Poznań

Industrial city on the river Warta in western Poland; population (2001 est) 580,200. Poznan was the capital of Poland until the 13th century and is the capital of the Great Poland Province. It is the centre of the Wielkopolska region and is located 300 km/186 mi from Berlin, Germany. The city is regarded as Poland's capital of commerce and finance due to the number of international banks in the area, and the annual Poznan International Trade Fair (since 1921). Industries include the manufacture of machinery, aircraft, and beer.

Poznan was founded in 970. It was settled by German immigrants in 1253 and passed to Prussia in 1793; it was restored to Poland in 1919. The city has a medieval quarter called Stare Miasto and a 16th century Renaissance Town Hall in the market square. The first school of education in Poznan, Lubransky Academy, was founded in 1519. There are around 60,000 students attending colleges of further education and Poznan University (1919:formerly Piast University) in the city.