Citadel Park | Activities & Experiences
Citadel Park Photo by Radoslaw Maciejewski
Just north of Poznań’s Old Town sits Winiary Hill and 89 hectares of picture-perfect green space known as Citadel Park. Much like any coveted location in Poland, this scenic overlook has a long history that involves multiple name changes, military battles and even some old-fashioned mystery. For visitors, the park offers not only beautiful promenades and leafy city escapes, but also a plethora of monuments, museums and historical tales.
Poznań Army Museum Re-opened after a long renovation, the museum provides visitors with the chance to learn more about the city’s military history, with a particular focus on WWII and the inter-war period. A large number of items from these times are on display, including various newspaper cuttings, weapons, photos, and uniforms. But other eras are covered too, with some artefacts such as old bullets and army storage devices - dating back as far as 1897. Note that the ticket also includes entrance to the Museum of Armaments, also located in Citadel Park.QI‑4, Al. Armii Poznań (Po. Armii Poznań Citadel), tel. (+48) 663 86 64 14, www.wmn.poznan.pl. Open 10:00-17:00; Sun 10:00-16:00; closed Mon. from March to October: Mon closed, Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 10:00-16:00; from November to February: Mon closed, Tue-Sun 10:00-16:00. Admission 12/6zł, Tue free; ticket also valid for the nearby Museum of Armaments. U 56
British Military Cemetery Citadel Park hosts several cemeteries, but the one typically of most interest to tourists is British Military Cemetery (also known as the Commonwealth Cemetery). Why? It’s here that you’ll find the graves of several of the men involved in what is now known as “the Great Escape” (it wasn’t just a movie, folks!). In addition, the cemetery houses graves of servicemen from WWI (all of whom died in various parts of Poland as POWs), and those who died in bombing operations over what is now the Polish city of Szczecin.QH‑4, Park Cytadela. Open from dawn till dusk.
Monument to the Heroes of the Poznań Citadel One of the most noticeable features of Citadel Park is the Soviet Obelisk located prominently at the top of the grand staircase as you enter the park from Aleja Armii Poznań (H-4). The giant Socialist Realism column
Getting There If the weather is nice there’s no reason not to walk to Citadel Park from the Rynek. The stroll is just under 2km and should take 25-30 minutes. Those who prefer a quicker route can grab bus numbers 174, 176, 190, or 603 from ‘Wielka’ to ‘Garbary’.
