Poznan is the fifth largest city in Poland and lies on the Warta River in the west of the country. The city is an important centre for trade, industry and education in Poland and was host city for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December 2008.
It’s one of Poland’s oldest cities, and thanks to its location has historically been home to a large German population, even becoming part of the Kingdom of Prussia from the late 18th century until after the First World War. The city prospered in the post-war period until it was invaded by the Nazis in 1939. Much of Poznan’s city centre was destroyed during the war.
The city was then – like the rest of Poland – part of the Soviet Bloc for decades, during which it was extensively rebuilt. Since the end of communism in Poland in 1990 the city has thrived and is now home to the Polish headquarters of many western European corporations.
Poznan has an extensive public transport system: visitors can get around using trams and buses and travel to other cities in Poland from Poznan Central railway station, south west of the city centre. The majority of the serviced apartments Poznan has to offer are near transport links of some kind.
