Poznan

Poznań is a city in western Poland, the capital of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, located on the Warta River. With about half a million residents, it is one of Poland’s largest and oldest urban centers and a major regional economic, educational, and cultural hub. The city is known for its historical significance in the formation of the Polish state and for its well-preserved medieval core.

Historically, Poznań has long been associated with early Polish statehood and remains an important symbol of Polish identity. Its Old Town centers on the market square, or Rynek, where the Poznań Town Hall hosts the famed mechanical goats that butt heads at noon. The adjacent Ostrów Tumski district contains the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, one of the oldest churches in the country. The city’s architecture spans Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles, reflecting several centuries of growth and reconstruction.

Poznań is a major trade and commerce center. The Poznań International Fair (Międzynarodowe Targi Poznańskie) is one of the largest trade fair organizers in Poland and hosts numerous international events. The city also serves as a hub for education and research, home to Adam Mickiewicz University (founded in 1919), Poznań University of Technology, the University of Economics and Business, and several medical and public institutions.

Culturally, Poznań hosts festivals such as Malta Festival Poznań and maintains a vibrant theatre, music, and arts scene, centered around its Philharmonic and cultural venues. The city is served by Poznań-Ławica airport and a major railway network, with an extensive tram system linking the Old Town to outlying districts.