A Short Portrait of the City of Poznań

Poznań is the capital of the Province of Wielkopolska (Great Poland) and it is, at the same time, the historical capital of the region and one of the oldest and largest cities in the country. Poznań is its capital, which, together with Gniezno, the region's second most important town, constituted the cradle of the Polish State and Christianity at the turn of the 10^th and 11^th centuries. In the XIII century, Poznań developed on the left bank of the Warta River where duke Przemysł I built his castle and in 1253 the town obtained its charter. In the second half of the XVIII century, Wielkopolska with its capital, Poznań, became the leading region in the country as regards to economic development. In 1918, the armed rebellion of the popular masses brought freedom to Poznań and the Wielkopolska region. The hard-working people of Poznań energetically started developing their town, wishing to restore it to its former splendour. During both World Wars, a large part of the city was destroyed. Consequently, a large portion of Poznań has been entirely reconstructed. However, the city centre remains very compact and is within a short walk of most important institutions and places of interest.

The province is situated in the midwestern part of Poland, on the plains of the Warta river basin, a land of modest natural resources. Poznań is inhabited by 580 000 inhabitants. The agglomeration of Poznań numbers 700 000 inhabitants.

The city is situated at a strategic location on the cross-roads of the most important road and rail transportation routes from Paris in the west, through Berlin and Warsaw to Moscow in the east, and from the Balkans in the south through the Baltic Sea to Scandinavia in the North. The city lies halfway between Warsaw and Berlin and 81 miles from the German border. Travel on a EuroCity train from Poznań to Berlin takes only three hours. For centuries, Poznań's geographical location has predestined the city to be a significant scientific, cultural and economic centre with more than just regional influence.

For more information about Poznań, check the homepages: http://www.city.poznan.pl/ and http://www.info.poznan.pl/

Scientific Research and Higher Education

Polish research institutions are divided into three organisational structures: 

¨      embracing schools of higher education,

¨      a branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 

¨      specialised research institutes.

18 schools of higher education represent Poznań's intellectual resources. 8 of them are state, 2 are Church and 8 are private. In this way, Poznań is one of the major centres of higher education in Poland. It is third out of 35 academic centres in respect to the number of students (after Warsaw and Cracow) and second in respect to the number of non-public schools (after Warsaw). Its branch of the Polish Academy of Sciences and a number of scientific, research, development institutes and research achievements increases the significance of Poznań.

Cultural Life in Poznań

Poznań is an important national and international cultural centre, especially highly regarded as one of the major centres of the country's music life. Poznań is home to the world - famous boys' and men's male voice choirs conducted by Stefan Stuligrosz and Wojciech Krolopp, and the Polish Theatre of Dance - Poznań Ballet, the only one of its kind in Poland. Music lovers regularly come to Poznań for the Contemprorary Music Festivals and for the Henryk Wieniawski International Violin Competitions.

The city of Poznań has, among others: 7 theatres, the Opera House, the State Philharmonic Hall, 28 choirs, 21 museums, 64 galleries of art, 12 cinemas, 21 scientific and public libraries.

Poznań  - The Trade Capital of Poland

Poznań is one of the most economically developed regions in Poland and second, after Warsaw, in banking and business.  The main sources of wealth for Poznań's citizens were craft and trade. For ages, Poznań has been famous for its trade fairs and markets. The largest one was St. John's Market 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 Poznań's biggest trade fair, in June - The Poznań International Fair. In general, the exhibition program of the Poznań International Fair is comprised of over 30 special events, all international. The program of specialised trade fairs and exhibitions - the PIF's basic forms of operations, is supplemented by other kinds of events, such as fairs, auctions, exchanges, shows, etc.

