I haven’t called this ‘Picturesque Postcards from Poznan’ just because I love a bit of alliteration, but because every corner of Poznan looks like the perfect postcard.
Outside of Krakow and Warsaw, other cities in Poland aren’t very well-known worldwide, but Poznan is a city that deserves a much wider audience. It’s got interesting museums, beautiful parks, top-notch restaurants, international shops, and, by far, one of Europe’s most amazingly colourful main squares…
The historical city of Poznan was the first capital city of Poland in the 13th Century. I stayed for two nights and although I didn’t manage to see everything, it’s the perfect size for a short-break holiday. Alternatively, you could do what I did and head over from Berlin, only a 3-hour train journey away.
The thing that struck me about Poznan is how well maintained the city is, especially Stary Rynek (the old market). Just like Warsaw and most cities in Poland except Krakow, it had to be completely rebuilt after World War II and the result is astonishing. The recent success of the city is Stary Browar (the old brewery), a culture and shopping complex that has won many awards for its innovation and design. Historically, it’s a very interesting building because during the war it was used as shelters and bunkers. If any of you are familiar with the Manufakutura in Lodz – an old cotton mill which has been renovated into a phenomenal social and cultural complex – then Stary Browar can be seen in a similar light.
If I were to recommend 5 must-see places in Poznan, they are:
- Stary Rynek – You really have to see this main square to believe it. It’s full of life and vibrancy from morning until night. The buildings not to miss are the brightly painted merchant houses.
- National Museum – Art lovers could spend hours in here admiring Polish art and more international artists, from Monet to Botticelli. There is also an exhibition of ancient art on the bottom floor that includes a mummified crocodile head!
- Stary Browar – I’m not into shopping and I’m not telling you to go here for the shopping, I’m telling you to go here for its modern architecture and art gallery.
- Cathedral Island – Visit the first Christian church built in Poland as well as the very first cathedral in Poland. Near here you can also walk across the canal over a bridge encrusted with lockets.
- Malta Lake – If you want to relax and have the tranquility of water by your feet then this is the place to go.
Since I’ve been ranting on how pretty Poznan is, please take a look at these homemade postcards for proof!
15 Responses
I went to Poznan on a stag do so didn’t see anywhere near as much as you, but I agree – Stary Rynek is absolutely gorgeous. It was a lot cheaper than other Polish cities when we went in 2009 too. There’s a great brewery pub on the main square worthy of a place in your top 5 (brovaria.pl).
I love how many stag dos you’ve been to all over Europe! You must be quite the beer connoisseur by now 😀
By 2013, I didn’t notice too much of a difference price wise, but I do love how much cheaper Poland is than most other major European countries, and the best bit is that it doesn’t compromise on quality. Thanks for recommending the brewery… Judging by the photos I think most men would be in heaven there!
Such a beautiful town. Old Town looks like made of paper mache 🙂
I have been to Warsaw, but would really love to visit Krakow and Poznan’ one day. Thanks for the overview!
Haha it does look like a paper mache/cartoon town!! I only went to Warsaw for a day so I would love to go back and explore it properly… day visits never suffice! Oh Krakow is stunning, and Poznan is a great city, I hope you get there soon!
Love the architecture! And the Old Town looks lovely. I must go back to Poland and explore some more!
Yeh get your bum bum there again Lizzie! I’ve got Polish fever, so I’ll look forward to reading more about the country on your blog!
Beautiful photos! I really need to visit Poland soon — it looks so gorgeous!
You’re so lucky to live in a country that borders so many countries Julika!! For that reason alone it would be a crime not to go to Poland 😉 I really think you would love it though….
So quaint. Would you say that things in Poland cost about half of what they do in say, Germany, France or the UK? I’d love to get over there, just really ought to limit the travel to affordable lands.
Hey Mike! I think you’re spot on… I would say things in Poland are roughly half the cost of things in the UK and France. I really recommend Poland for it’s price-friendly food and accommodation – not to mention its people, history and natural beauty!
Lovely work with the postcards.
I’ve spent over ten years in Poznań, including several living as close as 200 meters from the old town hall.
One of many little advantages of living in Poland is that you can really see how beautiful the country is becoming. And I mean it. Part of the beauty is always fake and artificial, but a lot of it is bursting with creativity and positive energy. I love it.
