Understand
The '''Royal-Imperial Route''' in Pozna?, Poland is an unique tour running through the most important parts of the city and presenting the history, culture and identity of Pozna?. The Route gives a great oportunity to get to know better the origins of Polish State and discover how the city has been changing and developing through the centuries.
A journey can be started from the oldest part of the city: ?rodka and Ostrow Tumski. Then can be seen the medieval Old Town with its Town Hall extended in the Renaissance style, the next step will be the New upper city. The walk is about '''4,5 km''' long.
Following the kings and emperors who have a linking for the city, could be seen many interesting monuments, galeries, museums and could be took part in cultural events. The tour leads from the distant past to present of Pozna? which is vibrant with life and looking forward to hearing from the tourists.
Prepare
The best way to start an exciting journey through the past and present of Pozna? is providing with '''leaflets''' describing the route and the atractions. It is possible to get them '''for nothing''' in Tourist Information Centre:
City Information Centre (CIM) - ul. Ratajczaka 44 61-728 Pozna?, Phone: (0-61)851-96-45, 9431, Fax: (0-61)856-04-54
Glob -Tour FB - ul. Dworcowa 1, Main Railway Station 61-801 Pozna?, Phone: (0-61)866-06-67
City Information Centre - branch at the ?awica Airport, ul.Bukowska 285 60-189 Pozna?, Phone: (0-61) 849-21-40, Fax: (0-61) 849-21-40
City Information Centre - branch at Pozna? International Fair, ul. G?ogowska 14 60-734 Pozna?, Phone: (0-61)869-20-84
City Information Centre - branch in the M1 Shopping Mall, ul. Szwajcarska 14 61-285 Pozna?, Phone: (0-61)653-19-76
Tourist Information Centre - Stary Rynek 59/60 61-772 Pozna?, Phone: 061 852 61 56
For sure '''Tourist Guide''' is worthreading. It costs about 13 z? and can be bought in Tourist Informations Centres or in most bokshops in Pozna?.
Get around
On foot
The Imperial Castle is not far away from the railway station, only a few minutes on foot. To get to other atractions it is better to take a bus or a tram.
By public transport
In Poznan there is well-developed public transport. It gives possibility to get about in the city without using a taxi or own car.
Trams
'''Tram no. 5'''- Railway station- Imperial Castle (?w. Marcin 6 min)- Old Market Square (Wroc?awska 9 min.)
'''Tram no. 6'''- Railway station or bus station- ?rodka station. ( about 15 min.)
'''Tram no. 8'''- Railway station-Kathedral (12 min)-?rodka station (13 min)
Buses
There are several bus lines which connect one atraction with another but they are not starting off the railway station or bus statio.
Tickets
In Pozna? there are used '''time tickets''' (tickets valid for a certain period of time). This allows passengers to change a line without any need to punch a new ticket. It is possible to see the ride start time which is printed on the ticket by the ticket puncher. There is a choice of tickets for 15, 30 and 60 minutes which cost 2 z?, 3,60 z? and 5,80 z? and are avaliable in newagent which can be found in most stations.
The best solution for long travels or for persons staying in Pozna? for several days are 24h and weekly. Pupils, students or pensioners can use discount tickets.
'''[http://www.http://www.poznan.pl/mim/public/turystyka/transport.html?rhs=transport&lang=en Public transport timetable]'''
Walk
The best spot to start walk is '''the Church of St. John of Jerusalem Behind the Wall''', one of the oldest brick temple in Poland. Next to the church is a very old district called '''?rodka'''. The origin of the name comes from the day when the markets were organized (?roda means Wednesday).
'''Ostrow Tumski''', (Cathedral Island) is a magical place. To reach Cathedral Island cross '''Bishop Jordan_fs Bridge''' over the River Cybina. On the island can be found '''the Cathedral''' which is the oldest necropolis of Polish sovereigns. (Entrance to the Cathedral is free, entrancefee to the basement is 2.80 z? ? for adults, 1.80 z? ? children, students). Inside worthseeing is '''the Golden Chapel''', which houses the tombs of the first rulers of Poland, Mieszko I and Boles?aw Chrobry. Next to the Cathedral stands '''the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in Summo'''. This old church is partly situated upon the remains of the residence of the first Polish sovereign.
