Malta. They have not only kayak trails and Terme Maltanskie, but also ... a lift! It's interesting how it works in winter... It's enough that it's really the center of all sports - sledding, golf, aqua park, rope parks, and of course the possibility of running, rollerblading and cycling. The perimeter of the reservoir is 5 kilometers - just right for a pleasant walk.
In summer, a ride on the Maltanka narrow-gauge park railway can be a real entertainment for the little ones. This almost 4 km long route between Rondo Srdka and Nowy Zoo has been carrying passengers since 1972.
10. Khvalishevo and the river Varta
Walking from Tumsky Island along Khvalishevo Street or along the Warta River, we will delve into the area once driven by the navigable Warta River. In this part of the city, there used to be river ports, a power station and hydraulic structures. Today, the area is rapidly being modernized, and the boulevards on the Warta River between Chrobry and St. Roča are a popular holiday destination. After a game of beach volleyball, you can look into the famous Containers and stretch out on a sun lounger while drinking something cool.
11. Heart of Poznan - Old Market Square and surroundings
If the birth of Poznan began in Tumski Ostrov, then where did the Old Market come from? The riddle is solved by the figures of Przemysl I and Boleslav the Pious, who decided to move the fortress to the other side of the river in order to give its inhabitants more space. In 1253, the market square and the streets extending from it were laid out, today they are so popular with both visitors and local residents. And this is perhaps the most interesting thing in the Old Town - in many cities the markets become a beautiful but empty tourist shell with grossly inflated prices, and in Poznan it seems that this is still a busy place among the inhabitants.
12. Town Hall in Poznan
All roads lead... to the town hall, of course! It is there, at the town hall, that goats, famous throughout Poland, ring. They don't make a big impression, but you know, it's a must see. The town hall itself is much more intriguing - it is one of the most beautiful town halls in Polish cities, and the surroundings of colorful houses only add to its charm.
The Poznan Town Hall, in addition to its aesthetic and representative function, also has an educational function - after all, on its facade you will find not only allegories of virtues, but also Latin sayings that give food for thought to the members of the city council. Inside the town hall, you can visit the Museum of the History of the City of Poznan.
13. Walk along Poznan Market Square
A walk through the market square could probably be written in a separate, thick guidebook. The most photographed statues in the market square are two very contrasting images - on the one hand, the beautiful Apollo playing the harp in one of the most photogenic corners of the market square. On the other hand, hidden between the buildings on the street. The back of the town hall, hunched from the weight of jugs and decently dressed Bamberka.
14. Monument to Bamberka
The Bamberka Monument commemorates the settlers from German Bamberg brought to Greater Poland in the 18th century to rebuild the devastated region. For centuries, the Catholic population became Polonized, but at the same time retained the memory of their ancestors. The monument with a woman in a folk costume reminds of the contribution of the Bamberg people to the restoration of these lands and the roots of some of the inhabitants of Greater Poland.
15. Former guardhouse and museum of the Wielkopolska Uprising
Behind the town hall is the old guardhouse, that is, the former residence of the city soldiers, the predecessors of today's city guards. For a "guardhouse" the building looks very elegant, and an interesting museum is hidden in the interiors - the Museum of the Wielkopolska Uprising.
16. Colorful tenements and townhouses in the market square
The beautiful apartment buildings of Poznan near the town hall and around the market square are always captivating. What is one thing, then another, we can easily imagine such an informal rivalry between their former owners in terms of forms and decorations. Carefully walk around the market and find your favorite! And the walk will be perfectly diversified by one of the Wielkopolska quests - "Royal Poznan". This is an absolute hit of this Wielkopolska collection - in last year's ranking, it took 4th place in the national ranking of the best escape rooms.
17. Royal Castle - a monument or not?
Then it leads us to a building towering above the city - the Royal Castle. The story is really extraordinary - there was a castle of Przemysl II, on which the Polish coat of arms was installed. Since then, the building has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt.
It was only in 2010-2013 that a thorough reconstruction was carried out, which caused a lot of controversy. Whether the castle should be like this or not - it is. The castle space is used to display the collection of applied art, and the castle tower offers a magnificent view of Poznan.
We are only two steps away from the castle from the Bazar Hotel. It was there that Ignatius Jan Paderewski stayed, whose speech, delivered on December 26, 1918, marked the beginning of a series of events that led to the Greater Poland Uprising.
