The city of Poznań is a little over 750 years old. It was preceded in its location by a medieval stronghold.

The oldest traces of settlement in the area date back to ca. 1000A.D.
The oldest part of the city is Ostrów Tumski, an isle located a few hundred meters east of the Old Market Square. Ostrów Tumski used to be one of the first centers of the Piast dynasty’s state. It was here that the first Polish bishopric was established in the second half of the 10th century. The Cathedral was built in 968, but it was later repeatedly destroyed by natural disasters, building catastrophes and wars. It was last rebuilt after World War II. Currently, it has the form of a three-aisle gothic basilica, with relics of pre-Romanesque and Romanesque architecture, surrounded by chapels. The front towers and the three towers above the eastern part of the church are topped with Baroque cupolas.


 The Cathedral in Poznań

In the vaults of the Cathedral, one can see fragments of Romanesque and pre-Romanesque relics, among others: a baptismal bowl, and tombs of the first rulers of Poland. In the cathedral itself, one can see the tomb of Mieszko I and Bolesław the Brave – the first Polish sovereigns who at the turn of the 10th century made Poland a part of Christian Europe.

In the vicinity of the Cathedral stands the Church of Holy Virgin Mary in Summo. The construction was erected over the remains of the former stronghold’s chapel, built in the second half of the 10th century. A few years ago, in the same spot archaeologists discovered remnants of a stronghold of Mieszko I, the first ruler of Poland. According to experts, it was in Poznań where Mieszko was baptized in 966, making Poland one of the Christian lands.


Church of Holy Virgin Mary in Summo

On the way back from Ostrów Tumski, heading for the Old Market Square, it is a good idea to turn into the small Grobla Street. Here, one can see the classical-style All-Saints’ Church. At first, it was a Protestant church, and the construction works started in the second half of the 18th century. It was not completed until the beginning of the 19th century, due to time-consuming works on the façade and interior furnishings.


All Saints’ Church.

This part of the city, only a few decades ago used to be an isle as well. The Warta River, flowing only a few dozens meters away from the old town, repeatedly flooded this part of Poznań. During some floods, water even reached the Old Market Square and the Town Hall. On some of the townhouses in the oldest parts of the city one can still see plaques showing how far in the water was. In the 1960s the course of the river was altered, though. Nowadays, the river flows several hundred meters away from the Old Market Square, and therefore poses no threat to its monuments. Nevertheless, there are voices arguing that the course of the river bed should be changed once more, in order to create a tourist attraction and a place for practicing water sports.
From Grobla Street one should go several meters further, towards Mostowa Street. The Museum of Ethnography is located there. The building, constructed at the beginning of the 19th century was one of the most magnificent in Europe. The museum houses pieces of regional folk culture. Nearby, one can visit the small building of the Museum of Bambrzy.


The Museum of Ethnography    

Photos – Town Council