Poznan – a lively centre of history and culture
Poznan, the largest city in west-central Poland with around half a million inhabitants, is an important economic, industrial and academic centre. In the earliest period of the Polish state it was a principal seat of the rulers and is regarded as one of the cradles of Christianity in Poland. On picturesque Cathedral Island, surrounded by the Warta River, stands the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The site is associated with the baptism of Duke Mieszko I and contains the tombs of Poland's earliest rulers. Archaeological discoveries on the island provide evidence of some of the oldest Christian buildings in the country.
Poznan's compact Old Town enchants visitors with its historic atmosphere and elegant architecture. At its heart stands the Renaissance town hall, one of the finest examples of its kind in Poland.
Gniezno – cradle of the Polish nation and culture
Around 50 kilometres east of Poznan lies Gniezno, a city of approximately 70,000 inhabitants and the first capital of the early Polish state. At the turn of the eleventh century, it was both a political centre and an important place in the formation of Poland's Christian culture and identity. In the year 1000 Gniezno became the seat of Poland's first archbishopric.
The monumental Gothic Cathedral of the Assumption dominates the city and ranks among Poland's most important cultural monuments. The first Polish kings were crowned here, and the cathedral contains the shrine of Saint Adalbert, the martyred bishop and patron saint of Poland. His life is depicted on the celebrated Gniezno Doors, a masterpiece of Romanesque bronze art.