18. Poznan Parish Church
One of the symbols of Poznan, a white and pink façade with a richly decorated baroque portal with figures of saints. This is definitely one of the interesting places where everyone comes back both in summer and in winter to take a break and enjoy this view at least once in every visit...
It is interesting that, walking towards Kolyagyatskaya Square, we will pass by buildings that look like a parish church - formerly a Jesuit complex, today the City Hall building. In the courtyard, you can relax in the free recreation area, taking a breath between the sights.
19. Poznan city walls
In the completely opposite part of the Old Town in relation to Kolegyatskaya Square, you will find the remains of the fortress walls - also a pleasant place for walking, especially since they have recently been landscaped and landscaped.
Sights of Poznan outside the Old Town
20. Volnosti Square Area
Having moved the Martsinkovsky Alley, we are approaching - the Liberty Fountain always intrigues with its shape. On the one hand, the famous Rachinsky library, on the other, Arcadia, the former theater building.
21. National Museum in Poznan
Next to Freedom Square is the somewhat ridiculous building of the National Museum. The most memorable were the collection of paintings by Jacek Malczewski (the largest in Poland!), whose patron was Count Eduard Alexander Raczynski, and... the collection of coffin portraits. Each face in these portraits seems more terrifying, and each one looks at a person ...
22. The area around Adam Mickiewicz Square and Park, that is, the former Imperial Quarter.
Another place you should visit is around Adam Mickiewicz Square and the adjacent park, also dedicated to the bard. This large corner of Mickiewicz is surrounded by magnificent buildings and monuments, among which the most important are: the Imperial Castle, the Philharmonic Hall, the Bolshoi Theatre, the buildings of the Adam Mickiewicz University, monuments to cryptologists and the victims of June 1956. Many of these buildings were built before the First World War as part of the Caesar District, a complex of representative buildings designed by the most prominent architects in Europe of that time.
23. Imperial Castle
Let's start with the most notable building - the Imperial Castle. Few people know that this is a castle built for the last Prussian Emperor Wilhelm II. The castle is the last imperial residence in Europe. It was built as an element of the Imperial Quarter on the site of the dismantled fortifications of the 19th century Poznan fortress, which was supposed to protect access to Berlin from the east in the event of a war with Russia. The buildings built at that time were supposed to resemble German cities in their architecture, and the neo-Romanesque castle was supposed to give the impression that the Germans ruled in this area for a thousand years. All this was not accidental - after all, a new region was allocated diagonally from Tumsky Island - connected with the cradle of Polish statehood.
The emperor came to Poznan only three times, once to personally collect the keys to the castle (1910), and the last time in 1915. Soon the empire came to an end ... Today, the castle mainly houses the Zamek cultural center, but if you ever manage to visit it - be sure to walk around its most interesting corners and pay attention to the decoration - it reminded us of a bit of socialist realism.
24. Mystery Busters
Next to the Imperial Castle, there is a corner dedicated to the Polish cryptologists who, by cracking earlier versions of the German Enigma cipher machine, greatly contributed to the subsequent Allied victory in World War II. This is evidenced by the interesting shape of the monument to Cryptologists and a small exhibition located nearby, hidden in a booth resembling a cipher machine. - Mystery Busters. Inside, you will discover who they were and how they made their groundbreaking discoveries.
25. Museum of the Poznan Uprising - June 1956
Not far from the Monument to Cryptologists, it is worth visiting another museum dedicated to June in Poznan. The exhibition tells not only about the events in Poznan, but also gives the context of the times of the Polish People's Republic. You can try your hand at being a party speaker or see what the communist "paper" looked like. The exhibition is quite compact - just right, a pill of historical knowledge. The place is also not accidental, because it was on this square that the culminating demonstration took place in June 1956.
Next to the museum in the 1980s, during the "Solidarity Thaw", a monument to the "Victims of June 1956" was erected, which for many years was the site of numerous anti-communist demonstrations.
26. Old Zoo
The Old Zoo, as the name suggests, does not fully fulfill this function, although the animals still live there. More demanding and exotic individuals have permanently moved to a new place near Lake Malta, leaving only monkeys, pigs and foxes rescued from fur farms. Despite this, the zoo still exists, making it the longest continuously operating place in Poland. Today, Poznan residents treat it more like a public park (free of charge) - just a variety of family walks.
27. Poznan Palm House
Nearby is the Poznan Palm House - the largest in Poland and the fifth in Europe. The warm and tropical climate, as well as hundreds of beautiful plants, definitely improved our mood. We recommend this place to true lovers of the most exotic plant species and as a green foothold on rainy days.
