1.    THE OLD MARKET SQUARE

For centuries, the tenement houses of the Old Market Square have been the most prestigious addresses in town. Today they include a number of stylish buildings ranging from Gothic tenement houses to Classical palaces, not least the magnificent Działyński Palace [A]. The center of the Square was taken by old commercial buildings such as the City Weighing House [B] (where each merchant seeking to sell his wares came to fulfill his obligation to weigh them) and merchant houses [C] (multicolored narrow buildings which once served as both shops and their owners' dwellings). The key architectural gems in the center of the Old Market Square are the Renaissance City Hall, the Classical Guardhouse [D] (the former town guard quarters) and the Modernist Arsenal. All of them have been converted to serve cultural purposes and house museums and the city gallery. A remarkable embellishment of Poznań's Old Market Square are the fountains placed in its four corners which represent mythological figures. The oldest of them, the Proserpine Fountain, has been set in front of the City Hall. The Square is also adorned with the Bamber Woman Well (added to commemorate the 18th-century arrival in Poznań of settlers from Bamberg), a figure of Saint John Nepomucene (who protected city residents from floods) and the Medieval pillory, once feared by all offenders, now serving as a popular meeting point for Poznań residents.

2. THE CITY HALL

The original city hall building stemmed most likely from a time shortly following Poznań's foundation. It was remodeled in the 16th century with the help of the Italian Architect Giovanni Battista di Quadro. His design work included the distinctive loggia façade crowned with attic walls. The sides of the loggia and the attic have been adorned with the likings of Polish rulers. For centuries, the City Hall served as the seat of the city authorities. The murals decorating the building contained a code of conduct binding upon city councilors. They included Latin inscriptions and allegoric representations of virtues to be cultivated by the officials. The City Hall is the stuff of many popular legends, among them the story of the billy goats, which are Poznań's most recognizable symbol. The goats make their daily appearance above the clock on a City Hall façade attracting crowds of onlookers in all seasons.Today, the City Hall houses the Museum of the History of Poznań. A particularly noteworthy attraction in the building is its Grand Hall, the most beautiful of all City Hall interiors.

3. THE GÓRKA PALACE

In the 16th century, the Palace belonged to the Górka magnate family, which was very influential in the country. The Palace's upgrade during the Renaissance period was one of the first architectural projects in the new style, later replicated in other buildings. The top floor of this ornate structure featured a pond with a fountain and fish placed there for the joy of its residents! Following the death of the last of the Górkas, the building would often change its use. Once a Protestant Church, it was converted to a Convent, a girls' high school and even a tenement house. Preserved unchanged from the Renaissance period, its original features include the inner courtyard with a row of open arcades accessed by way of a highly decorative stone portal. Today, the Palace houses the Archeological Museum with a courtyard featuring an obelisk to Pharaoh Ramesses II, a constant reminder of the involvement of Poznań archeologists in research on ancient Egyptian culture.

4. KOLEGIACKI SQUARE/ PLAC KOLEGIACKI

The name of the square stems from the former Saint Mary Magdalene Collegiate Church: the city parish church which once stood in it. The church was an expression of the artistic ambitions of Poznań burghers and a symbol of their wealth. It impressed viewers with its imposing shape and height of its tower whose 90 meters made it even taller than the Cathedral tower. Over 50 altars founded by the patriciate and city craftsman guilds could be admired within. The frequent disasters of the 17th and 18th centuries left the church in ruin, the impoverished city unable to finance its reconstruction. The space freed up after the church's demolition was named the New Market and set out for commercial use. After the liberation of Poznań in 1945, its name changed to Kolegiacki Square. Today, its chief building houses the City Hall. The youngest residents of Poznań are attracted by the contemporary sculpture of Poznań goats which is also a popular target with photographers.