'''The Old Market Square''' in Pozna? is the third largest square in Poland. When we enter the square from Wielka Street, we can see '''the Proserpine Fountain''' and '''the Town Hall''' ? undoubtedly the most beautiful Renaissance building of its type in Central Europe. The building_fs tower features two goats that appear everyday at noon and butt their horns.
'''Paderewski Street''' is a short street, and follows to Wolno?ci Square. On the right from Paderewski Street, on Przemys? Hill the former '''Royal Castle''' is located. A brick wall surrounds the castle. Today, the Royal Castle houses '''the Museum of Applied Arts'''. The Museum displays furniture, decorative fabrics, valuable silver, china, faience and tin vessels as well as a variety of decorations once found in castles, palaces or shrines, old clocks and parade weaponry. Entrancefee is 5.50 z? ? for adults, 3.50 z? ? children, students.
At the end of Paderewski Street can be seen a very important building: '''the _gBazar_h Hotel''' which was built in the 19th century, during the period when Pozna? was under Prussian Occupation. This building is associated with one of the most important events in the city's history. A speech by Ignacy Jan Paderewski (a famous musician and politician) in 1918 from one of the hotel_fs windows, triggered off the Wielkopolska Uprising. Thanks to this event Pozna? and the Wielkopolska Region, after 123 years of occupation, became a part of the reborn Poland. On the other side of Paderewski Street, next to _gBazar_h, the main building of '''the National Museum''' (Art Gallery), is located. This museum has a prominent collection of Italian, Spanish and Polish art. Entrancefee is 10 z? ? for adults, 6 z? ? children, students.
'''Wolno?ci Square''' is surrounded by buildings important for the history of Pozna?. On the Square is the seat of the '''Raczy?ski Library''' (the first public library in Poland). At the western end of the square we see the former German theatre, now called '''the Arkadia'''.
On the right side of the street 27 Grudnia, deep behind the row of houses, stands '''the Polski Theatre'''. The theatre was financed by contributions from citizens in all the regions of partitioned Poland. The idea of this undertaking is commemorated on the facade: _gThe Nation to Itself_h. Near the Polish Theatre stands the Okr?glak building. This cylinder-shaped department store is said to be the most peculiar building in Pozna?.
On Fredry Street stands '''the Neo-Gothic Church of St. Paul''' (now the Church of the Holiest Saviour). The Church was built in the second half of 19th century.
'''_gCastle Quarter_h''' which replaced the old fortifications. Around 1900 Prussian authorities established the new city centre, designed west of the old town. In the new city centre, all important official buildings were located. The _gCastle Quarter_h was built according to an ideological programme that glorified German domination in the east. The Castle Quarter's main building was '''the Imperial Castle''', the last royal residence built in Europe. Kaiser Wilhelm II built this castle in the Neo-Romanesque style in the early 20th century. The former imperial residence now houses the _gZamek_h Cultural Centre.
In the surroundings of the castle we can see many more buildings of the former _gCastle Quarter_h: '''Collegium Maius''' (former Settlement Commission), '''Collegium Minus''' (now houses Adam Mickiewicz University and the concert hall of the Pozna? Philharmonic Society), the Post Office building, and '''the Wielki Theatre''' (former Municipal Theatre) ? the Pozna? Opera.
Going straight over Theatre Bridge is D?browskiego Street where begins the district of '''Je?yce''', notable for several complexes of art nouveau architecture. In Roosevelt Street is one of the most impressive complexes, decorated with figurative and floral ornaments. In Je?yce is '''the Nowy Theatre''', one of the best theatres in Poland and the Neo-Romanesque '''Church of the Holy Hearts of Jesus and St. Florian'''.
'''On Saturday entrance to most museums is free.'''
'''More information can be found at [http://www.poznan.pl/trakt Website of the Pozna? City Hall]'''
'''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Royal-Imperial_Route_in_Pozna? The Royal-Imperial Route on Wikipedia
Stay safe
There are no particular safety precautions needed.