Wielkopolska

If you want to experience the essence of Poland’s eventful history, head for Wielkopolska. The region’s name means Greater Poland, and this is where the Polish state was founded in the Middle Ages. Centuries later, the local population has an understandable pride in its long history.

Poznań is a lively and attractive city with plenty of interesting sights and good restaurants. Beyond, the Wielkopolska countryside offers a selection of charming towns and rural scenery. Among the region’s attractions are castles, steam trains, palaces, churches, nature reserves and a memorable Iron Age settlement in Biskupin. And at the heart of it all is the great cathedral of Gniezno, the birthplace of Catholic Poland.

It’s an impressive menu, but Wielkopolska is also a great place to strike out on your own. Wherever you end up, you’ll be sure to find something of historic interest; it’s that kind of place.

Explore Wielkopolska

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Wielkopolska.

  • Church

    Gniezno Cathedral

    Gniezno’s history and character are inextricably intertwined with its cathedral, an imposing, double-towered brick Gothic structure. The present church…

  • Public Art

    Śródka Mural

    Just east of Ostrów Tumski in the centre of the Śródka district you will find a sensational trompe-l'œil mural by artist Arleta Kolasińska. It covers the…

  • Historic Site

    Biskupin Archaeological Reserve

    Biskupin’s re-created Iron Age town site, with its wooden palisades, thatched roofs and costumed historical re-enactors, is a stimulating way to learn…

  • Church

    Poznań Cathedral

    Ostrów Tumski is dominated by this monumental double-towered cathedral. Essentially Gothic with additions from later periods, notably the baroque upper…

  • Church

    Parish Church

    Two blocks south of the Rynek, this church was originally built for the Jesuits by architects from Italy, and completed only after more than 80 years of…

  • Museum

    Rogalin Palace Museum

    Rogalin, situated some 30km south of Poznań, has an impressive, two-storey baroque palace that was home to Polish aristocratic clan, the Raczyński family…

  • Museum

    Castle Museum

    Gołuchów’s castle began life around 1560 as a small fortified mansion with octagonal towers at its corners, built by the Leszczyński family. Some 50 years…

  • Museum

    Castle Museum

    Kórnik Castle's present-day appearance dates from the mid-19th century, when its owner, Tytus Działyński, gave the castle an outlandish mock-Gothic…

  • Historic Site

    Ostrów Tumski

    To the east of the Old Town, over the Warta River, is the island of Ostrów Tumski (Cathedral Island). You’re walking through deep history here, the place…

  • National Park

    Wielkopolska National Park

    Just a few kilometres southwest of Poznań’s administrative boundaries is the 76-sq-km Wielkopolska National Park. About 80% of the park is forest – pine…

  • Chapel

    Chapel

    If you are visiting Rogalin's extravagant Palace Museum, one more place to see is the chapel, built in the 1820s to serve as a mausoleum for the Raczyński…

  • Historic Building

    Town Hall

    Poznań’s Renaissance town hall, topped with a 61m-high tower, instantly attracts attention. Its graceful form replaced a 13th-century Gothic structure,…

  • Museum

    Museum of Forestry

    To the south of Gołuchów's castle, this museum is housed in a former distillery that was considerably extended in 1874. It contains displays on the…

  • Nature Reserve

    Morasko Meteorite Reserve

    Great balls of fire! Just 10km north of the centre of Poznań is the Morasko Meteorite Reserve, one of just two registered meteorite impact sites in Europe…

  • Church

    St Nicholas' Church

    This 17th-century wooden structure is an unusual mix of architectural styles: Gothic, baroque, neoclassical and more modern additions. When the church was…

  • Museum

    Historical Museum of Poznań

    This museum in Poznań's town hall displays an interesting exhibition on the city's history in splendid interiors. The richly ornamented Renaissance Hall…

  • Museum

    Wolsztyn Roundhouse

    This museum, 100km from Poznań in the town of Wolsztyn, exhibits steam locomotives within a working depot and roundhouse. It can be easily reached daily…

  • Park

    Citadel Park

    This large park is laid out on what was once a massive Prussian fortress. The fortress was involved in one major battle, when the Germans defended…

Top experiences

Whether it’s a guided tour of a historic landmark, private tasting of local delicacies, or an off-road adventure — explore the best experiences in Wielkopolska.

  • Activities