Poznań Cathedral

Why visit?

The Poznań Archcathedral on Cathedral Island is the oldest cathedral in Poland — the church where Jordan, the first Polish bishop, settled in 968. It was most likely here, in Mieszko I's palace, that the ruler of Poland accepted baptism in 966, and the remains of the old baptistery and a tenth-century baptismal font can now be seen in the crypts. The cathedral island was the first centre of the Piast state — it is hard to imagine a more symbolic place to begin exploring Poland. The present silhouette is Gothic, but the cathedral has lived through many incarnations: after the fires of 1622 and 1772 it wore Baroque and Neoclassical garb, and after the great fire of February 1945 conservators uncovered and restored its medieval shape — the reconsecration of the reborn church took place in 1956. In the Golden Chapel stands the monument to Mieszko I and Bolesław the Brave by Christian Daniel Rauch, funded by Edward Raczyński; in the crypts rest the first Piasts — Mieszko I, Bolesław the Brave, Mieszko II and Casimir the Restorer — as well as later rulers from Władysław Odonic to Przemysł II. Admission to the church is free; the paid parts are the crypts (10 PLN, reduced 8 PLN, family 25 PLN) and the viewing tower (14 PLN, reduced 12 PLN, family 40 PLN — open from 1 June 2026). The crypts and the tower are open in the season from 1 March to 15 November: weekdays 9:00–16:00, Sundays 14:00–18:00, with tickets sold at the tourist service point inside. Remember that this is a living church: visiting is not allowed during Mass and services, and appropriate dress and quiet are expected. Afterwards, cross the Bolesław Chrobry Bridge to the charming district of Śródka.

What you’ll see

• Najstarsza katedra Polski (968 r.)
• Relikty baptysterium i misa chrzcielna z X w. w podziemiach
• Groby Mieszka I, Bolesława Chrobrego i Piastów w Złotej Kaplicy
• Pomnik pierwszych władców dłuta Christiana Daniela Raucha
• Wieża widokowa z panoramą Ostrowa Tumskiego

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