Września is one of the larger towns in the Wielkopolska Region, located around 50 kilometres east of Poznań. Today, it is perhaps best known for the large Volkswagen factory, but the town has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages. The town’s coat of arms still bears a white rose – the symbol of the Poraj family, the town’s first owners.
Września is particularly remembered for the schoolchildren’s strike of 1901, which attracted international attention at the time. It was a protest against the teaching of religion in German. Today, the former school building where the strike took place houses the Regional Museum. One of the rooms has been arranged as a historic classroom, recreating the one where the striking children were taught.
Take a stroll through the streets of Września, starting at the palace in Opieszyn (now home to an elegant restaurant), passing through the market square to the Gothic parish church, and finishing with a visit to the wooden church at Lipówka. Railway enthusiasts will enjoy a model of the Września District Railway, displayed in a building designed to resemble the former railway station. Nearby stands a historic Px48 steam locomotive from 1954, complete with a tender and two vintage carriages.
A must-visit historic site is Szwarc Confectionery, probably the oldest in Poland. Founded in 1874, it is still run by the great-great-grandson of its founders.
