Stare Miasto in Poznan, translating to Poznan Old Town, is a historic central district in Poznan home to a wealth of important historical landmarks and beautiful ancient architecture. Revolving around the Old Market Square, known locally as Stary Rynek, Stare Miasto is the ideal destination for visitors and culture lovers, yet is also strategically close to the rest of central Poznan and everything it has to offer, from its thriving nightlife spots to the fascinating museums and art galleries.
Perhaps the most famous landmark in Stare Miasto other than the Old Market Square itself is the Poznan Town Hall, locally known as the Ratusz. This impressive Late Renaissance architectural gem towers over the square and draws crowds at noon each day as a show of mechanical goats fighting plays out by the main clockface. Other notable landmarks to discover in Stare Miasto include the beautiful baroque City Church of St. Stanislaus and Our Lady which has recently been restored and the regal Gorka Palace dating back to the 15th century.
As a fairly compact central district, Stare Miasto is very easy to traverse on foot, although it does benefit from a tram network which makes getting around that little bit easier. Travelling into the district from the rest of Poznan is also very straightforward, as the city’s excellent public transportation network consists of buses and trams. The nearest airport serving the city of Poznan is Poznan-Lawica Airport operating both domestic and international flights. Located only seven kilometres from central Poznan, the airport is linked to the city by bus and rail.
The history of Stare Miasto stretches back over a thousand years, although the main square is believed to have first been formally laid out in the 13th century before experiencing significant restructuring a few centuries later. Many of the former merchant homes encircling the square have now been converted into restaurants, cafes and souvenir stores to cater to visitors, although as a whole Stare Miasto is celebrated as one of the best preserved historical squares in Europe.