Poznań is one of the largest and oldest cities in Poland, and surprisingly still under the radar with travelers. However, after experiencing its beauty and uniqueness, there’s no doubt tourists will soon be overrunning it. So go now!
By: Heather Newgen | Twitter: @hnvoluntourist
Located between Berlin and Warsaw, Poznań is known for its Renaissance style buildings and remarkable charm. The city has a 1000-year-old history and played a significant religious and political role during the 10th century. As you wander through the vibrant cobblestone streets, the European city has an exciting antiquated feeling that’s vividly present. Poznań is distinctive in the sense that tradition and history are interwoven with modernity offering interesting attractions and idyllic hideaways.
One of the most popular places to see is the Old Market Square. There you’ll find cafes, bars and shops buzzing with the friendly locals. Make sure to be there at noon and mull around the Town Hall. Every day at that time the clock strikes and two mechanical billy goats come out butting heads 12 times–a tradition since 1551. Legend has it a celebratory elaborate feast was prepared for the town’s esteemed guests. However, the chef burnt the roast to a crisp, which was the main dish. In a desperate move to save the festive occasion, he stole two billy goats from a nearby meadow, but that didn’t work out so well for him either.
Town Hall
They escaped and were found butting heads in front of the Town Hall. The mayor was rather amused by the incident and ordered two billy goats be added to the clock. They’ve been battling it out center stage ever since. You could easily spend an entire day at the Old Market Square, but if you have limited time, make sure to explore the other must see places in Poznań. The Fara Church is around the corner from the square and is strikingly breathtaking. You could also spend countless hours admiring the baroque gold decor, ornate high ceilings and detailed statues. The 1600s pink facade Catholic church does have guided tours, so if you some time you can schedule one.
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Other Places to See in Poznań
–Old Brewery 50 50
–Cathedral Island
–Citadel Park
–Imperial Castle
–Poznań National Museum where you can see Claude Monet – “La plage à Pourville, soleil couchant” (“Beach in Pourville”). It was stolen in 2000, but recovered and returned to the museum in 2010.
Poznań is easily accessible by bus, plane or train, which is what I took from Berlin. It was about $90 each way and was six hours roundtrip, but so worth the price and long day. The city can be seen in a day, but if you can stay overnight, you can enjoy the nightlife, which is something I didn’t have time for.
Heather Newgen in Poznań
Keep in mind you can’t use Euros so make sure to bring a credit card or exchange money. In my experience not as many locals spoke English as they did in Berlin. However, it’s still easy to communicate with people. Also you don’t need your passport to enter from Berlin by train. But there were random passport checks on the train by German authorities so have it with you just in case.
You should absolutely add Poznań to your list of must see places. The city contains an impressive amount of history to soak up and learn about. But, even if that’s not your thing, the architecture, food and lively atmosphere is reason enough to go.