Poznań is a truly remarkable city that can boast not only numerous industrial enterprises but also magnificent ecology and a hundred cultural monuments. It is considered the soul of Poland and attracts thousands of tourists every year who are ready to fall in love with it.
Historical sights of Poznań
It is said that Poznań is immersed in history. Getting to know this city is impossible without visiting its important places.
Old Market Square
Like in most cities in Eastern Europe, the main square of Poznań is called the Old Market Square. Founded in the mid-13th century, it was initially intended for trade. Its size has not changed since the laying of the first stone, and it has a square shape, with each side measuring 140 square meters. The perimeter of the Old Market Square is lined with buildings from the 16th century.
The main attractions of the square are the four fountains dedicated to Greek gods (Neptune, Mars, Proserpina, and Apollo), as well as the shame column (a place of execution and torture of criminals during the Middle Ages).
Town Hall
In the heart of the Old Town, you can find the Town Hall of Poznań. For a long time, it served as the municipality, but for several decades now, the building has been a museum.
The construction is considered a record holder in terms of construction duration. The works lasted from the 13th to the 16th century. In the 17th century, the tower was seriously damaged by lightning. But a century later, the city authorities fully restored the Town Hall.
Address: Stary Rynek 1, 61-768 Poznań, Poland
Website: mnp.art.pl
Phone: +48 61 856 81 93
Imperial Castle
The castle was built in the early 20th century as the residence of German Emperor Wilhelm. The construction cost five million marks. The strict frame of the building has a polygonal shape and is made of brick, sandstone, and concrete. Throughout its century-long history, the Imperial Castle has been part of a university and a municipality. Now it is a historical treasure accessible to tourists.
Address: Święty Marcin 80/82, 61-809 Poznań, Poland
Website: ckzamek.pl
Phone: +48 61 646 52 60
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM⬤
Palace of the Raczyński Family
The small mansion of the Raczyński family is located on the Stary Rynek Square from the side of Wroniecka Street. The modest building in the Neoclassical style is adorned with the family coat of arms and an extended cornice.
The palace was owned by one of the wealthiest families in Poznań in the 18th century. In the past century, a large part of the mansion was destroyed by a fire, but the Soviet authorities spared no expense in its reconstruction. Immediately after the renovation, the palace was converted into a hotel. First, it served as a modest tourist accommodation, and later, it became a luxurious hotel.
Other Historical Structures
The character of Poznań is revealed through the following important landmarks:
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Działyński Palace from the 18th century, built in the Baroque style;
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The Old Zoo, founded in the 19th century;
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Maltanka - an iron railway serving purely aesthetic purposes, transporting passengers through the park areas between the New Zoo and the Schronisko district;
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The Monument to the 15th Uhlans Regiment, dedicated to local heroes who fought for the independence of their homeland in the Soviet-Polish War at the beginning of the last century;
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The Monument to the world-famous Polish composer Frédéric Chopin. The centennial statue is located in the park of the same name, founded by Jesuit monks in the 12th century.
Natural Attractions
Among the attractions gifted by nature, there are about a dozen parks and several dozen squares. In Poznań, man-made structures harmoniously coexist with picturesque green oases.
The Citadel
The largest park within the city spans over 100 hectares. Since 2008, the park has been protected by law and officially recognized as a national heritage site. It attracts the attention of tourists with two military museums, a monument to the heroes of the Red Army, and several alleys dedicated to various battles and wars.
Botanical Garden
The Poznań Botanical Garden is a park with a variety of exotic and familiar European flora, as well as the scientific campus of Adam Mickiewicz University. This amazing picturesque corner was built in the 1920s. The Soviet authorities made every effort to preserve it, and for nearly 50 years, the botanical garden has been considered one of the city's cultural landmarks. Recently, an exhibition hall dedicated to the plant world has been opened here.
Address: Dąbrowskiego 165, 60-594 Poznań, Poland
Website: obuam.robia.pl
Phone: +48 61 829 20 13
Opening Hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Lake Malta
Lake Malta is an artificial reservoir created on the Cybina River in the 1950s. It was named in honor of the fact that the lands of Poznań once belonged to the Knights of Malta.
Today, Lake Malta is an active part of the city's sporting life: in summer, you can go water skiing on the lake, and in winter, the reservoir turns into a huge artificial ski slope. The lake's shores also host a theatrical festival.
Ostrów Tumski
Located between the arms of the Warta River, the main water artery of Poznań, is Ostrów Tumski. The main reason it is considered a city attraction is its historical significance. The first settlements on the island date back to the 8th century.
Ostrów Tumski today consists of several historic houses, temples, churches, and a cathedral. All the structures are surrounded by a sturdy defensive wall.
New Zoo
The Poznań Zoo is home to over 2,000 species of animals spread across an area of over 110 hectares. The zoo is located near Lake Malta on Góra Biała. It was built after World War I, as the limited space of the Old Zoo restricted its potential for expansion.
Today, at the New Zoo, you can see a variety of inhabitants:
raptors such as eagles, vultures, hawks, and owls;
predatory mammals of all sizes, from chinchillas and hamsters to tigers and cheetahs;
exotic species like emus and kangaroos;
rhinoceroses and bison;
deer and many other animals.
