Poznan – the capital of Wielkopolska

Kolegiacki Square

Poznań (also known as Poznan or Posen) is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, the region called Wielkopolska (Greater Poland). As the biggest city in region, it has about 550,000 citizens, however if counted together with Poznan County and other smaller communities such as Oborniki, Szamotuly, Śrem, it might be over 1 million people. It is the fourth largest metropolitan area in Poland.

It is among the oldest cities in Poland and it is believed by some scientist, that it was probably the first capital of Poland – even before Gniezno. However, it is yet to be confirmed. The first center city was Ostrów Tumski, the natural island on the Warta river-very similar to the Île de la Cité in Paris. On the island, there\’s a great cathedral where the first rulers of Poland are buried. Today, Poznań is one of the largest centers of trade, education, technology, sports and tourism in the country. Adam Mickiewicz University which is located in Poznań, with its 130,000 students in the third biggest university in Poland.