When visiting a new location, you are constantly confronted with the problem of deciding what to see and where to go. Pozna is a remarkable city, open and vibrant, with a diverse range of sites and activities. Here are a few pointers to help you make the most of your time in Pozna: the 6 Must-Things to Do in Poznan, Poland.
1. Pay a visit to the billy goats at midday
The most magnificent Renaissance Town Hall north of the Alps may be found in the center of the Old Market Square. In the Town Hall, a clock with mechanical billy goats was erected in 1551. Every day at noon, a door on the clock tower above the clock opens, revealing two billy goats. They butt their horned heads 12 times, controlled by the clock's mechanism.
If you didn't make it to the Rynek before 12 p.m., there is an antique billy goat mechanism on exhibit inside the Town Hall for latecomers.
The installation of the billy goats is the subject of a tale. The clock was intended to be shown to all of Pozna's councilmen and the governor once it was completed. For this occasion, a feast had been planned, but owing to the carelessness of one of the chefs, the venison haunch that was to be served was totally burnt.
To save face, the chef kidnapped two billy goats, intending up the roast and serve them, but they made their way to the Town Hall tower. When the distinguished visitors came, they saw the two billy goats fighting on the tower's ledge. The governor then ordered mechanical billy goats to be added to the clock's mechanism.
2. Try a Croissant from St Martin's
Semi-puff pastry and white poppy seeds are used to make a St Martin's Croissant. It has since become one of Poland's most renowned pastries, protected by a European Union Certificate of Authenticity that enables it to be produced exclusively in Wielkopolska under stringent guidelines. The custom of making St Martin's Croissants dates back to the 19th century and is closely linked to the parish's church fair on November 11th.
In answer to the parish priest's request for contributions for the needy, one of Pozna's pastry chefs prepared three trays of croissants and sent them to the church. Others quickly followed in his footsteps. As a result, the custom of eating St Martin's Croissants was born, and it has survived to this day.
Pozna residents and visitors consume about 250 tonnes of croissants on St Martin's Day (November 11th), which equates to approximately 1.25 million individual pastries!
The original shows that explain the secrets of Saint Martin Croissants and other Poznan glories may be seen at the Pozna Croissant Museum and Experience. Let's meet at a lovely Renaissance tenement home just across the street from the Town Hall. Locals perform the performances live, and tickets include a croissant sampling!
3. Take a train trip to the Maltanka
The 3.8-kilometer path of the children's popular small-gauge railway "Maltanka" travels along the northern coast of Malta Lake, taking passengers all the way to the New Zoo. From the end of April until the end of September, the train runs every day.
On weekends, the train is pulled by the 1925 vintage steam engine Borsig (affectionately known as "Agusta"). The locomotive must be started at 02:30 a.m. in order to lead the first train at 10:00 a.m.
The MPK (Urban Transport Company), which looks after “Maltanka,” also arranges antique tram and bus excursions. From the end of April until the end of September, the buses are outfitted with music systems and run on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. More information is available at www.Poznan.travel.
4. Pay a visit to the 50-50 Old Brewery
In a former 19th-century brewery, the Old Brewery 50 50 has been transformed into a commerce and arts center. There are also beer gardens, clubs, a park, an arts center, and a hotel, in addition to many businesses. In 2005, The Old Brewery 50 50 was named the finest medium-sized retail center in the world by the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Old Brewery 50 50, its history, the scope of its activities, the idea whose representation it is, as well as its unique architecture and permanent art collection, can visit the Old Brewery 50 50's information points and schedule a guided tour at a time that is convenient for them. It's also worth asking for a map of the building's amenities, which may include unique treasures like a Persian carpet or a catalog of art installations.
The guided tours must be scheduled two weeks in advance. Visit the following website for additional information:
- Atrium, +48 61 859 60 50, [email protected]
- Pasa (Walkway): +48 61 677 14 00; [email protected]
5. Take a stroll around the old Imperial Castle's hallways
The old Imperial Castle, built for German Emperor Wilhelm II at the turn of the twentieth century, is Europe's last and newest royal home. After WW1, the Zamek (Castle) hosted the Pozna University's Mathematical Department, whose graduates cracked the code of the German Enigma ciphering machine. During WWII, the castle was completely renovated and converted into Adolf Hitler's official residence. Zamek is now a cultural center with many exhibits, a movie theatre, and a children's animation theatre.
It is possible to tour the castle with a guide (assembly in the Great Hall), which enables visitors to view many fascinating nooks and corners of the castle that are not accessible on other occasions, such as Wilhelm II's original 5-ton throne.
6. Take a look at the Monet artwork that was found (in National Museum)
A collection of Roman imperial portraits, exceptional and uncommon among Polish collections, may be found at the National Museum. The museum's bottom level has a one-of-a-kind collection of coffin portraits. On the first level, there is a collection of Western-European art, including paintings from the Netherlands, Flemish and Dutch paintings, Italian and German paintings from the first half of the nineteenth century, and the sole collection of Spanish paintings in Poland (Zurbaran, Ribera, and Velazquez).
The only Claude Monet painting in Poland, "La plage à Pourville, Soleil couchant" ("Beach at Pourville"), was returned to the Museum in 2010 after being stolen ten years before.
The dramatic narrative and the audacious theft of the artwork inspired a screenplay for a film about the incident ("Tarapaty2").
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