Poznan

Poznan (German: Posen) is the biggest city in Greater Poland, located in western Poland, and one of the country’s main metropolises. It is an important commercial hub and a center for manufacturing and trade, almost midway between Warsaw and Berlin. The Poznan International Trade Fair grounds host the most major trade fairs and exhibits in Poland, making Poznan a popular business destination, but the city also has a rich history and attractions to offer. Its small size and ease of access by road, train, and air make it an appealing tourist destination for tourists to Central Europe.

CULTURE AND SIGHTS

Poznan has several historic buildings and sites, the most of them are situated in the Old Town and other portions of the city center. Many of these may be seen on the Royal-Imperial Route in Poznan, a tourist route that leads through the city’s most prominent areas, highlighting its history, culture, and identity. Portions of the city center, as well as other parts of the city’s historic core, have been recognized as one of Poland’s official national Historic Monuments (Pomnik historii) on November 28, 2008. The National Heritage Board of Poland maintains its listing.

Prof. dr hab. Hanna Kocka-Krec of Instytut Prahistorii UAM’s new substantial archaeological study on Poznan’s Ostrow Tumski indicates that Poznan was certainly a key center of the early Polish State (latest discovery of first Polish ruler,Mieszko I’s Palatium). Thus, Ostrow Tumski Island is more significant than previously assumed, and it may have been as important as “Gniezno” in the Poland of the earliest “Piasts.” Despite the fact that it is still under construction, “Ostrow Tumski of Poznan” should have a very rich historical exposition and be a highly fascinating location for tourists very soon. It promises to include many attractions, including the previously mentioned Cathedral, Church of St. Mary the Virgin, “Lubranski Academy,” and the opened in 2012 “Genius Loci Archeological Park,” as well as the planned Interactive Center of Ostrow Tumski History (“ICHOT”), which will present a multimedia museum of the Polish State through many different periods. The “Palatium in Poznan” will also be converted into a museum, albeit further finances are required. When all of the expositions are completed in a few years, Ostrow Tumski may be as interesting to visit as “Wawel” in Kraków. “Poland originated here,” said Pope John Paul II, highlighting the significance of Ostrow Tumski in Poznan.

Malta, with an artificial lake in the middle, is one of the most attractive attractions in Pozna. On one side of the lake, there are ski and sleigh slopes (Malta Ski), while on the other bank, there is a massive complex of swimming pools, including an Olympic-size pool (Termy Maltanskie). This whole recreational city “district” is unique in Poland, if not Europe.

The annual Malta theatrical festival, which takes place at numerous city locations in late June and early July, is perhaps the most prominent cultural event in Poznan. It primarily presents contemporary experimental off-theatre performances, which often take place in squares and other public locations. It also includes film, video, music, and dance events. Many off-theater organizations were formed as a result of the Malta Theatre Festival, expressing new ideas in the city’s already rich theatrical tradition. Thus, Poznan, with its many off-theaters and performances, has lately emerged as a new Polish off-theater performance hub.

Classical music activities include the Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition (held every five years) and monthly Philharmonic Orchestra performances at the University Aula. Concerts by the Pozna Nightingales are very popular.

Poznan is also home to modern kinds of music like as rap and hip-hop, which are created by many bands and artists (“Peja”, “Mezo” and others). Poznan is also well-known for its rock musicians (Muchy, Malgorzata Ostrowska).

Apart from many traditional theaters with a long history (“Teatr Nowy”, “Teatr Wielki”, “Teatr Polski”, “Teatr Muzyczny” and several others), Poznan is also home to a growing number of alternative theater groups, some of which stem from the International Malta Festival: “Teatr Strefa Ciszy”, “Teatr Porywcze Cial”, “Teatr Usta Usta”, “Teatr

Every year on November 11th, Poznans commemorate The Day of St. Marcin Street. A procession of horses, led by St. Marcin, marches along St. Marcin Street in front of The Imperial Castle. Everyone can enjoy wonderful croissants, a Poznan regional product.

The 2009 European Young Adults Meeting of the ecumenical Christian Taizé Community was held in Poznan.

In December, Poznan hosts the “Ale Kino!” International Young Audience Film Festival, as well as the “Off Cinema” festival of independent films. Other festivals include “Transatlantyk” (a film and music festival founded in 2011 by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek), Maski Theater Festival, Dance International Workshops by Polish Dance Theater, Made in Chicago (Jazz Festival), Ethno Port, Festival of Ice Sculpture, Animator, Science and Art Festival, Tzadik (Jewish music festival), and Meditations Biennale (Modern Art). The whole calendar of cultural yearly events is significantly lengthier.

Poznan contains a number of cinemas, including multiplexes and smaller theaters, as well as an opera house, various other theaters, and museums.

The “Rozbrat” squat provides a home for squatters as well as a hub of independent and open-minded culture. It features regular concerts, an anarchistic library, vernissages, exhibits, an annual birthday celebration (in October), poetry nights, and graffiti festivals. Many bars, taverns, and coffee shops may be found in the city center, particularly in the Old Town.

Poznan has a climate that is in between a humid continental and an oceanic climate, with somewhat chilly winters and pleasant summers. Snow is widespread in the winter, when nighttime temperatures are generally below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Summer temperatures may often approach 30 °C (86 °F). The annual rainfall is above 500 mm (20 in), making it one of the lowest in Poland. July is the wettest month, owing to brief but severe cloudbursts and thunderstorms. The amount of sunlight hours is among the greatest in the nation. The climate in this region features modest temperature fluctuations between highs and lows, and there is ample rainfall all year. This climate’s Köppen Climate Classification subtype is “Cfb” (Marine West Coast Climate/Oceanic Climate).

