Poznan (Poznań) is a city in the western part of Poland. The city, on the shores of the River Warta, has around 550,000 inhabitants. This makes Poznan the 5th largest city in the country. In the area around Poznan another 1.1 million people live. It's best known for its renaissance old town, destroyed during World War II and then rebuilt.

It's also known for its Ostrów Tumski cathedral. Today, the city is an important cultural and business center and one of Poland's most populous regions with regional customs such as Jarmark Świętojański, the traditional Saint Martin's croissants and a local dialect.

Poznan is among the oldest cities in Poland and was one of the most important centers in the early Polish state in the tenth and eleventh centuries. The first center city was Ostrów Tumski, the natural island on the Warta river.

The burial-place of the first rulers was in Poznan's cathedral on the island. It also served as the capital for a short time in the 13th century, hence the official name: "The capital city of Poznan".

Poznan under Prussian rule

Prussia administered the city after the second partition of Poland. After that, with Germany's unification after the Franco-Prussian War of 1871, the province of Posen became part of the German Empire. Furthermore, the city of Posen became an imperial city.

This lead to the construction of the Imperial Castle, the Imperial District and the Opera House. New city walls, a railway station and many other sites were also acquired which make a big part of its landmarks to this day.

Poznan is one of the biggest cities in Poland. It's the historical capital of the Greater Poland region and is now the administrative capital of the province called Greater Poland Voivodeship. The city is today one of the largest Polish centers of trade, industry, sports, education, technology, tourism and culture.

It's a particularly important academic center, with about 130,000 students and the third biggest Polish university - Adam Mickiewicz University. It also houses the oldest Polish diocese, now being one of the most populous archdiocese in the country.