What should every tourist who comes to Poznań see? The answer is simple - the Old Market Square!
The Market Square in Poznań is the third largest Old Market Square in Poland. It occupies an area of 2 hectares and is an almost regular square with sides of 141 m. It is surrounded mostly by two-storey townhouses. On the ground floor there are primarily restaurants, picturesque cafes and pubs. Once, the Old Market Square also attracted merchants. Currently no one trades on the stalls except sellers of souvenirs. In June, here is St. John's Fair and then again the Old Market Square turns into a marketplace where you can find almost anything.
Not only picturesque townhouses
In addition to the charming townhouses, around the Old Market Square are also the Town Hall and town scales, the palaces of Działyński and Mielżyński, the monument of Bamberka and four fountains - Proserpine, Mars, Apollo and Neptune - as well as a pillory, the favourite meeting place of Poznań inhabitants. In the central part of the market are a hall, stalls, bread benches and a shambles.
Our Town Hall
The most important building in the Old Market Square was and still is the Town Hall. Once there were decided municipal affairs and transgressions were judged. Today it raises great interest as one of the most famous monuments of Renaissance architecture in our country. The oldest parts of the building are early Gothic cellars with a cross-ribbed vault. Located on the first floor the Grand Hall, also called the Hall of the Renaissance, is one of the most beautiful Renaissance interiors in Poland. Its vault - standing on two pillars - is decorated with images of animals, mythological and biblical figures, and the sun, moon and planets. In the adjoining Royal Hall attention is directed to the Renaissance fireplace adorned with the emblem of the city. The Judicial Chamber is covered with a renaissance vault from the middle of the sixteenth century and there stands a statue of the last Polish king - Stanisław August Poniatowski. Currently, the Town Hall is the seat of the Historical Museum of Poznań. Every day, from the Town Hall tower a Poznań bugle call is played.
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