Next weekend there will be a great running celebration in Poznań. Poznan Halfmarathon will begin at 10 am next Sunday. In this run 5300 competitors is taking part (5000 runners and 300 rollerbladers). The starting list was closed last Saturday (17th March), two weeks before the start! It will be one of the biggest runs in Central Europe!
Running is getting more and more popular in Poznań. In my opinion, it is caused by two things - first, we have quite a few nice runs in Poznań and every month you can test yourself. Second, there are plenty of well-prepared places to participate in sport activities in Poznań. When you were in Poznań, you probably saw for example Malta Lake. We have also Rusałka Lake, Strzeszyńskie Lake, University Campus, Cytadela Park or John Paul II Park. Each of these places is popular among runners.
So, keep your fingers crossed and wish runners good results and weather!
Poznań Halfmarathon website
poniedziałek, 26 marca 2012
czwartek, 8 marca 2012
Important points in Poznań
Pokaż Poznań na większej mapie
See you in Poznań!
Have a nice journey!
P.S. Long term forecast for Poznań
środa, 7 marca 2012
wtorek, 6 marca 2012
Did you know...?
- Poznań is a very green city. About 30% of the city area are forests, lakes and parks. Two most popular green areas are the Malta Lake with the regatta course and the Cytadela - a big park left after the destruction of a fortress, which was built before the I WW.
- One of the most popular sports in Poznań is running. Every year in Poznań there is a marathon and a halfmarathon. Our marathon is the biggest in Poland and one of the biggest in Central Europe. Every time the marathon is held, the Mayor of Poznań takes part in it.
- In Poznań we have five universities. Each year about one hundred thousand students from all over the country study here, in Poznań. There is also a growing group of students from Asia and Europe.
[Malta Lake. CC 3.0 Radomil]
- One of the most popular sports in Poznań is running. Every year in Poznań there is a marathon and a halfmarathon. Our marathon is the biggest in Poland and one of the biggest in Central Europe. Every time the marathon is held, the Mayor of Poznań takes part in it.
- In Poznań we have five universities. Each year about one hundred thousand students from all over the country study here, in Poznań. There is also a growing group of students from Asia and Europe.
poniedziałek, 5 marca 2012
sobota, 3 marca 2012
Poznań June
In 1956 in Poznań there was one of the biggest protest against communist government in Poland (which is also known as Poznań June or Poznań 1956 Uprising). It is said that one hundred thousand workers and inhabitants took part in demonstrations. About seventy people were killed during the protest.
After the II World War Poland was a country governed by a communist party. It was not elected in democratic vote. This government was imposed by the Soviet Union, which occupied Poland (as well as Czechoslovakia, East Germany or Hungary) after the II World War. Communist goverment nationalized factories and companies. They wanted to eliminate private property. People were not satisfied with this situation. They wanted to live in a normal, democratic country. In Poznań, they decided to show their displeasure.
There were a few causes of Poznań June. First, workers had to work very hard and it overstepped their possibilities. Second, they earned little money and they had problem with buying simple products eg. a bread or shoes. Third, workers remembered the situation before the II World War, when Poland had been a democratic country with capitalistic economy system and they knew, that people could live better.
In the morning of 28th June 1956 workers from the biggest factory in Poznań (Hipolit Cegielski Poznań) decided to begin demonstration. They organized a big march which finished on the main square in Poznan, near the Local Government Office and abode of communist party. There were about one hundred thousand people on this square! They wanted to change their bad life situation and talk with autohorities, but nobody wanted to answer.
[Workers during protest]
After a few hours, some participants resigned and went home, but some went to Jeżyce district, where was the local headquaters of the Ministry of Public Security (counterintelligence). This was the place where the riots began and authorities decided to fight back using an army. The protest was bloodily muted by ten thousand soldiers and four hundred tanks. Seventy people were killed.
The protest ended tragically, but the world got the information about the dramatic situation in Poland. It was caused by west journalists and guests, who took part in Poznań International Fair, which took place during these days in Poznań. After Poznań June, communists decided to liberalize internal politic. They announced the amnesty and a lot of politic prisoners were set free (eg. Primate – the head of Catholic Church in Poland - Stefan Wyszyński).