Poznań's Monuments

Poznań is a large tourist centre with numerous historical buildings and landmarks. The most precious building is the 16^th century renaissance Town Hall in the Old Square. Originally a Gothic building, it was rebuilt by Giovanni Battista Quadro from Lugano. It is surrounded by old merchant houses which were carefully restored after World War II.  Another impressive building is the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. There are the tombs of Boleslaw the Brave (the first Polish ruler to be crowned) and his father, Duke Mieszko. The Gothic building, extensively restored after World War II, renders the forms from the turn of the 14^th and 15^th centuries. Other interesting places are Parish Church of St. Stanislaus, the Castle of Przemyslaw, the palaces of the Górków and Działyński families and numerous sacred historical areas, from the Middle Ages to Modernism.

DAILY LIFE IN POZNAŃ FROM A TO Z.

Banks

The majority of Poznań's banks 50 banks are located around ul. Sw. Marcin, pl. Wolności and Stary Rynek. In all Poznań's main streets visitors can also find cash dispenders recognising a variety of credit card networks including VISA, EUROCRD, MASTERCARD. Banks are open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and on Saturday 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The main banks in Poznań are:

Wielkopolski Bank Kredytowy S.A. pl. Wolności 16, 

PEKAO S.A. ul. Św Marcin 52/56,

Deutsche Bank Polska S.A., Stary Rynek 95/96.

Food

In Poznań, there are many food bars with traditional Polish cuisine where you may eat inexpensive meals, and many fast food places like McDonald's, Pizza Hut, KFC, and spaghetti restaurants.

The most popular bars among students are:

"Apetyt" (pl. Wolności 1) - here you may eat delicious pancakes with every kind of filling,

"Apollo" (passage Apollo below the cinema, ul. Ratajczaka 18) - pizzeria  with tasty salads,

"Pod Arkadami" (pl. Cyryla Ratajskiego) - the cheapest meal in Poznań's food bars,

"Sphinx" (ul. Gwarna) oriental meals, large area.

Bookshops (Księgarnia)

Poznań is a city where you will see bookshop on almost every main street. The larger Poznań bookshops sell foreign language books. There are also many bookshops selling only foreign special books and literature. Examples:

"Omnibus" Św. Marcin 34,

"Akapit" ul. Dąbrowskiego 64,

"American English Society Ltd. Księgarnia", ul Grunwaldzka 11.

Cinemas (Kino)

In Poznań there are 12 cinemas (including Multikino with 8 halls). On Monday there are cheaper tickets in all. Pupils and students generally have a reduction in the price of every ticket. You will find a cinema program and also other programs of all cultural events in the daily newspapers. The prices of tickets are different in every cinema and it depends on the films. The tickets are about 10 - 20 zł. The most important thing for you: imported films are not dubbed and run in the original language with Polish subtitles. The best cinemas are:

"Wilda" (ul. Wierzbięcice 36)

"Muza" (ul. Św. Marcin 30)

"Rialto" (ul. Dąbrowskiego 38)

"Multikino" (ul. Królowej Jadwigi 51)

 Students also have their own cinemas, called DKF (Debatable Film Club). These are cheap (about 4 zł) and very good atmosphere for movies, which are organised on universities buildings.

1. DKF Novum  presents films in Collegium Novum in C3 classroom (al. Niepodległości ),

2. DKF WNS (Faculty of Social Science, Adam Mickiewicz University) presents films in the hall of that faculty (ul. Szamarzewskiego 89).

The films are shown 3 times a week in the evening. The films are often devoted to one director, actor, subject, etc.

Clubs and Pubs

Some interesting addresses:

"Cicibór" -  ground floor of "Jagienka" dormitory (ul. Obornicka 18) first three days of the week students have free entry,

"Eskulap" (ul. Przybyszewskiego 39) the most popular students club thanks to many concerts which are organised there,

"Blue Note Jazz Club" (CK Zamek. ul. Kościuszki),

"Klub Charyzma" (ul. Ślusarska 19),

"The Dubliner", (al. Niepodległości 19) good traditional Irish pub,

"Harry's Pub" (Stary Rynek 91) popular among students.

I am sure you will visit these and other places with your Polish friends!

Driving in Poznań

If you decide to drive to Poland by car you need not only your driver's licence and car registration documents, but also the international green card. The traffic rules in Poland are of European standards. If you commit an offence in traffic, you can be fined (mandat) between 20 and 500 zł.

