The picturesque capital of Wielkopolska province is today a major economic, commercial, scientific, cultural, and tourist hub in Western Poland; it’s home to the country’s most important trade-fair complex and possibly the most spectacular Town Hall you’ll ever see.
Any talk of Poznań inevitably begins with a mention of its Renaissance Town Hall – understandably considered the most beautiful north of the Alps, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more exquisite example anywhere. Among its extraordinary features, you’ll find charming billy-goat figures who pop out to butt heads at noon!
Poznań has several other drawcards, of course, including Poland’s only painting by Monet and the delicious sweet treat known as St. Martin croissants. Make no mistake, this 1,000-year-old city on the River Warta has much to be proud of – it even has its own local dialect. When it comes to sports, leisure, and cultural activities, you really are spoilt for choice in Pozna. Like to engage in some retail therapy?
The best place for a good old shopping spree is Stary Browar, which the International Council of Shopping Centres chose as the world’s best medium-sized shopping center in 2005. The giant, modern, red-brick complex combines retail space with an art gallery of modern sculptures and installations. It also hosts many cultural events. Wear comfortable shoes, you’ll end up walking for miles! Art lovers should definitely visit the imperial-looking National Museum, where among the pieces on show, you’ll find Beach in Pourville, the only painting by impressionist artist Claude Monet in any Polish collection.
The Museum of Applied Arts, meanwhile, lets you touch and even smell bygone times. It’s located in a reconstructed royal castle with a tower from which you can enjoy an almost unrivaled panorama of the Old Town.