Parish church and surroundings
The parish church of Poznań, or more precisely Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mary Magdalene and Saint Stanislaus, is just as impressive as its full name. It is a must-see on any tour of Poznań, especially as it is only about 100 meters from the Old Market Square. This baroque church was built in the second half of the 17th century for the Jesuit order and is not without reason considered the most beautiful church in Poznań. Its interior, overloaded with paintings, figures and stucco decorations, impresses even those who are rather reluctant to visit churches. It is also full of optical illusions! One of its treasures is the 19th century organ, built by one of the best European organ builders of the time, Friedrich Ladegast. If you would like to hear its unique sound, simply come to one of the regularly organized organ concerts. They take place every Saturday at 12:15 pm and during the summer season every day from Monday to Saturday at the same time. But that's not all about the parish church. There are vaults under the entire nave where the monks were once buried and where wine was later stored. And right next to the parish church you can see the former Jesuit college, which now serves as Poznań's town hall. Will you manage to find a small bronze gnome hiding in the courtyard of the former college? But if you don't feel like looking for him, take a seat on one of the comfortable wooden benches, relax and admire the historic town hall building. And after a while, head to Kolegiacki Square, where centuries ago the mighty collegiate church with its 114-meter-high tower stood. Although this imposing church, one of the tallest in Europe, was destroyed at the end of the 18th century, you can still find some of its remains today. But the biggest attraction of the Collegiate Square is the billy goat statue – a great place to take a photo! The area around Kolegiacki Square and the post-Jesuit buildings is one of the most beautiful and interesting places in Poznań. But admiring them alone is not enough. If you want to find out more about the parish church and its ghost, the hidden dwarf, billy goats and many other interesting facts, take a guided tour of Poznań!
