It’s also interesting to note that in the 1920s, Sołacz was still outside the administrative limits of the city.

Sołacz is a very charming place, mainly because of Josef Staubben, an architect who in 1907 worked out the design of the district. He designed half of the area for squares, parks and roads. He used only short, 200-300 metre long streets, so that the landscape changes in front of the eyes of pedestrians every five minutes. Unfortunately, only one third of his project was realised. Even so, there is no other such district in Poznan.

Sołacz is beautiful, even in Autumn and Winter when hard to see figures stroll along the misty alleys. This cosy, residential estate with its 1911 park and picturesque pond has always attracted crowds of residents of Poznan. This is the place where the famous fairs and dances on floating wooden dinghies were held. Every now and then, somebody has the idea to organise these events once again, although unfortunately the water in the ponds is not as it used to be – it’s been a long time since either Sołacz or Jeżyce, located in the vicinity, were so densely populated, and so the water was cleaner back then.
Before the First World War, mainly German officials and craftsmen lived in Sołacz. After 1918 though, most of the Germans left their villas and Sołacz became a district of professors of the University of Poznan after it was established in 1919.

Can this calm, residential district of academics ever lose its extraordinary charm?
Today the old owners have passed away and their descendants have sold their houses. More and more companies have been established that are not small law offices or doctor’s surgeries, and increasingly often, whole villas are adapted to the needs of business. In place of the gardens, car parks are being built, the greenery disappears and motor vehicles invade the district. This is why the old residents of Sołacz want a Local Development Plan to be passed. They say that greenery is the most important thing here – indeed, the first designers of the district created some very beautiful green places: Spiski, Orawski, the very broad ul. Pomorska.

However, Sołacz is not only parks and villas. It is also restaurants and cosy cafés. People love sitting on the terrace of the Meridian hotel in the summer, watching the swans and ducks swimming on the pond. The Meridian was opened in the 1990s and was built in place of the very famous Piracka restaurant. ‘One could come to dinner with the whole family there, but in the evening the place attracted dubious characters’, say the inhabitants of Sołacz.

Sołacz’s concerts are also helping to revive the old atmosphere of the place. The concerts attract residents of Poznan and take place by a pond every Sunday at 5pm. Famous operetta arias or Polish smash hits are played during the concerts. Starting October on Sunday afternoons, the Meridian will also be holding free dancing evenings, where people will have a chance to order coffee, sit, listen to music and dance.

Sołacz’s culinary delicacies await us not only in the Meridian, but also in a building in pl. Spiski, the ‘Francuski Łącznik’ (French Connection), which was opened a year ago. There are sweet tarts, spicy quiches and French pâtés. The delicacies have already won the hearts and stomachs of the residents of Poznan, with dog owners in the lead…The establishment’s co-owner is a great lover of dogs, and has hung a sign at the entrance saying that all dog owners are entitled to 10% discount on tarts.
Sołacz is also famous for its interesting and unique architecture. There is a reason why young couples choose the charming, beautifully located St. John Vianney church on ul. Mazowiecka for their weddings.

A beautiful view stretches from the very high stairs of the church’s entrance on the broad ul. Pomorska with its green square in the middle, and Sołacki park at the far end. Many Poznan marriages have wedding photographs made on one of the romantic bridges in Sołacki park.