Great blog BTW. I’ve got here because of a link from a Polish blog I am visiting very often, Confirms once again that the person who runs it has a great taste.
P.S. Northern Poland is also worth seeing. The Tri-city of Gdańsk, Gdynia, Sopot which is worth seeing is also close to a number of other interesting places. In the south you might consider trying Wrocław. Hell, also eastern Poland is gaining and I’ve heard central Poland has a lot of to offer these days. Plus there is Toruń and Bydgoszcz where this American volley ball player was living
http://myscenicroute.tumblr.com/
see her older posts to have a look.
Ok. I’ll better stop before mentioning all cities and towns…
Hi! Thank you for pointing out so many of your favourite places in Poland (and by the way, I can totally relate with your inability to single out just one or two cities because it’s so easy to love everywhere in Poland!)
I really like this comment you made, “One of many little advantages of living in Poland is that you can really see how beautiful the country is becoming. And I mean it.”. Even as a tourist, I can also sense and appreciate this and it’s one of the reasons way I find Poland so exciting.
Wroclaw is definitely next on my list! I feel really passionately about Poland, so it’s lovely to read comments by people who live there and want to share their passion too! 🙂
The pleasure is all mine madam. 😉
You can obviously get used to living in a city and not to notice anymore how nice it really is.
Poznań is definetely not the first choice and frankly it might only be known as a place where local mathematicians from Poznań univercity broke German Enigma codes before the II WW.
I owe you for reporting so much about street art in Łódź. I’ve heard a lot about comic art and everyone knows about the filmmaking, but street art is something which doesn’t come to mind usually, at least to me.
So thank you for widening my horizons.
BTW I’ve noticed you were on the cathedral island, did you see the bridge on the other side? I mean the small bridge with dozens of padlocks left there by couples in love.
It was moved down the river and over the bridge of Mieszko I. The move changed an entire section of the city which had rather bad reputation in the past.
One of several revitalising developments in Poznań. Not of the size of Stary Browar or Manufaktura in Łódź, but there are dozens of those everywhere.
I am considerably over 30 and remember communist Poland really well, so sometimes realisation how much can change really quickly is stunning.
Even in the 90-s British tourists travelling to Poznań were advised at home to take thinks such as towels or toilet paper with them. Unnecassarily at the time after 1989 and the end of communism, but some opinions lingered for years and years.
P.S. Thank you for reminding Lynch’s “Inland empire”. Really I have not seen it yet and I’ve watched almost everything he has directed.
I’ll follow your blog in those rare moments of spare time I can use for reading blogs and perhaps use some inspiration to choose places to visit.
Hi again! Firstly, thank you so much for bringing up the bridge of Mieszko I, I tried to find out its name without any luck but after the information you gave me, and with a little more help from google I found it – Bishop Jordan Bridge! Yes I climbed over it, and had quite a lot of fun doing so (now I’m going to add another ‘postcard’ to this post in homage).
Secondly, it’s really interesting to hear you talk about the lack of knowledge people had of Poznan in the 90s. Even after twenty years later, I think many of these backward assumptions still exist. But to those visitors of Poland who are lucky to witness how many Polish cities have been entirely rebuilt know otherwise.
Lodz is different though, it doesn’t have the grandeur or wow factor of Poznan’s main square or Warsaw’s ‘old’ town. Instead it cannot be comparable to any other Polish city (at least in my opinion). Lodz attracts a completely different tourist. With its run-down buildings, street art, film heritage and possibly the best contemporary art museum in Europe, it’s definitely a city for creative types.
I recommend going on a street art hunt in Lodz! And enjoy Inland Empire (some of the scenes were shot inside the Rubinstein Suite in the Hotel Grand which you can cheekily ask to have a look inside!) 🙂
I want go go to Poznań on June, could you remonded me something? I am from Poland :-). I was in many places in may country and world (Ireland, Brazil, Irand, Cambodia, Russia – Kailiningrad, Australia…). Now I living in England. But anyway still is some places in my own country do i dont now, example this city :-). I am from Gdank (Baltic Sea). I was in Torun, Krakow, Warsaw, Zakopane with Tatry Mountain, Grudziądz, Swinoujscie and other places, but everywere 🙂