Poznań, the city worth seeing

The beginnings of Poznań date back to the 9th century, when on an island among the floodplains of the river Warta a town erected, grown to be one of the capital cities of the new Polish State. In 1253 Poznań has been relocated to the left bank of the Warta and was given city rights, becoming the main city and the capital of the Greater Poland.

In the 15th and 16th century a major development has occured in the city placed on the crossings of the multiple trade paths and being gross craftsmansship's centre.

In the 19th century the city has become the theatre of national liberation movements against the Prussian oppressor, crowned with the victorious Greater Poland Uprising of 1918-1919.

In the final stage of the Second World War, in February 1945 in the conduct of the fights for liberation from the Nazis' occupation the city has been destroyed in 55 per cent. Since 1946 the city has gone through a rapid reconstruction, followed by its major development.

Presently, Poznań is a buoyant academic (9 national universities and a few private ones) and cultural centre (7 theatres, 3 boy and men choirs, Henryk Wieniawski's International Violin Festival, Malta Theatre Festival). Poznań may be proud of the trade city status - there are more than 25 international events in the International Poznań Fairs.

The city is one of the finest places in the country, touristwise speaking. Decisive in this issue one may consider numerous antiquities, the eldest of them dated back to the 10th century, relicful museums, hotel base as well as the picturesque surroundings (i.e. Greater Poland's National Park, castles and palaces).