Poznan
Last updated: 17 April 2026
written by Daria Trinkhaus, photography by Nico Trinkhaus
A guide to the five most interesting places in Poznan to visit and photograph.
In this guide to Poznan, you’ll read about the five most interesting places to visit. You’ll learn about the city’s most important historical facts and magical legends. And if you’re a photographer (regardless of your skill level), you’ll also find tips on how and when to capture Poznan’s landmarks in your photos.
It is said that Poznan was the cradle of the Polish state. It was here, more precisely on Ostrow Tumski, that the foundations of the first Piast state were laid—the dynasty from which Mieszko I (who was the first to be baptized and established a proto-state) and Bolesław Chrobry (the first king of Poland) hailed. Although officially the nearby city of Gniezno was the capital of Poland, Ostrow Tumski served as the center of Mieszko I’s political and military power and was the site of his residence. It was also on Ostrow Tumski that the first Polish cathedral was built. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Warta River, a city began to develop that captivates with its vibrancy and bustling life—not only in the past but also today—Poznan.
So let’s “dive” into the atmosphere, history, and interesting facts of Poznan, visiting one by one the most interesting places to see and—perhaps—to capture in photos.
Table of Contents
Travel Writer
Daria Trinkhaus is a writer, who loves to discover the hidden stories behind each and every place she visits.
The Old Market Square in Poznan
It is said that Poznan is the cradle of the Polish state. It was here that the first Polish princes and kings held office.
When the princes’ seat was moved in the thirteenth century from the right to the left bank of the Warta River, an outline of the market square of Poznan was drawn near the new castle. This market exists in its almost original shape to this day and is the bustling heart of the city.
In 1253, Poznań received its city charter, and its center became the Old Market Square—one of the most beautiful squares in Poland. After the ducal seat was moved from the right to the left bank of the Warta River in the 13th century, it was here that Poznań’s bourgeois life began to flourish.
The first thing you’ll likely notice in Poznań’s Market Square is the variety of colors on the townhouses. You’ll probably find every color of the rainbow there, and none of them will be dull or faded.
This variety of colors is intentional. The townhouses on the main square were the residences of wealthy merchants who traded their goods on the lower floors of the buildings. The closer to the center, the more expensive the townhouse (the value of a single one could be comparable even to the value of an entire village near Poznań). Each merchant marked his property with a facade color of his choosing. Sometimes the merchants’ children would marry, and the combined estates would be painted the same color.
Although the traditions of the old merchant houses have now been replaced by modern companies buying or renting the ground floors of these buildings, the history of commerce—and even of past marriages—can still be read in the facades restored after disasters and wars. And if you ask, “Who would live in these apartments where you can hear the bustle of the market?” the answer is, “Students who don’t mind the noise.”
If you love (just like Nico) an explosion of colors in your photos, Poznań’s Market Square will be a real adventure for you. The best time for photography in the center of Poznań is almost the entire day—from sunrise to sunset. Different parts of the market square will be illuminated at various times of the day. Avoid noon, however—that’s when crowds of tourists gather in front of Poznań City Hall (I’ll talk about that later), and it’s hard to find a composition without passersby in the frame.
Although the colorful Market Square in Poznań can be captured during the day, the place also has its own unique atmosphere at night. That’s when the historic streetlamps cast a golden glow over it:
By evening everyone is a Poznan regular, no matter how much time they have spent in the city. The word “market” comes from the German word “Ring” – literally “ring”? And like on a ring, everyone rolls around, circling the Town Hall forgetting how many times they have already done it this evening.
The cacophony of voices, laughter and music grows and explodes, only to die down around two in the morning when the last bars politely ask the slightly drunken guests out. And when the last doors are closed there is silence. The city falls asleep although the sunrise is coming soon. At this hour you can hear only Nico’s camera shutter.
Many Polish cities have one distinct center (unlike, for example, Berlin, where it’s hard to pinpoint what constitutes its central part). The charm of these “market squares” lies in the fact that they are the beating heart of the city. In the evenings, this is where families, friends, and couples meet. It is “in the market square” that you’ll find the greatest number and variety of restaurants and cafes. And when they close their doors at night, the market square becomes a magical “urban landscape.” Don’t miss this moment! As you stroll through the city center late at night, you’ll hear the sounds of closing establishments and the occasional laughter of residents heading home. Then you’ll easily imagine how this place has changed, yet remained unchanged, over the centuries.
Poznan City Hall
The construction of the Town Hall was probably completed in 1300 during the reign of Waclaw II Czeski. At the beginning, it was only a one-storey building – its major expansion began only in the 15th and 16th century.