Address: Krańcowa 81, 61-048 Poznań, Poland
Website: zoo.poznan.pl
Phone: +48 61 877 35 17
Opening Hours: Daily from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Parks in Poznań
Other natural attractions in Poznań include the following interesting places:
Jan Długosz Park, located near the old brewery in the historic part of the city;
Sołacz Park, featuring a lake and green spaces enjoyed by locals and visitors to Poznań.
Religious Monuments
In the modest square of Poznań, there are several dozen Catholic churches and chapels. It's almost impossible to see them all in just one week.
St. Anthony of Padua Church and Franciscan Monastery
The Franciscan monastery complex is located in the heart of Poznań. Once, there was a wooden chapel here, which was destroyed by fire due to the actions of ill-wishers. The current stone buildings were erected in the 17th century on the same sacred site for Christians.
The main highlight of the Church is the image of the Virgin Mary believed to have the power to heal the sick. Thousands of pilgrims come here every year.
Address: świętego Antoniego 50, 61-359 Poznań, Poland
Website: sw-antoni.com
Phone: +48 61 879 31 84
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and St. Mary Magdalene
One of the most important Catholic churches in Poznań was built in the late 17th century. Today, this holy place has the status of a minor basilica. The pink walls of the church are adorned with images of the patron saint of the church, St. Ignatius Loyola with a burning heart in his hands.
Despite the ravages of the two World Wars, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church remains open to all visitors. The local authorities have undertaken several reconstructions of the church over the years.
Address: Klasztorna 11, 61-779 Poznań, Poland
Website: fara.archpoznan.pl
Phone: +48 61 852 69 50
St. Wojciech Church
The St. Wojciech Catholic Church is dedicated to its initiator and patron, Bishop Wojciech. This well-known priest and preacher belonged to a respected Polish family, yet he dedicated his life to preaching in the territory of Prussia.
The first wooden cult structure appeared on the hill in the 13th century. Two centuries later, it was replaced by a more durable stone church, built in a strict Gothic style. In the 17th century, a pantheon for the burial of famous cultural and religious figures of Poland was established in front of the church.
Address: Wzgórze Świętego Wojciecha 1, 61-748 Poznań, Poland
Website: swietywojciech.archpoznan.pl
Phone: +48 61 851 90 12
Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul
Built in the 10th century, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul is rightfully considered the oldest in the city. It can be found on the island of Tumski. Nearby is the burial place of the rulers of the Polish Duchy.
Throughout its history, the structure has been reconstructed multiple times due to fires, military battles, and hurricanes. In the late 1950s, the church once again opened its doors to all parishioners.
Address: Ostrów Tumski 17, 61-109 Poznań, Poland
Website: katedra.archpoznan.pl
Phone: +48 61 852 96 42
Other Churches in Poznań
Among the important religious monuments, the following gems of Poznań can also be mentioned:
Church of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, located on Tumski Island. The structure is built in a Gothic style and dates back to the medieval times.
Church of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, converted into a church from a regular bourgeois house.
Church of St. Stanislaus Kostka, an unusual rectangular-shaped church built in the 1930s.
Church of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Helper of the Faithful, initially under the patronage of St. Catherine and now under the care of the Salesian Fathers.
Monastery Complex of the Discalced Carmelites and the Church of St. Joseph, named after the monks who took vows of poverty.
Stanisław Moniuszko Grand Theater
The theater, built in a neoclassical style, meets all the requirements of cultural buildings of ancient Rome. The façade is adorned with stucco, statues, and columns. The hall itself can accommodate a thousand guests. The opera theater was constructed when local authorities realized that the previous building no longer met the cultural demands of Poznań.
Address: Fredry 9, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
Website: opera.poznan.pl
Phone: +48 61 659 02 00
Raczynski Library
The Raczynski Library, the oldest public library in Poznań, was established in the early 19th century by the famous Polish journalist, publicist, and philanthropist Edward Raczyński. He became its first benefactor, donating 10,000 volumes of rare editions from his personal collection. Over the course of a century, the library expanded its collection to 50,000 volumes.
During World War II, much of Poznań's cultural heritage was lost. The Raczynski Library managed to preserve around 17,000 books. The building itself has been recently fully restored, and since 2011, the guardian of books welcomes visitors.
Address: plac Wolności 19, 61-745 Poznań, Poland
Website: bracz.edu.pl
Phone: +48 61 885 89 09
Museums
Poznań boasts the following museums:
National Museum - the largest museum in the country, dedicated to the history and culture of the Polish people from the time of the Slavic tribes to the modern era.
Armament Museum - located near Fort Winiary, showcasing various weapons and military equipment.
Ethnographic Museum - housed in a former Masonic lodge, offering insights into the culture of the Polish state.
Museum of Applied Arts - a quaint house near the Church of St. Anthony of Padua, displaying around 11,000 items crafted by local artisans.
Museum of Environmental Knowledge - a branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences, established at the beginning of the last century.
Archbishop's Museum - showcasing the development of Catholicism in Poland since its establishment in the late 19th century.
Museum of Musical Instruments - the only museum of its kind in Europe, opened in the second half of the 16th century. It houses over 2,000 exhibits displayed in 19 halls.
Poznań is fascinating because it blends its stone jungle with picturesque landscapes. Once you visit this Polish city, you will fall in love with it forever.
