Poznan

The fifth largest city in Poland, is situated in the western part of the country on the Warta River.  The  region  is  called  Wielkopolska  (Great  Poland).  It  is  rich  in  lakes,  woods  and fields adorned with monuments uncovering over 1000 years of Polish history.

Located at a cross-roads for both road and railway networks, Poznan is halfway between Berlin and Warsaw. Both these capitals can be reached by a EuroCity train within three hours. With a population of over 600 000 inhabitants, not only is it a vital centre of Polish trade, culture, industry and agriculture, but also an exciting spot to visit for its own sake,fully deserving to be included in tourist itineraries.

Economically, Poznan and the surrounding region is, by any standard, one of the best developed parts of the country. It is now undergoing fast economic growth, which can be attributed  to  the  character  of  the  local  people,  generally  described  as  being  hard-working and industrious. The city is proud of its International Fair, first launched in 1921,a major business venture.

The centre of the city is very compact and within a short walk one can find all the most important  institutions  and  places  of  interest.  Of  particular  interest  are  the  Old  Market Square  with  its  Renaissance  Town  Hall  and  the  Ostrow  Tumski  island  with  its  Gothic Cathedral. From the large number of museums, especially worth seeing are the Museum of  Musical  Instruments  -  one  of  the  largest  of  its kind  in  Europe,  the  Museum  of Decorative Arts and the National Museum with its gallery of painting.