Poznań residents are said to be frugal, hard-working and well-organized. These attributes must have manifested themselves equally strong in our ancestors as they were the ones to establish the Polish state here a millennium ago. Poznań and Gniezno, a town 50 km away, were Poland's first capitals. The two are linked by the tourist Piast Trail strewn with traces of ancient history such as the Lednica Lake island with remnants of a 9th to 10th century settlement which, as legend has it, was the birthplace of Boleslav the Brave, Poland's first crowned king.
The tombs of Boleslav the Brave and his father, Duke Mieszko, are housed in Poznań's St. Paul and Peter Cathedral. Set on Romanesque foundations, the Cathedral's above-ground structure is rendered in the Gothic style. Poznań's second most precious building is its 16th century Renaissance Town Hall in the Old Market Square, surrounded by historic tenement houses painstakingly reconstructed after World War II. A short walk down Gołębia Street will take you to the Parish Church, one of Poland's most magnificent Baroque churches. When in the Old Market Square, do not miss the head-butting billy-goats on Town Hall tower. Take time to enjoy the specialties of Wielkopolska's regional cuisine available in many of the Old Town's restaurants. The time leading up to Christmas is particularly festive in the Square, owing partly to the Christmas Fair named The Poznań Bethlehem. The event is accompanied by an array of art performances and cultural presentations, including the international ice sculpting festival.
Poznań is home to numerous historic sites and buildings such as the highly impressive imposing Emperor's Castle, which has recently been renovated, the last Emperor residence erected in Europe with such dramatic flourish.
Equally noteworthy are Poznań's remarkable late-19th-century tenement houses in the Jeżyce district which represent a showcase of Poznań's Secessionist architecture.
Poznań residents have derived much of their wealth from crafts and trade. For centuries, Poznań was famed for its fairs. The largest of them was St. John's Fair on 24 June, principally a gathering of grain and wool traders. Today's St. John's Fair attracts master artistic craftsmen from across Poland: handcrafters, painters, sculptors and lovers and collectors of antiques.
Poznań residents have always had respect for knowledge and science. Poznań's first institution of higher education, the Lubrański Academy, was founded in 1518. Its scientific traditions were cultivated by the Jesuit College. Today, they are continued by 26 universities and colleges.
Poznań is a shopper's paradise. Its shopping strips and malls offer world brands as well as domestic wares. The shopping scene includes small art galleries, jewellery stores, antique shops and vintage item fairs held each weekend in the post-industrial space of a former slaughterhouse complex.
Poznań's good business climate has attracted great numbers of foreign investors, including such global behemoths as Volkswagen, GlaxoSmithKline, Bridgestone, Wrigley, SABMiller, Dalkia Group, Beiersdorf, Exide, Kimball Electronics, Bertelsmann, Carlsberg, Franklin Templeton, MAN, and Microsoft.
Poznań is a city of culture. It is home to the superior world-renowned men's and boys' choir conducted by Stefan Stuligrosz, Poland's only Polish Ballet Dance Theatre and Agnieszka Duczmal's Chamber Orchestra. Music lovers arrive from far and wide to witness Henryk Wieniawski International Violin and Violin-Making Festival held every five years.
Poznań is the site of a great number of theatres. Alternative theatre enthusiasts regularly visit the Malta International Theatre Festival which has become the city's June flagship event.
The Education and Information Programme Climate and Environment Year - Poznań 2008
In connection with the Climate Conference, Poznań has proclaimed 2008 the year of Climate and Environment. Within its framework, the city has developed and conducts an information and education program on environmental protection covering more than 200 individual projects.
The projects are designed for specialist researchers (conferences, training seminars, debates) and the public at large (numerous outdoor events, theme exhibitions, free-admission lectures, happenings and mass events). One of the most high profile cultural event was a concert by the Canadian singer Nelly Furtado organized by the city on 11 July, 2008 on Lake Malta. Entitled Poznań for Earth, the concert carried a strong environmental message.
The complete schedule of Climate and Environment Year projects is available in polish at www.poznan.pl/srodowisko.
Pro-ecological measures taken by the city of Poznań to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Modernisation of boilers and individual household gas rings - resulted in a 20% reduction in SO 2 levels in the city centre
Implementation of an Urban Traffic and Management Control system with the aim of improving the flow of road traffic
Exchanging Poznan's public transport bus and tram fleet for vehicles meeting European norms (Poznań Municipal Transport Company has 115 Euro 2 vehicles and 33 Euro 3 vehicles)
Promotion of transport with alternative power sources, e.g. hybrid engines
Promotion of rail transport as an alternative to ever-increasing road transport
Popularization of cycling in urban areas to reduce demand for passenger cars
Utilization of public transport along with construction and use of buffer parking
Installation for recycling biogas and thermal drying of deposits;
Promotion of alternative energy sources (straw and grass briquettes). In biogas heat and power stations located at biogas is neutralized and converted into electrical energy and heat
Systematic change of energy sources from coal to gas or heating oil in urban units,
Restructuring and gradual expansion of the city's green areas, including grass verges
Tenement Renovation Programme - external insulation of municipal buildings
As part of the "Electro-rubbish - Bring it from your home to the collection point", 19 collection points for used electrical appliances have been set up.
The city of Poznań has won numerous awards and distinctions for its work in environment protection, including:
1 Leader Of Polish Ecology 2002 - Environment Ministry award for comprehensive measures to improve the environment, with particular regard for improving air quality
2 Bronze medal at The International Awards for Liveable Communities 2004, Niagara Falls Canada
3 Silver Medal Green Apple Awards for Built Environment 2004 awarded by non-governmental organisations in the UK.
For further informations about environment in Poznań clik here