From that time come the Poznan goats announcing the noon every day from the tower of the Town Hall. Although thought centuries the Poznan City Hall was destroyed by fires and wars, its Renaissance architecture has been preserved until today.
Poznań Town Hall is the most distinguished monument on Poznań’s Market Square. Construction of the first town hall was likely completed around 1300. Initially, it was merely a single-story building. Its true expansion and transformation into the Renaissance style took place in the mid-16th century under the supervision of architect Giovanni Battista di Quadro.
It was then that two goats butting horns appeared on the town hall tower. Do you remember how, in the section about photographing the Market Square, I mentioned that crowds of tourists gather in front of the town hall at noon? It is precisely to watch the spectacle of these two charming figures. Every Pole knows the Poznań goats. We hear about their legend as children, and they often appear on public television as well. The goats are a symbol of Poznań.
However, if you don’t know this legend yet, let me describe it briefly. So sit back and imagine how…
Once upon a time, during a feast at Poznań City Hall, held in honor of the provincial governor and his entourage, the kitchen was a hive of activity. The main course was supposed to be roast venison. However, a young cook—according to legend, named Pietrek—accidentally burned the meat. Terrified that he would be punished for it, he ran out of the town hall and bought two white goats at a nearby market. He hoped that no one would notice the difference in the meat. Unfortunately, the goats escaped from Pietrek on the way to the kitchen and ran up the town hall tower, where they began butting heads. The spectacle was so comical that the amused governor decided to forgive the stressed-out young cook. Soon, the first goat mechanism appeared on the town hall tower.
It wasn’t just the legend that ensured this mechanism survived the centuries on the town hall tower. The goat symbolized strength, stubbornness, and vitality, and the animal also referenced the old folk culture of Greater Poland. So if you find yourself in front of the town hall at noon, put your camera away and enjoy the sight of this centuries-old spectacle. Retouching photos from that time would take you too long anyway.
By the way, if you have a moment, the City Hall houses the Museum of the History of Poznań. It’s worth visiting this exhibition if you’re interested in the city’s history. An interesting fact is that Nico’s photo of Poznań City Hall was used as part of the exhibition to explain the history of this place.
The Royal Castle in Poznan
An interesting legend relates to the place where the Royal Castle was established. Poznan was home to the first Polish ruler Mieszko I. This prince and his men were baptised in 966 making Poland officially catholic country. This act was supposed to upset Satan, who ordered the devils to punish Poznan. The devils pulled the hill from Gniezno (town near by) and intended to move it to the Warta River to sink Poznan. However, the devils started to celebrate their success too quickly and alarmed the cocks that woke up the city.
The escaping devils left the rock on the left side of the river. In this way, a hill was created, later called the Przemyśl Hill, on which the castle now reigns.
The Royal Castle in Poznań is one of the oldest royal castles in Poland, serving as a symbol of medieval monarchical power. Construction of the castle was begun by Prince Przemysł I and continued by Przemysł II (the ruler who unified Poland after the period of fragmentation). In the 14th and 15th centuries, the castle was expanded and became the seat of the general governors of Greater Poland. And although it was often unfavorably compared to Wawel in Kraków, one must not forget how significant it was in the political and administrative affairs of the region.
During the Prussian Partition (the incorporation of Greater Poland into the Kingdom of Prussia), the Royal Castle was rebuilt numerous times and, at times, even dismantled. After World War II, only fragments of the walls and foundations of the former Poznań Castle remained. Reconstruction did not begin until about twenty years ago. The new building was opened in 2016. And that is when a great deal of controversy arose surrounding this reconstruction!
The reconstruction of the Royal Castle was based on old iconographic sources, the accuracy of which critics are quick to question. On the other hand, supporters of the modern reconstruction aren’t concerned about the accuracy of the building’s structure, as they see the Poznań Castle as a restoration of the city’s historical continuity. We aren’t bothered by the likely historical inaccuracies. What about you? Which side would you take?
Today, the Royal Castle in Poznań houses the Museum of Applied Arts. From its observation decks, you can see the entire panorama of downtown Poznań. So if you’re in the vicinity of this landmark, don’t miss the chance to capture what is likely the most breathtaking panorama of the city in a photo.
Ostrow Tumski
Ostrow Tumski is the oldest part of Poznan and one of the most important places in Polish history. It was here, on an island situated between the Warta and Cybina rivers, that one of the main strongholds of the first Piasts was established, and it was here that the history of the Polish state and the Church began.
As early as the 9th century, a powerful defensive stronghold existed here, which in the 10th century became one of the most important centers of power under Mieszko I. The island’s natural location ensured security, and the extensive system of ramparts and bridges attested to the young state’s significant organizational capabilities.
