Poznan is a city on the River Warta in west-central Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business centre, and one of Poland’s most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John’s Fair, traditional Saint Martin’s croissants and a local dialect. Among its most important heritage sites are the Renaissance Old Town, Town Hall and Gothic Cathedral.

It’s good to begin touring Poznan with a visit to Porta Posnania, which is the first heritage interpretation centre in Poland, modelled on similar institutions around the world. Porta Posnania’s exhibition is closely connected to the Cathedral Island in Poznan and helps visitors discover this important historic place. A visit to Porta Posnania consists of two parts: first, to visit the exhibition, then encourage to take a walk around the Cathedral Island, where you will find the oldest Cathedral in Poland.

The remains of the first seat of the Polish monarchs, a Renaissance edifice of the Lubrański Academy and the remains of the old ramparts which used to surround a medieval settlement. In the underground of Poznan’s Cathedral church, you can see the relics of the first Polish cathedral from the 10th century, the tombs of Poland’s first rulers – Mieszko I and Bolesław the Brave as well as a supposed baptistery from 966.

In the very heart of the city, you will find Old Market Square, full of amazing colourful merchants’ houses and the most beautiful Renaissance Town Hall north of the Alps. In 1551, a clock with mechanical billy goats was installed in the Town Hall. Every day, as the clock strikes noon, on the tower above the clock a door opens, and two billy goats appear. Controlled by the clock’s mechanism, they butt their horned heads 12 times and it is one of the greatest attractions of Poznan.

At Old Market Square you will also find Poznań St Stanislaus (the Bishop) Church (Parish Church), one of the most impressive Baroque sacral edifices in Poland with incredible paintings and sculptures. On selected selected days, organ concerts are held on remarkably valuable pipe organ made by the famous German organ builder Friedrich Ladegast of Weissenfels in Saxony.