weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

As I have mentioned earlier, I am departing here from our actual route, which took us from Malbork/Marienburg to Gdansk/Danzig, and I will leave the Gdansk experience for the closing part of this travelogue. Thus the continuation in this series covers the city POZNAN/POSEN which lies about 310 km / 200 mi south of Danzig and of Malbork. Here are the interesting facts to know about this city:

INTRODUCTION
The city lies on the Warta River in west-central Poland. It is best known for its renaissance Old Town and Ostrow Tumski Cathedral. Today, Poznan is an important cultural and business center and one of Poland's most populous regions. It is the fifth-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland with a population of about 540,000 while its metropolitan area is inhabited by over 1 million people. It is the historical capital of the Greater Poland region and a center of trade, sports, education, technology and tourism. It also is an important academic site, with about 130,000 students and the Adam Mickiewicz University, the third largest Polish university. Poznan is also the seat of the oldest Polish diocese, now being one of the most populous archdioceses in the country. The city's most renowned landmarks include Poznan Town Hall, the National Museum, Grand Theatre, Fara Church, Poznan Cathedral and the Imperial Castle.

HISTORY
Poznan is the likely birthplace of the Polish state. Its "Cathedral Island" is a top candidate for the location of the baptism in 966 of Prince Mieszko I, Poland’s first ruler. Known as "The Baptism of Poland", this bold move ushered Christianity into the previously polytheistic Slavic populace and brought new importance to Mieszko’s state in the European scene. Beginning as a small stronghold in the 9th century, Poznan became the capital of Poland (with Gniezno) and the residence of Poland’s first two sovereigns. The first Polish cathedral was erected here in 968. In the 13th century a new section, now known as Old Town, developed on the left bank of the Warta. The town received municipal rights in 1253. With duty-free trade privileges, Poznan became a major European trade center, its economic and cultural growth reaching a peak in the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1518 the Lubranski Academy was founded. Poznan declined during the 17th century through fires and wars.
In 1793 Poznan was annexed to Prussia, intensifying a Germanization that had begun as early as the 13th century, with the arrival of the first German immigrants. From 1807 to 1815 the city was a part of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, then reverted to Prussian control. Anti-Polish and anti-Catholic measures were enacted by German chancellor Otto von Bismarck in the 1870s. In 1886 a commission of colonization was organized to buy Polish land for German colonists, but the Poles established cooperative credit organizations and continued to defeat Prussian efforts to control Poznan. At the beginning of the 20th century much building was done to give the city a Prussian complexion, and Poznan was renamed Posen.
Meanwhile, Poznan progressed economically, with its population tripling between 1871 and 1910, and in 1918 its citizens defeated their Prussian overseers. Poznan prospered somewhat between the two world wars, but, with the return of the Germans in 1939, the city was devastated; its inhabitants were deported or exterminated. Russian forces defeated the Germans during the siege of 1945, leaving the city in ruins. Poznan was rebuilt after World War II and has become the administrative, industrial, and cultural center of western Poland. As one of Poland’s largest industrial centers, Poznan has varied industry that includes metallurgical works; textile mills; clothing and food-, metal-, and rubber-processing plants; chemical facilities; and an automobile factory. Since 1921 it has been the site of a major international trade fair.

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In this starter set, we are walking to the old center from the location of our hotel which was close to but not right in the old center. On that way, we visit the first set of sights that are at the periphery of the old town and end up getting a first glance at the Stary Rynek, the fabulous Old Market Place where we will spend just about all of our time in this city. We only had one afternoon to spend here, could and should have had much more time to devote to this very interesting place.


Notes
TRIP INFO: Set # 1 provides a brief introduction, maps and information for the entire series. Find it at:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-693834-1.html

DETAILS ON POLAND: Set 56 provides an intro, see: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-700547-1.html

EARLIER POSTS of this series: Access my topic list, the new posts are listed in reverse chronological order:
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/user-topic-list?usernum=45105

Thank you for visiting, I recommend viewing the downloads and look forward to your comments and questions.

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1 - Title page for Poznan/Posen with a brief introduction of the town on the background of the large Wolnosci Square in the new part of the town at the edge of the old town

(Download)

2 - A rather raggedy building in the town, with a "Fittings" shop advertising in large writing

(Download)

3 - Three metal sculptures of Pegasus, the Winged Horse from Greek mythology set on the median of Swiety Marcin Street as we walk towards the old town center

(Download)

4 - Wolnosci Square: The Arkadia building, the former German Municipal Theatre erected in 1879

(Download)

5 - Wolnosci Square: Raczynski Library, erected 1822-28, a classical building with colonnade, at right the Hygieia Fountain

(Download)

6 - Ludgardy Street with the tower and observation deck at the Royal Castle at rear and the yellow walls of the church and monastery of St Anthony of Padua, built from 1674 to 1757, in the center the Uhlans Regiment Monument

(Download)

7 - Museum of Applied Arts in Poznan, opened in 1965, located in the Royal Castle in Poznan built in 1249

(Download)

8 - Stary Rynek/Old Market Square: The northwest corner of the main city square in Poznan

(Download)

9 - Stary Rynek: Buildings SR 85, 86, 87 on northern side of square, SR 87 has a sundial at the gable

(Download)

10 - Stary Rynek: Detail of the sundial done in a mosaic form at house SR 87

(Download)

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Trip map of the Western Poland segment for your reference

(Download)

angler Loc: StHelens England

Another winner Joe.Great set.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

City map of the center of Poznan/Posen for your reference

(Download)

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you very much Jim, I am happy that you enjoyed this set.

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Fascinating place, Joe. That Old Market Square is huge.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Great street photography, Joe.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thanks Barbara - yes that square is huge, and they actually built a whole complex of additional buildings in the center of the square - we will be spending the next 6 episodes here on this square, there are so much interesting details to portray.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you very much Earnest, glad you enjoyed this set.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Great shots of an awesome place 🥝🥝🍒🥝🥝

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Great narrative and set once again, Joe.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you Joe, happy to hear that you like the start of this new visit, it is going to have some very colorful elements.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thank you very much Ken

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

More excellent architectural work, Joe! BTW look at srfmhg (Mark) post today and compare his first shot to yours. A traveling architect?

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

Thanks Mike, glad you like my images - I will have a look at Mark's post.
Just looked - I see, his first frame has a close resemblance to my second frame - interesting!