The situation in Poland turned out to be a sign for Hungarian people, who also wanted the liberalization of their political system. They started their uprising in Budapest, but it was muted by the Soviet Army. Today there is an important cooperation beetwen Poznań and Budapest – cities – symbols of 1956.
Poznań June was the begining of the communist collapse process in Poland. After just twelve years of communist governance in Poland, people decided to protest. The tradition of Poznań June is very important for Poznań's inhabitants. A lot of them know somebody who took part in this big demostration on 28th June 1956.
[Poznań June Monument. CC 3.0 Radomil]
There are a lot of monuments in Poznań, which commemorate Poznań June. The most important are Poznań's Crosses, which are located on the square, where people demonstrated in 1956. There is also the museum of Poznań June and probably we will visit it together on 11th March.
After the II World War Poland was a country governed by a communist party. It was not elected in democratic vote. This government was imposed by the Soviet Union, which occupied Poland (as well as Czechoslovakia, East Germany or Hungary) after the II World War. Communist goverment nationalized factories and companies. They wanted to eliminate private property. People were not satisfied with this situation. They wanted to live in a normal, democratic country. In Poznań, they decided to show their displeasure.
There were a few causes of Poznań June. First, workers had to work very hard and it overstepped their possibilities. Second, they earned little money and they had problem with buying simple products eg. a bread or shoes. Third, workers remembered the situation before the II World War, when Poland had been a democratic country with capitalistic economy system and they knew, that people could live better.
In the morning of 28th June 1956 workers from the biggest factory in Poznań (Hipolit Cegielski Poznań) decided to begin demonstration. They organized a big march which finished on the main square in Poznan, near the Local Government Office and abode of communist party. There were about one hundred thousand people on this square! They wanted to change their bad life situation and talk with autohorities, but nobody wanted to answer.
[Workers during protest]
After a few hours, some participants resigned and went home, but some went to Jeżyce district, where was the local headquaters of the Ministry of Public Security (counterintelligence). This was the place where the riots began and authorities decided to fight back using an army. The protest was bloodily muted by ten thousand soldiers and four hundred tanks. Seventy people were killed.
The protest ended tragically, but the world got the information about the dramatic situation in Poland. It was caused by west journalists and guests, who took part in Poznań International Fair, which took place during these days in Poznań. After Poznań June, communists decided to liberalize internal politic. They announced the amnesty and a lot of politic prisoners were set free (eg. Primate – the head of Catholic Church in Poland - Stefan Wyszyński).
The situation in Poland turned out to be a sign for Hungarian people, who also wanted the liberalization of their political system. They started their uprising in Budapest, but it was muted by the Soviet Army. Today there is an important cooperation beetwen Poznań and Budapest – cities – symbols of 1956.
Poznań June was the begining of the communist collapse process in Poland. After just twelve years of communist governance in Poland, people decided to protest. The tradition of Poznań June is very important for Poznań's inhabitants. A lot of them know somebody who took part in this big demostration on 28th June 1956.
[Poznań June Monument. CC 3.0 Radomil]
There are a lot of monuments in Poznań, which commemorate Poznań June. The most important are Poznań's Crosses, which are located on the square, where people demonstrated in 1956. There is also the museum of Poznań June and probably we will visit it together on 11th March.
wtorek, 14 lutego 2012
Imperial Castle
On the verge of the 20th century Poznań was getting a new lease of life. The German government decided to completly change the role of the city: from a stronghold to an administrative and economic center. The new approach was called „die Hebungspolitik” which roughly translates as „the policy of rise”; „rise” meaning of course elevation of the living standards and importance of the city. The ultimate goal was to create an incentive for Prussian officials as well as oridinary German citzens to settle in Poznań and to establish permanent cultural domination of Germans in the city. Perhaps the most important element of this plan was the foundation of a new, representational district west of the Old Town inspired by the Viennese Ringstrasse and compromising of such buldings as government offices, banks, The Royal Academy, a new theather and a brand new imperial residence: Königlisches Residenzschloss.
