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Poznań Town Hall
The Poznań Town Hall is the greatest
Renaissance building in the Wielkopolska
region and one of the most beautiful buildings
in the whole of Poland. The oldest mention
of the building dates to 1310. It was probably
erected just a little earlier, at the turn of the
13th century. In the mid-16 century, most of
the old building was destroyed in a great fire.
The city commissioned the Italian architect
Giovanni Battista di Quadro from Lugano,
who rebuilt the modest Gothic building into
the magnificent, stately seat of the municipal
authorities that we admire to this day.
From a bird’s-eye view of Poznań we can
clearly see that the building of the town hall
sits at a slight angle relative to the frontage of
the market square buildings. It is believed that
this was made on purpose. As a result, when
we enter the Old Market from Wielka Street,
previously one of the most important arteries
in the city, we get the impression that the town
hall is even bigger than in reality.
However, even without this architectural trick,
there is a lot to admire. The three-storey loggia
is richly decorated with reliefs depicting the
virtues of town councilors: patience, prudence,
love, righteousness, faith, hope, courage and
moderation. It also carries images of Polish
kings and ancient characters. The facades are
embellished with numerous Latin inscriptions.
The building’s tower is topped with a large
crowned white eagle, the symbol of Polish
statehood.
Between the loggia and the tower there are
three smaller towers forming an attic. Their
shape resembles a defensive wall - a theme
known from the coats of arms of many cities.
The central tower has a clock, over which two
mechanical goats are butting heads every day at
noon, which is one of Poznań’s best-known tourist
attractions.
Currently the interiors of the town hall serve as
the seat of the Museum of History of the City of
Poznań (a branch of the National Museum). Its
collection includes approx. 12 thousand items
documenting over 750 years of the city’s history.
The most representative room of the City Hall is
the Great Hall - still used for the most important
events in the life of Poznań.
Mayor of the City of Poznań
Jacek Jaśkowiak