5. THE POST-JESUIT COMPLEX

In the late 16th century, Europeans highly esteemed schools ran by the Jesuits, who were known for offering a solid Catholic education. The founding deed of the Poznań college was signed in 1570, making it Poland's forth institution of its type. In the early 17th century, the school boasted the largest student population of all Jesuit colleges in the country. An attempt was then made to turn it into a university. Yet, despite the backing of king Sigismund III Vasa, the Pope withheld his consent, influenced by the Kraków Academy which opposed the establishment of a competing
academic center. Despite this setback, the Jesuits made a substantial contribution to city growth, not least in the field of architecture. The former college building and the neighboring parish church (which originally served as a monastery church) today rank among Poznań's most Remarkable works of architecture.
The College building [E] dates back to the early 18th century. It once housed research laboratories, a library as well as monk and student quarters. The school was famous for its well-equipped astronomical observatory. In the 18th century, the Jesuit Order's closure ended its involvement in the Poznań College. In the early 19th century, its building became the command center of Emperor Napoleon. Soon afterwards, in 1828, as a seat of the viceroy of the Grand Duchy of Poznań, it received Frederic Chopin, who is said to have given a concert there. Today, the former Jesuit College houses the Poznań City Hall. Poznan's post-Jesuit heritage also includes the Collegiate Parish Church of Stanislaus the Bishop [F]. The intermittent construction of this building took nearly a century. Despite the long and complicated building process, the Poznań parish church has emerged as a harmonious structure ranked among Poland's most magnificent Baroque buildings. It astonishes with its monumental exterior and ornamental interiors. Particularly noteworthy are its splendid paintings of Saint Ignatius of Loyola (the founder of the Jesuit Order) and Saint Stanisław Kostka (the first Polish Jesuit to be canonized). Over the centuries that elapsed since its opening, the Parish Church has been visited by many outstanding figures. Suffice it to name Napoleon Bonaparte, who in 1806 took part in a solemn holy service held on an anniversary of his crowning and his victory in the Battle of Austerlitz. One of the most valuable items in the Church is its organ, the work of the famous organmeister Friedrich  Ladegast. Weekly organ concerts are held there every Saturday. Finally, the post-Jesuit complex includes a building of the former Jesuit school [G], which now houses the Comprehensive High School of Ballet and the Polish Dance Theatre.

6. ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH AND YHE FRANCISCAN MONASTERY

The Franciscans arrived in Poznań in the mid-17th century. It was not immediately, though, that they were allowed to build their church. The local authorities denied their permit, influenced by the city's chapter of the Bernadine order. Despite these hurdles, the monks eventually succeeded and set their church and monastery near Przemysł Hill. The Church is a sanctuary of the Mother of God (the Lady of Poznań). Her miraculous painting is held in an ornamental sculpted wooden altar in a side nave. Much like the rest of the decorations in the Church, the altar was the work of the Franciscans Antoni and Adam Swach. A particular attraction at the place is a mockup of historic Poznań in its cellars. Accompanied by special effects and a historical commentary, its display provides a perfect starting point for a sightseeing tour of the city.

7. THE ROYAL CASTLE AND FORMER CITY WALLS

The Royal Castle on the hill has once served as monarch residence. While the exact date of its establishment is unknown, it is thought to have been erected during the reign of either Przemysł I or his son, Przemysł II. It was the latter that first used the white eagle as the state emblem, as commemorated with a plaque on the front of the Castle. The building has born witness to a number of momentous events, including royal weddings (of Wenceslaus II and Elisabeth Richeza, the daughter of Przemysł II, as well as of Casimir III the Great and Adelaide of Hesse). It also saw the Prussian Tribute paid to John I Albert by the Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights. Destroyed repeatedly by wars and fires, the building was subject to many architectural changes. The existing structure is only a part of the original grandiose edifice. It houses the Museum of Applied Arts. Its reconstruction is currently under way. The building was once integrated into the defensive walls around the city. It was fortified and designed as the city's last line of defense. The reconstructed section of the historic walls and the former Wroniecka Gate can be found nearby today's Wroniecka Street. The other three entryways into the city are associated with Wielka, Wodna and Wrocławska streets.

8. THE FORMER SYNAGOGUE AND THE JEWISH DISTRICT

For centuries, Jews maintained a sizable community in Poznań. They inhabited an area around today's Żydowska, Szewska and Mokra streets. In the 16th century, Poznań's Jews made up Poland's third largest Jewish municipality. The rabbis who headed it were highly esteemed in the rest of Europe. The largest of Poznań's many synagogues was established in 1907. Capped with a Neo-Romanesque cupola, the shrine could accommodate a congregation of approximately 1200. It was a showcase of the Poznań Jewish community. Sadly, it was turned into a swimming pool during the German occupation. Recent plans envision its restoration to previous glory to house the Center for Judaism and Dialogue.

9. POST-DOMINICAN CHURCH (Church of the Holy Heart of Jesus and Mother of God, the Comforter)

As this shrine dates back to 1244, its construction predates the founding of Poznań on the left bank of the Warta by nine years. The arrival in Poznań of the Dominicans, who ranked among Europe's oldest monastic orders, is considered to have portended the foundation of a new town. In keeping with the Order's Rule, the church was simple in form. Of the adjoining monastery buildings, only one wing remains, with ornaments of the old ambulatory still to be seen from Garbary Street. The Dominicans were renowned for their reverence for the rosary. In the 15th century, they built the Chapel of Our Lady of the Rosary with a corresponding painting which survived to this day. The Church grounds feature the Jesuit Gallery of contemporary art.