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Poznan

Poznań
Capital City of Poznań
Stołeczne Miasto Poznań
Top: Panorama of Poznań City CenterMiddle: Poznań Town Hall, Stary Browar, Opera HouseBottom: Guardhouse
Top: Panorama of Poznań City Center
Middle: Poznań Town Hall, Stary Browar, Opera House
Bottom: Guardhouse
Flag of Poznań
Flag
Coat of arms of Poznań
Coat of arms
Poznań is located in Poland
Poznań
Poznań
Coordinates: 52°24′N 16°55′E / 52.400°N 16.917°E / 52.400; 16.917Coordinates: 52°24′N 16°55′E / 52.400°N 16.917°E / 52.400; 16.917
Country Poland
Voivodeship Greater Poland
County city county
Established 10th century
Town rights 1253
Government
 • Mayor Jacek Jaśkowiak
Area
 • City 261.85 km2 (101.10 sq mi)
Highest elevation 154 m (505 ft)
Lowest elevation 60 m (200 ft)
Population (31 December 2010)
 • City 551,627
 • Density 2,100/km2 (5,500/sq mi)
 • Urban 1.1 million
 • Metro 1.4 million
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 60-001 to 61–890
Area code(s) +48 61
Car plates PO
Website http://www.poznan.pl/

Poznań ([ˈpɔznaɲ]; German: Posen, known also by other historical names) is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, in the Greater Poland region. It is best known for its renaissance Old Town, destroyed during World War II and then rebuilt, and Ostrów Tumski Cathedral. Today, Poznań is an important cultural and business centre and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Jarmark Świętojański, traditional Saint Martin's croissants and a local dialect.

Poznań is among the oldest cities in Poland. It was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state in the tenth and eleventh centuries. Initially the city was based on Ostrów Tumski, a natural island on the Warta river-very similar to the Île de la Cité in Paris. The first rulers were buried in the nearby cathedral, which is one of the oldest christian temples in the country. Poznań also served as the capital of Poland (for a short time) in the 13th century, hence the official name - "The capital city of Poznań". After the second partition of Poland Poznań was administered by Prussia, and then, with the unification of Germany after the Franco-Prussian War of 1871, the province of Posen became part of the German Empire. Furthermore, the city of Posen was officially proclaimed a residential city of the Kaiser, leading to the construction of the Imperial Castle, the Imperial District, the Opera House, new city walls, railway station and many other sites which make a big part of its landmarks to this day.


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Wikipedia

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