Poznań, Poland

Poznań Poland
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pozna%C5%84_Centrum.jpg
Author: Przemov300
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Poznań is the fifth largest city in Poland. It is also one of its oldest, and according to belief, may be one of the ancient capitals of the country. It is today the provincial capital of the Wiekopolska Voivodeship.

Poznań is located on the river Warta which flows from south to north through the city. The river splits into two branches as it approach the city, only to join together further north. As a result, some parts of Poznań is within the island between the two river branches, called Ostrów Tumski, or Cathedral island.

Poznań experiences a continental humid climate. It gets hot summers and cold winters. The warmest month is July, with average high temperature of 24.6°C (76.3°F). Coldest month is January, when the average low temperature drops to -4.6°C (23.7°F). The heaviest rain falls in July, which receives 70 mm (2.76 in) of precipitation.

St Margaret Church, Poznań
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Author: Radomil
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Poznań lay claim to being the town that established Poland. Centuries before the country came into being, the Polan tribe had established a settlement between the two branches of the Warta River, on what is presently Ostrów Tumski. The earliest recorded ruler of the Polan tribe, Mieszko I, was baptised there in AD 966. This led to the construction of Poznań's cathedral, the first in Poland.

After Mieszko died, there were attempts to return to paganism. Eventually the Polish capital relocated to Kraków. From then on, it has been a provincial capital.

The former Jesuit complex in Poznań
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kompleks_Jezuicki_Pozna%C5%84_RB1.JPG
Author: Radomil
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Visiting Poznań

You can fly to Poznań from major cities of Europe. Ryanair connects it with Alicante, Barcelona, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, Liverpool, London Stansted, Milan and Tarragona while Wizzair connects it with Cork, Doncaster, Dortmund, London Luton, Milan, Oslo, Paris, Rome, and Stockholm. From the airport, you can take a public bus to downtown Poznań just 7 km away.

Sights & Attractions in Poznań Old Town

Church of Saints Mary Magdalene and Stanisław
A Baroque church which was originally a Jesuit chapel, built in 1651 and completed half a century later.
Church of the Heart of Jesus (Kościół Serca Jezusowego)
Dating back to the 13th century, this is the oldest church in the Poznań Old Town.
Działyński Palace
Palace of the Grand Marshall of Lithuania dating from the late 18th century today houses a library, theater, exhibition hall and concert hall.
Old Market Square (Stary Rynek)
The heart of the Old Town with handsome townhouses around it.
Poznań Town Hall
Civic building in the Renaissance style at the Old Market Square. It houses the Museum of the History of Poznań.
Proserpine Fountain
Fountain at the center of the Old Market Square depicting the abduction of the Roman goddess of fertility Porserpine by Pluto, the ruler of the underworld.

Sights & Attractions outside Poznań Old Town

Franciscan Church
Church on Ulica Góra Przemysła with frescoes decorating the nave.
National Museum of Poznań
Formerly the Prussian Friedrich Museum, this Neo-Renaissance building from the turn of the 20th century houses some of the best collection of Polish paintings in the country.
Przemysław Castle
Castle rebuilt during the Middle Ages that today houses the Museum of Applied Art. The museum showcases everyday, decorative and religious items.
Raczyński Library
A stately library building erected in 1829. Its façade of columns adds to its grandeur.
St. Adalbert Hill
Hill where St Adalbert is said to have delivered his sermon a thousand years ago, before embarking on his mission to evangelize Prussia. Today there are two churches on the hill, the Discalced Carmelites Church of St Joseph and the Gothic Church of St Adalbert.

The inside of Poznań Cathedral
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Katedra_Pozna%C5%84_wn%C4%99trze_RB1.JPG
Author: Radomil
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Sights & Attractions on Ostrów Tumski Island

This is the island between the two branches of the Warta River. It is regarded as the oldest part of Poznań, and today contains a number of important sights.

Archdiocesan Museum
Museum containing a large collection of religious art from medieval times.
Church of St Mary
A small Gothic church built for Bishop Andrzej Bniński by architect Hanusz Prusz between 1431 and 1448.
Lubrański Academy
The first institution of higher learning in Poznań.
Poznań Cathedral
The cathedral that traces its history to the first church in Poland in AD 966. The present church was built after the earlier one was destroyed in the 11th century.

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