Poznan Guide

Above: The spires of St. Peter and Paul Below: Nazguls used to ride those...

Ok, so Poznan isn't the first place on most people's travel agenda, but those who come here are pleasantly surprised. Its rich history and vibrant night life provide a perfect setting for a city break. The city boasts a wide ranging array of museums, beautiful churches and impressive architecture all linked by way of cobbled, lively streets. Close to the centre are some historical and nicely landscaped open spaces like Citadela, Chopin Park and Ogrody, whilst a little further out you can find some natural and man-made lakes such as Malta, Rusalka and Kiekrz, where in summer locals and tourists go for a whole host of activities and events.

Poznan is known for the numerous annual trade fairs that have been held here since the 1930's, but it's not just business around here though; a large proportion of the population are students, which makes the atmosphere in the bars and on the streets youthful and lively.

Historically, Poznan's beginnings go back to the 9th century when the island of Ostrow Tumski was founded. The cathedral was built in 968 following the establishment of the bishopric and the baptism of the nation. Poland's first king, Boleslaw Chobry, reigned from here through an attack from the Holy Roman Empire in 1005. In 1038, after Poznan sustained heavy damages from Bohemian Prince Bratislav and his army, Krakow was favoured as the place for the throne.

Through the next six centuries trade flourished in the city and the Jesuit School and Lubranski Academy were founded, but in the 17th century, after a series of Swedish, Prussian and Russian invasions, Poznan fell under Prussian occupation. Throughout the late 19th century Poznan, or Posen as it was known at the time, was developed industrially and colonised by the Germans. The Insurrection in 1918 freed Poznan from German occupation, only to be taken again during World War II. The battle for Poznan's liberation in 1945 was costly and lasted an entire month. More recently, the workers' strike in 1956 was a bloody affair which sparked similar protests across the Eastern Bloc and helped to eventually overcome Communist Rule in the region.