Visiting Poznań and not strolling around the Old Market Square is like being in Venice and missing St Mark’s Square. It is the absolute heart of tourist Poznań and, without doubt, the most frequently photographed spot in the city.
It is the third-largest market square in Poland. Historic monuments from nearly every era, dozens of nearby restaurants, and numerous events all contribute to its appeal. This is also where you can see the famous Poznań billy goats and visit the Tourist Information Centre.
Heart of the square
The most distinctive building is the Renaissance Town Hall, a symbol of Poznań and widely regarded as the most beautiful town hall in Poland. Every day at 12:00 and 15:00, a bugle call sounds from the tower, and two billy goats appear beside the clock. It is best to arrive around ten to fifteen minutes before noon, as space may be limited for viewing.
In front of the Town Hall stands the pillory, a column where punishments were once carried out, including ear cropping and flogging for various offences. To its left stretches a row of charming merchants’ houses painted in vivid colours. For centuries, trade has taken place under their arcades – once in candles or fish, today in souvenirs. Behind the Town Hall are the former city weighing house and the old headquarters of the municipal guard.
Along the narrow street between the Town Hall and the weighing house stands the Bamberka Well, topped with a statue of a girl in traditional dress carrying two jugs of water. It commemorates the arrival in Poznań of a large group of settlers from the German city of Bamberg, who settled in depopulated villages around the city in the 18th century. Over time, they became Polonised, forming a distinctive ethnographic group whose traditions remain alive in Poznań to this day.
Tenement houses
The four sides of the Old Market Square are lined with tenement houses representing a wide range of architectural styles, from Gothic to Modernism. Of particular note is the building at number 78, known as the Działyński Palace, whose grand Baroque façade is topped with a pelican statue. The second palace, the neoclassical Mielżyński Palace, stands on the northern side of the square. At the corner with Zamkowa Street, a tenement house adorned with a statue draws attention: it is Jan Baptysta Quadro, the architect of the Poznań Town Hall.
Events
The Old Market Square provides the perfect setting for numerous cultural events and celebrations. The most important and oldest is St John’s Fair, held in the second half of June, during which dozens of stalls sell handicrafts, traditional and organic foods, and antiques.
In December, ahead of Christmas, the Poznań Bethlehem Christmas Market takes place. At this time, many stalls also offer festive decorations and unique gift ideas. The market is accompanied by the Ice Sculpture Festival, which has for years attracted some of the world’s best sculptors to Poznań.