Wilhelm's II passion for the Middle Ages isn't as well known as that of Ludwig II of Bavaria but there are reasons to suspect that his obsession with this historical period rivaled that of the infamous „Fairytale King”. Bearing that in mind, his choice of the Neo-Romanesque style as the most appropriate for the residence of a German monarch comes as rather unsuprising. So does the choice of the architect: Franz Schwechten, known also for Anhalter Bahnhof and Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche in Berlin, was already renowned for his revivalistic works; moreover Neo-Romanesque was his style of choice. The construction works began in 1905 and were completed within just five years. The western wing was devoted to the apartaments of the emperor and his family, while the west wing conteined the throne rooms and various govermental offices. Since the castle was built in the spirit of 'architecture parlande' ('speaking architecture') many of the details were modeled after those of famous buildings associated with Germanic monarchies, most notably the Palatine Chapel of Aachen which inspired the design of the windows in the Throne Room. However, one of the most well recognised elements of the castle is a fountain based on one from Patio de los Leones in Alhambra.
After Poznań was reclaimed by Poland in 1919 the castle was used by insitituions of the Polish Government (Ministry of the Former Prussian Partition and some of the faculties of the newly founded Adam Mickiewicz Uniwersity) and served as one of the presidential residences The Castle's architectural decoration and furnishings were mostly left unchanged in this period. This fact might seem suprising as the iconography was designed to glorify the German nation and contained some anti-Polish elements. It is speculated that the reason why this decoration was left intact was the fact that overcomplexity of the original iconographic programme has made it hard to comprehend. Ironically, the castle's interior was almost completly redesigned after the Nazi Germany assumed control of Poznań. The two biggest changes made in that period were the relocation of the main entrance and replacing the chapel with Hitler's cabinet. The latter was complete with a small balcony for the Fuhrer' s apperances during parades and rallies. According to a widespread urban legend underfloor heating was installed on the balcony, however no proof of existance of such installation was found during any of the renovation works. Another major change that occured during the war was the partial destruction of the highest condignation of the tower. After the war a decision was made to demolish this condignation altogether, so that the castle wouldn't influence the city's panorama as strongly as before (demolishing the whole castle was also considered).
Novadays the castle houses various cultural institutions and is the venue of some of the most interesting cultural events in the city.
(Ksenia)
Wilhelm's II passion for the Middle Ages isn't as well known as that of Ludwig II of Bavaria but there are reasons to suspect that his obsession with this historical period rivaled that of the infamous „Fairytale King”. Bearing that in mind, his choice of the Neo-Romanesque style as the most appropriate for the residence of a German monarch comes as rather unsuprising. So does the choice of the architect: Franz Schwechten, known also for Anhalter Bahnhof and Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche in Berlin, was already renowned for his revivalistic works; moreover Neo-Romanesque was his style of choice. The construction works began in 1905 and were completed within just five years. The western wing was devoted to the apartaments of the emperor and his family, while the west wing conteined the throne rooms and various govermental offices. Since the castle was built in the spirit of 'architecture parlande' ('speaking architecture') many of the details were modeled after those of famous buildings associated with Germanic monarchies, most notably the Palatine Chapel of Aachen which inspired the design of the windows in the Throne Room. However, one of the most well recognised elements of the castle is a fountain based on one from Patio de los Leones in Alhambra.
After Poznań was reclaimed by Poland in 1919 the castle was used by insitituions of the Polish Government (Ministry of the Former Prussian Partition and some of the faculties of the newly founded Adam Mickiewicz Uniwersity) and served as one of the presidential residences The Castle's architectural decoration and furnishings were mostly left unchanged in this period. This fact might seem suprising as the iconography was designed to glorify the German nation and contained some anti-Polish elements. It is speculated that the reason why this decoration was left intact was the fact that overcomplexity of the original iconographic programme has made it hard to comprehend. Ironically, the castle's interior was almost completly redesigned after the Nazi Germany assumed control of Poznań. The two biggest changes made in that period were the relocation of the main entrance and replacing the chapel with Hitler's cabinet. The latter was complete with a small balcony for the Fuhrer' s apperances during parades and rallies. According to a widespread urban legend underfloor heating was installed on the balcony, however no proof of existance of such installation was found during any of the renovation works. Another major change that occured during the war was the partial destruction of the highest condignation of the tower. After the war a decision was made to demolish this condignation altogether, so that the castle wouldn't influence the city's panorama as strongly as before (demolishing the whole castle was also considered).
Novadays the castle houses various cultural institutions and is the venue of some of the most interesting cultural events in the city.
(Ksenia)
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