Important regulations

1.From November until the end of March you must have the headlights on for the whole day.

2.You must fasten your seatbelts both in the front seat and in the  back seat, if they are fitted.

3. Never drink & drive!

4. Don't speak by portable phone while driving.

Emergency

Medical emergency     999

Police                         997

Fire department          998

Municipal police           986

Gardens

Poznań is known to be one of the greenest cities in Poland. There is an abundance of gardens, parks or woods that occupy 30 % of its area. Close to the city there are the forests of Wielkopolska National Park and Zielonka Forest. Three of some 40 parks merit particular attention:

The Botanical Gardens (ul. Dąbrowskiego 165) which are at their best from spring to autumn,

The New ZOO - Zoological Garden (ul. Krańcowa 53), was built in 1974, is Poland's biggest zoo, and situated in the park in an area of 114 hectares (282) with 2.000 animals representing 150 species. There is a scenic route getting there by a narrow -gauge railway called "Maltanka",

The Old ZOO -  Zoological Garden (ul. Zwierzyniecka 19), was built in 1874.

Palm House (Palmiarnia) Wilson Park (ul. Głogowska) The Poznań Palm House is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and is the only one in Poland. There are over 17.000 species of plants. It has also accommodated exhibitions of paintings, sculptures and graphic art.

Libraries (Biblioteka)

In 1997 an integrated system of library services, sponsored by the Andrew Mellon Foundation in the USA, was brought into operation. The system embraces 12 scientific libraries: the libraries of all schools of higher education, the Raczyński Library and the Library of the Poznań Society of Friends of Sciences, with a total of 7 million books, of which 4.5 million constitutes the book collection of Adam Mickiewicz University Library. Part of the book collection in those libraries are relics.

Adam Mickiewicz University Library ul. Ratajczaka 38/40
open hours: from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To enrol you need your student identity card and 10 zł.

Austrian Reading Room of the Adam Mickiewicz University - There are history, politics, philosophy, music, arts literature, novels, albums, and dictionaries in German. The library subscribes to weekly, daily newspapers, and special magazines.

ul. Zwierzyniecka 7

open hours:
Mon. - Fri. from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

British Library and Reading Room of Adam Mickiewicz University - there are books of humanistic discipline and a large collection of periodicals.

ul. Ratajczaka 39

open hours:
Mon. - Fri. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Polish Committee Relations with Alliance Francaise Centre - literature-letters, encyclopaedias, and press.

ul. Niedziałkowskiego 30
open hours: Mon. - Fri. from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Financial Matters

The currency unit in Poland is the złoty, it is abbreviated as zł or PLN. The Złoty is divided into smaller units called groszy, abbreviated as gr (1zł = 100 gr). Notes feature Polish kings and the denominations are: 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. Coins are: 1, 2, 5 zł and 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 gr. To exchange money, you have got a number of options: banks, hotels, "kantor" (bureaux de change), or the border. Traveller's checks and Eurocheques are other options. Traveller's checks can be exchanged at the banks or major post offices (where you can get up to 500 zł at once).

Newspapers (Gazety)

If you would like to get foreign newspapers and magazines you can go to "Empik" or "Cafe Głos" (ul. Ratajczaka 44 and 27 respectively).

Opening hours 

grocery shopping - from 6 a.m.  to 6 p.m., on Saturdays to 2 p.m.; in the city there are also some shops open 24 hours  (look for "nonstop" or "24 godz"),

non-food stores open around 10 a.m. and close about 6 p.m., in the centre of the city they open one-hour longer; on Saturdays to     2 p.m. (shops are closed on Sunday),

supermarkets - are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (plus/minus one hour) on weekdays and less on Saturdays and Sundays

Pharmacy (Apteka)

If you don't need a doctor, but simply medication, find an "Apteka". In Poland you can also find a number of pharmacies, which supply homeopathic and other appropriate medicines.  Some pills you can get only by prescription.

