The Old Market Square in Poznan is one of the most beautiful and characteristic places in the city. Surrounded by charming, colourful townhouses, it is the heart of Poznan’s cultural and social life. Its focal point is the Renaissance Town Hall, which is considered one of the finest examples of architecture of the period in Central Europe. The Town Hall was built in the 16th century by the Italian architect Giovanni Baptista Quadro, and still impresses today with its richly decorated façade and beautiful arcades.
The greatest attraction of the Town Hall is the famous Poznań goats, which appear on the clock tower every day at 12:00 and bang their horns to the delight of the assembled tourists. Legend has it that the story of the goats is connected with a certain cook who accidentally burnt a roast prepared for a feast for the governor and in an act of desperation caught two goats to roast them. However, the goats escaped and climbed up the tower, where they began to beat each other, amusing the governor enough to save them and have their mechanical figures placed on the clock.
Around the Market Square, there are plenty of atmospheric restaurants, cafés and pubs where you can enjoy local specialities such as świętomarciński croissants or pyry z gzikiem.
