Poznań, Regional capital city in Greater Poland
Poznań is a regional capital in western Poland, sitting on both banks of the Warta River roughly halfway between Berlin and Warsaw. The central market square is lined with colorful townhouses and a Renaissance town hall, while narrow lanes behind it lead past brick churches and restored 19th-century tenements.
The city emerged in the 10th century as an early seat of Polish rulers and remained a trade and fair center in Greater Poland for centuries. After the partitions of Poland, it came under Prussian rule before returning to the Polish state in the 20th century.
Every day at noon, two mechanical goats emerge from the town hall tower and butt heads twelve times while locals and visitors gather in the market square below. The city celebrates the Feast of Saint John in June with floating lanterns on the Warta River, and street vendors sell crescent shaped pastries called rogale świętomarcinskie throughout the year.
Tram and bus lines connect all districts with the main railway station and Ławica Airport, and tickets can be bought at machines or through mobile apps. The historic center is easy to explore on foot, as most points of interest lie around the market square and along the Warta River.
More than one in five residents are students spread across several university campuses, giving the city a youthful character. On Easter Sunday, a traditional procession with brass bands and folk costume groups takes place in the main square, attended by generations of local families.
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