Open hours: weekly 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. (or 8 p.m.) on Saturdays - depending.

24 hours open: "Cefarm" ul. 23 lutego.

Post offices (Poczta)

If you want to send a postcard, letter or package home, you must find the "Poczta". The stamps for postcards and letters cost about 1-2 zł depending on the destination. Unfortunately, you can buy a stamp only at the post office, not in a kiosk.

Open hours weekly: 8 a.m. (or earlier) - 9 p.m., on Saturdays to 3 p.m.

Nearest branch: ul. Kościuszki 77 (Monday - Friday 7.00 a.m. - 9 p.m. on Saturdays: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Public Holidays (Święta)

Polish national holidays may differ slightly from what you are used to. On these days most commercial businesses are closed, no newspapers are printed and public transport has different schedules.

Restaurants

Poznań restaurants offer a variety of cuisines. A meal in a good restaurant may cost about 40 zł. Tipping in restaurants is customary. There are no fixed rules, but a 5% to 10% tip is usually expected. Recommended restaurants:

"Ratuszowa" - Polish food - Stary Rynek 55 and "Kresowa" - Stary Rynek 3

"Bambus" - Chinese food - Stary Rynek 64/65

"Cara Mia"  - Italian food - Stary Rynek 51

"Dominique" - French food - ul. Zamkowa 7

"Africana" - African food - ul. Zamkowa 3

"Mexican Grill" - Mexican food - ul. 27 Grudnia 19 (entrance on ul. Gwarna)

Sports in Poznań

In Poznań, there are many interesting facilities for sports and recreation. We offer you some examples of popular recreational facilities.

Lake Malta

A place which you have to visit! It is situated in the eastern part of Poznań, constitutes one of the most attractive sports and recreational areas in the city. Lake Malta has the most modern boat race courses in Poland. In 1992, the 3rd University Student Boat Rowing World Competition took place. Since 1993, every second year, the best competitors have come to Poznań to take part in World Cup Competitions in Canoeing. The lake features 9 canoe tracks, each 9 m wide and 8 boat racing tracks 13.5 m wide. Such events as: rowing, canoeing and motorboat races, as well as swimming, triathlon and long-distance swimming competitions can be held there. There is a walk around the lake which can also be used for cycling, jogging, walking etc. Next to the lake there is a wood park with The New ZOO. 

The Malta Ski Centre is situated also in this area, the first skiing centre open year round in Eastern Europe. The services are available to all age groups. It comprises two slopes: 150 and 30 meters long. Of course, sports competitions take place there, too. Open to 10 p.m. Costs: 25 zł per person for one hour with ski hire.

Recently the Summery Tobogganing Run was also opened (cost: 4 zł).

There is also bungee jumping, tennis courts, bike hire, restaurants, cafeterias, a cinema, and a disco club.

Every summer by the beautiful Lake Malta there are a lot of performances during The MALTA International Theatre Festival.

Swimming pools

There are 6 indoor swimming pools and 3 outdoor in Poznań.

"Poznań Centre of Sports and Recreation", ul. Chwiałkowskiego 34,

"Olimpia", ul. Reymonta 1.

Tennis Courts

There are 8 tennis courts, for example:
"Top Tennis Club", ul. Bukowska 53 A,
"Olimpia", ul. Warmińska 1,
"Posnania - Gem Set Mecz" ul. Słowiańska 78.

Of course there are also other recreational places like: fitness clubs, aerobic clubs, bowling alleys, etc.

Taxi Service

There are a number of taxi agencies operating in Poznań.  Always insist on paying according to the taxi meter. Currently, taximeters usually begin charging at 3-5 zł and charge according to kilometres travelled and time spent travelling. At present, each kilometre costs roughly 1, 30gr. Taxi drivers will charge higher tariffs after 11 p.m. and weekends.

Use taxi agencies, which have telephone numbers, for example: 8216-216, 8222-333, 8219-219, 8515-515, 8515-515, 919, 96 22.

Telephones