Poznań is one of the oldest cities in Poland, located by the Warta River. Today it constitutes an important trade, industry and educational centre, often called the economic capital of Poland.

Poznań is the only city that is mentioned in Polish national anthem:
Jak Czarnecki do Poznania As Czarnecki to Poznań
Po Szwedzkim zaborze After the Swedish invasion
Dla ojczyzny ratowania To save the country
Wrócim się przez morze We will cross the sea.

Very interesting past of the city has its reflection in monuments and architecture as well as in mentality of citizens. Poznań was under the rule of different countries and especially the Prussian influence turned out to be particularly significant – people in Poznań are never late, they are very thrifty and they respect the law more than in other parts of Poland.

Museums and galleries
In Poznań, the oldest part of the city might seem like a one big museum, however there are some typical museums also: the Archeological Museum, the Archdiocesan Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of the History of Poznań, the Museum of Musical Instruments, the Museum of Literature of Henryk Sienkiewicz, the Museum of Applied Art, the Automotive Museum, the National Museum, the Wielkopolska Military Museum.

Interesting places
Ostrów Tumski – an island between two rivers – Warta and Cybina. The oldest part of Poznań and the place where Poznań was established in 10th century. In 967 and 996 the first bishopric was established there. There are many historical monuments on the Island:
- Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul – first wooden cathedral church was established in 968. In the crypt there are the tombs of the first rulers of Poland Mieszko I and Bolesław Chrobry,
- Church of the Holy Virgin – built from 1431 to 1444 in the place of the first city church from 10th century founded by Dąbrówka (daughter of Duke Boleslav I of Bohemia, first married to Günter von Merseburg, then to Mieszko I in 965),
- Psauteria – built in 1518 for 12 cathedral psalteries, today you can see southern gable of the building,
- Lubranski Academy – the first humanistic school in Poland,
- Archdiocesan Museum – among exhibits are: sacral art, folk art, painting, artistic craftsmanship.

Old Town Hall – the firs building dated at 13th century. The huge fire destroyed it in 1536. The new project was designed by Italian architect J.B.Quardo. It was ready in 1560. Inside the Town Hall there is the Museum of the History of Poznań. There are the billy goats that butt each other every noonday.

Raczyński Library – the first public library in Poznań, opened in 1829. Today the second biggest library in the city.

Royal Castle – built in 1249, destroyed by a fire in 1536, rebuilt by the contemporary city headman but destroyed again during the Swedish Deluge in 1655, then in 1704 during the Great Northern War and then several more times. Rebuilt in 1959-64. Worth visiting because of its extremely turbulent past.

Citadel – 93 hectare hill area where until 1945 military Fort Winiary was situated. Today Citadel is the biggest park in Poznań.

Parish Church (Fara Poznańska) – former Jesuit temple. The building construction started in 1651. The Swedish Deluge stopped the construction and finally the consecration took place in 1705 even though it had not been finished yet. When German Nazi army entered Poznań in 1939 the interior was plundered and the church became a warehouse. Rebuilt in 1948-1950.

The Monument of Poznań June 1956 Uprising (Pomnik Czerwca 1956) – the monument that is very important for people in Poznań, built as a tribute to workers that started the outburst of dissatisfaction during the real socialism time.

Greenhouse (Palmiarnia, Palm House) - the biggest one in Poland and one of the biggest in Europe. Built in 1910 and rebuilt several times. Total area is 4600 square meters.

Old Brewery (Stary Browar) – a trade and art centre built in 2003. Unique combination of stores and art galleries. Received following prizes awarded by The International Council of Shopping Centers in the category of middle size trade centers: The Best World Trade Center (2005) and The Best European Center.