Poznan Old Town
The Cradle Of The Polish State And Its First Capital, With A Colourful Renaissance Old Market Square, The Town Hall With Its Mechanical Goats That Butt Heads At Noon, And Ostrow Tumski, The Oldest Cathedral In Poland. A Trade Fair City With A Big Food Tradition · Poznan, Greater Poland
Poznan is one of the oldest cities in Poland, and its first rulers were centred on the island of Ostrow Tumski, where the cathedral stands. The Old Town lies on the left bank of the Warta around the Old Market Square, a broad rectangle lined with colourful merchants' houses. In the middle sits the Renaissance town hall, rebuilt in the 1550s by an Italian architect, with an arcaded facade and a clock tower. At noon two mechanical goats butt heads above the clock, a sight that draws a crowd every day. The war destroyed most of the square, and the houses you see are careful reconstructions. The city is also known for St Martin's croissants, the rogale Swietomarcinskie, eaten around 11 November. Nearby are the Imperial Castle, built for the German emperor in the early 1900s, and Lake Malta, an artificial lake used for rowing and walks. It is a lively university and trade fair city, busy and compact.
Old Market Square with the Renaissance town hall, in the centre of Poznan on the Warta river, Poznan, Greater Poland, Poland
The Old Market Square, the streets and Ostrow Tumski are open at all hours and free to walk. The goats on the town hall appear at noon daily, and the exact routine may vary, so arrive a few minutes early. The town hall museum, the cathedral and the castle keep their own hours, commonly closed one day a week, often Monday, and with free entry days for some museums. The cathedral closes to visitors during services. Cafes and bars on the square open from morning and stay open late, especially on Friday and Saturday. Times change by season and on public holidays, so confirm them close to your date. Winter days are short, and some sights close early.