Old Market Square in Poznań

Old Market Square is the historic central square of Poznań in Greater Poland Voivodeship, forming the civic and commercial core of the city since the medieval period. The square is best known for its Renaissance Town Hall and the daily mechanical goat display.

The market square dates to Poznań’s medieval foundation as a trade and administrative center. The Town Hall has medieval origins and received a Renaissance façade in the 16th century; the square’s layout and surrounding tenements were reshaped over subsequent centuries to form the present ensemble.

The square sits in Poznań’s Old Town within the city center of Poznań, in Greater Poland Voivodeship. It is the focal point of the historic district and is walkable from other central landmarks in the city.

• Noon goat display: The mechanical goats appear from the Town Hall clock at noon each day and are viewable from the main square below.
• Pedestrianised centre: The square is the historic civic and commercial heart of Poznań and is largely pedestrianized, with many cafés occupying ground-floor tenements.

What to See #

• Town Hall (Ratusz): Located at the geometric center of Poznań's Old Town, the Town Hall tower houses a mechanical clock whose two small billy goats butt heads daily at 12:00, a long-standing local attraction.
• Merchant tenement houses: Rows of colorful merchant tenement houses form the square's perimeter; many façades date from the Renaissance through the 19th century and now contain cafés, restaurants and shops.
• Market and event spaces: The square hosts a seasonal marketplace and event spaces, including areas used for the city's Christmas market and public ceremonies.