When we visited Poznań, one of the first places we headed to was the Poznań Gate ICHOT (Interactive Center for the History of Ostrów Tumski). Usually, when we visit a city with a rich history and significance for the formation of the entire country, we start by looking for similar interactive knowledge centers. ICHOT was the perfect place to start—the exhibits explain the era of Poland’s first ruler, Mieszko I, and the origins of statehood in this location. After this experience, it was easier for us to understand the monuments of Ostrów—Poznań Cathedral, the remains of the palatium, and the entire island in general.
Ostrów Tumski Island in Poznań has a unique atmosphere. Sometimes it seems to me that historic places so isolated from the bustling market square have their own distinctive silence. Walking past monuments, sacred sites, and museums, one feels a certain sense of contemplation. It’s as if the air here were more solemn and older (and no, I don’t mean the smell of dust).
During our nearly full-day stay on Ostrów, at one point we sat down at one of the local cafés with tables set up along the historic street. Admiring the nearby townhouses and the slow pace of life here, we felt as if we were in a completely different world compared to the bustling center of Poznań. So if you’re planning a visit to Ostrów, set aside some time for it. This is a place you can not only see, but also “feel.”
Poznan Cathedral (Basilica of St. Peter and Paul)
The Golden Chapel is part of the Cathedral of Poznan on Ostrów Tumski. It is the resting place of the first Polish rulers. The first glance at this photo explains the name well.
Although Mieszko I (the prince who took as first Christianity into Poland) and Boleslaw Chrobry (the first king of Poland) were buried at this place probably in the 11th century. However, the Golden Chapel itself was created in the early 19th century on the initiative of Bishop Teofil Wolicki and Count Edward Raczynski. It was the time when Poland disappeared from the maps of Europe.
The Gothic Poznań Cathedral is likely the most important building on Ostrów Tumski and the oldest cathedral in Poland. It will surely be the main reason for your visit to this island. This is where the first bishopric in Poland was established, the birthplace of the Polish Church, and a living testament to over a thousand years of history.
As you probably know, the type of religion (Catholicism or Orthodoxy) in a given European country depends largely on the type of baptism adopted by its first rulers. In Poland, the first ruler, Mieszko I, was baptized by the Catholic Church of Rome. Baptism determined not only the country’s religion but also its cultural and political affiliation. The baptism in 966 made Poland part of Latin Western Europe.
Just two years after the baptism, the first bishopric in Poland was established in Poznań under the leadership of Bishop Jordan. In this way, German structures were bypassed, which secured the political independence of the young state. Poznań Cathedral thus became an institutional “extension of Rome” on Polish soil.
Poznań Cathedral also became the burial ground of Poland’s first rulers. Their names are engraved in gold letters on the floor of the main nave. As you walk from the entrance toward the altar, you can feel a shiver of solemnity run down your spine. The cathedral stands on the site of the first ducal palace, whose ruins can be visited today in the church’s crypt.
One of the most important parts of Poznań Cathedral is the Golden Chapel. It is located in the left aisle of the cathedral—directly above the remains of the oldest, pre-Romanesque cathedral. However, what draws tourists here are the symbolic tombs of Mieszko I and Bolesław Chrobry. These are symbolic sarcophagi, as the actual graves of these rulers are located in the cathedral’s crypt. The Golden Chapel, aside from looking majestic in photos, serves as a place of remembrance and historical veneration.
The chapel was designed in the Neo-Byzantine style—the style of early Christianity, which transcends denominational divisions. The chapel itself was built much later than the foundations of Poznań Cathedral, between 1836 and 1841, during the Prussian Partition. Its construction aimed to emphasize the continuity of Polish statehood—a rather lofty goal at a time when Poland was fighting for independence. If Poznań Cathedral is the “cradle of Poland,” then the Golden Chapel is its symbolic heart.
Summary
This brief guide, enriched with historical knowledge, local legends, and practical photography tips, is an invitation to discover Poznań. Although nearly every Pole knows about the Poznań goats and the history of Poland’s baptism, it is only through a physical encounter with historic Poznań that these seemingly familiar facts begin to come together into a coherent whole.
For foreigners, Poznań is often a less obvious destination than Kraków or Warsaw. Their “fragments of knowledge” are often more varied, and the way they come together while exploring can be a real revelation—just as it was for Nico.
Poznań, however, is not just about history and legends. It is a city that can be bustling with life one day and filled with silence and contemplation the next, as you stroll through the cobblestone streets of Ostrów Tumski. Every day in Poznań brought us different experiences and different adventures. Every journey, however, is a personal discovery. So we hope that your journey through Poznań—whether virtual or real—will be unique and will stay with you forever.
Stay in touch for future updates to this article.
P.S. Every now and then, one subscriber wins a signed fine art print — a small thank you for being part of this journey.