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Poznan, Poland. The capital and largest city of Wielkopolska province,
Poznan lies on the Warta River in west-central Poland. It is one of the major
cultural and literary center, with several institutions of higher education,
scientific organizations, opera and dance centers, and a number of
theaters. Points of interest include the Raczynski Library, Market Square,
the Museum of Musical Instruments, the National Museum, and the oldest
zoological garden in Poland. Large apartment buildings, built after World
War II, provide housing. Poznan is one of Poland's largest industrial and
commercial centers also. Its industries include metallurgical works, chemical and
furniture factories, textile mills, and food-processing plants. Since 1921
it has hosted a major international trade fair. The city has good transport
routesto other European cities. Beginning as a fortified village in the 10th
century, Poznan became the capital of Poland and the residence of the first
two Polish kings. Poland's first cathedral was erected here in 968. The town
flourished as a European trade center during the 15th and 16th centuries,
but later its prosperity declined due to fires and wars. It was under
Russian administration from 1807 to 1815. It has been part of the Polish
republic since 1918. Poznan prospered again between the two worldwars but
was devastated in 1939 by Germany. A 1945 siege left the city in
ruins.Rebuilt after World War II it became an industrial and cultural center
of Poland.
Poznan and Gniezno (50 km away) were the first Polish capitals. Both cities are
connected by the tourist trail known as the Piast Route, along which we can bear
witness to the distant past of the region, e.g. Lake Lednica with the remains of
a settlement dating from the 9th and 10th centuries, where, according to the
legend, the first Polish King to be crowned, Boleslaw The Brave.
The tombs of Boleslaw and his father, Duke Mieszko, are situated in the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul in Poznan. The first cathedral was romanesque in style but nowadays this imposing building's outline and walls are gothic.
Apart from the cathedral, the most precious building in Poznan is the 16th
century renaissance Town Hall in the Old Square. It is surrounded by old
merchant houses which were carefully restored after World War II. Hotel Soleil Residence is located in Poznan city center. On our Poznan Hotels webpage You will find more Hotels in Poznan located not only in the center of Poznan.
The first school of higher education in Poznan, the Lubranski Academy, was founded in 1518... There are now over 10 schools of higher education. In a city of 600,000 inhabitants there are over 50,000 students.
The main sources of wealth for Poznan's citizens were craft and trade. For ages, Poznan has been famous for its trade fairs and markets. The largest one was St. John's Market (24th June) during which people traded primarily in wool and cereals.
The St. John's Market of today is a place where art collectors, master craftsmen, and those whose hobby is art and collecting flock to during Poznan's biggest trade fair, the Poznan International Fair in June.
The Poznan International Fair (MTP), situated in the city centre, is the biggest centre of international trade in Poland,
where trade fairs, exhibitions and shows take place. Few minutes walk from the International Fair Ground the 4 stars Mercure Hotel is located. Also not far from there are the Novotel Center and Lech Poznan hotels. The MTP calendar includes over 25 specialised events each year and attracts thousands of manufacturers, trading companies, scientific and research institutions from all the continents of the world.
Poznan is the capital of the so-called "bread-basket" of the Polish state. It is the home of the only Agricultural Horticultural Exchange of this kind in Poland, a joint Poznan-Swiss initiative. The Swiss maintain that flowers, fruit and vegetables are traded "just as in Zurich".
On the other hand, the Poznan Exchange, which matches western standards, specialises in cereals, meat and fertilisers. |
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