Poznan has a land area of 261.3 km2 (100.9 sq mi) and is located at 52°17’34″–52°30’27″N, 16°44’08″–17°04’28″E. The peak of Góra Moraska (Morasko Hill) inside the Morasko meteorite natural reserve in the city’s north is its highest point, with a height of 157 m (515 ft). In the Warta valley, the lowest point is 60 meters (197 feet).

The Warta, which runs from south to north through Pozna, is the city’s primary river. As it nears the city center, it splits into two streams that run west and east of Ostrów Tumski (the cathedral island) before rejoining farther north. The smaller Cybina river runs through eastern Poznan to meet the Warta’s east branch (which is also named Cybina – its northern half was originally a continuation of that river, while its southern section has been artificially expanded to produce the Warta’s main stream). Other tributaries of the Warta within Pozna include the Junikowo Stream (Strumie Junikowski), which flows from the west through southern Pozna, meeting the Warta just outside the city boundary in Lubo; the Bogdanka and Wierzbak, formerly two separate tributaries flowing from the north-west and along the north side of the city centre, now with their lower sections diverted underground; the Gówna, flowing through the The Warta’s path in central Pozna used to be much different: the main stream went between Grobla and Chwaliszewo, which were once both islands. The Zgnia Warta – “rotten Warta” – branch west of Grobla was filled in late in the 19th century, while the old main stream west of Chwaliszewo was redirected and filled in during the 1960s. This was done in part to avoid floods, which have caused significant damage to Pozna on several occasions throughout history.

Jezioro Kierskie (Kiekrz Lake) is Poznan’s biggest lake, located in the city’s extreme northwestern outskirts (within the city boundaries since 1987). Other significant lakes include Malta (an artificial lake constructed in 1952 on the lower Cybina), Jezioro Strzeszyskie (Strzeszyn Lake) on the Bogdanka, and Rusaka (an artificial lake formed in 1943 farther down the Bogdanka). The last two are popular swimming spots. Kiekrz Lake is popular for sailing, and Malta is a popular rowing and canoeing location.

The city center (containing the Old Town, the former islands of Grobla and Chwaliszewo, the main street Wity Marcin, and many other significant structures and neighborhoods) is located on the Warta’s west bank. Ostrów Tumski, located between the two branches of the Warta, has Pozna Cathedral and other religious structures, as well as housing and industrial amenities. The historic quarter of ródka is located on the river’s east bank, facing the cathedral. Rataje in the east, and Winogrady and Pitkowo north of the center, have large portions of residential towers erected during the 1960s. Wilda, azarz, and Górczyn to the south, and Jeyce to the west, have older residential and commercial areas. Within the city limits, there are also substantial sections of woodland, mainly in the east, next to Swarzdz, and surrounding the lakes in the north-west.

Since the Middle Ages, Poznan has been an important commercial center. Local heavy industry started to expand in the nineteenth century. Several significant enterprises, like the Hipolit Cegielski steel mill and railway plant were erected.

Poznan is now one of Poland’s main commercial hubs. Poznan is considered Poland’s second most wealthy city, behind Warsaw. In 2006, the city of Poznan contributed PLN 31.8 billion to Poland’s GDP. It has a GDP per capita that is 200,4% more than Poland’s average. Furthermore, as of May 2009, Poznan has an extremely low unemployment rate of 2.3 percent. In contrast, Poland’s national unemployment rate was much over 10%.

Many Western European corporations have set up shop in Poznan or the surrounding cities of Tarnowo Podgórne and Swarzdz. The majority of foreign investors are German and Dutch firms, with a few others. The majority of investors come from the food processing, furniture, automotive, and transportation and logistics sectors. Low labor costs, a reasonably excellent road and rail network, good vocational skills of employees, and relatively permissive employment rules all attract foreign enterprises.

The freshly constructed Stary Browar retail mall, which features several high-end businesses, is regarded as one of the greatest in Europe. It was named the world’s finest retail mall in the medium-sized commercial buildings category. Galeria Malta, one of the biggest shopping malls in Central Europe, and the stores of the Hotel Bazar, a historical hotel and commercial hub in the Old Town, are also renowned.

QXL Poland Sp. z o.o. (Allegro), Poznan, GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals SA, Pozna, Grupa Raben, near Kórnik, Poznan metro, Kuehne & Nagel sp. z o.o.,Gdki near Pozna, H. Cegielski-Pozna SA, Pozna, The term “Sp. z o.o.” stands for “Spóka z ograniczonoci,” or Limited Liability Company, and is akin to the British Ltd. or the German GmbH. “Spóka Akcyjna” or S.A. is the acronym for Public Limited Company (a stock company or PLC).

All local numbers must be called with area codes; if a seven-digit number is encountered, add ’61’ before the number.

Depending on your phone provider and the network into which you roam, you may wish to try one of the following: – Dial the number as shown, for example, 061 888 0000 – If unsuccessful, omit the first zero, for example, 61 888 0000. – If you are still unsuccessful, remove the preceding zero and dial +48 before the number, for example, +48 61 888 0000.

There are Internet cafés near the Stary Rynek, and the Stary Browar retail mall has free WiFi. There is also a 24-hour Internet café in the main railway station, which is ideal if you have hours to wait for the next train overnight. There is also public wi-fi internet connection near the Stary Rynek and the Plac Wolności.