Poznan – one of the oldest city in Poland – is located in the Western part of the country, in the Greater Poland Lake District. Archaeological research shows that the first people put their feet in this area in the Palaeolithic era. All we know about them is that they were reindeers’ hunters.
The first settlers appeared on this land between the 5th and 6th century BC. Historians claim that it might have been Poznan, where the christening of Poland took place in the year 966. Before that happened, Slavonic people Polans had been leaving here and some of famous polish traditions like painting eggs, carol singing or spring cleaning originate from them. Even though today they are solely recognized as Christian customs.
The most known symbol of Poznan are two billy-goats fighting with each other every day at midday on the Town Hall’s tower. They first appeared there in 1551. The other characteristics image of the city are multi-coloured town houses, here and there covered with painter’s sketches.
In Poznan you can also find the youngest castle in Europe – The Caesarean Castle build in 1910 for the King of Prussia, Wilhelm II. Adolf Hitler wanted this place for his headquarters and thus in 1939 renovation works were started. Many rooms were redecorated and have their functionality changed. The castle is open to visitors both days and nights. Palace Górków, a noble residence from the Renaissance, today holds the Archaeological Museum. Back in the day, it used to have a rooftop terrace with a fish-pond.
After a whole day of sightseeing you can catch a breath in the Citadel’s Park. Among green spaces and trees, you will find there fortresses’ walls, cemeteries, a monument in the honour of soldiers fighting for Poznan in 1945 or the Museum of Armature, which is located in the remains of the Fort Winiary from the 19th century.
If you want to try traditional polish food, it is worth visiting Wiejskie Jadło restaurant. In the menu you can find polish dumplings, sour rye soup in bread, meat-stuffed cabbage or duck with apples. A journey-back-in-time experience waits for you in café Proletaryat. It is designed in communistic style, and also serves alcohol and food typical for communistic times, such as herrings, pickled cucumbers, pork fat or bread with lard.
