About Poznan

Poznań [ˈpɔznaɲ] ( listen) (Latin: Posnania; German: Posen; Yiddish: פוזנא or פּױזן Poyzn) is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 551,627 in the end of 2010, the city with its suburbs form the largest metropolitan area in western Poland. Poznań is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be the first capital of the kingdom of Poland.

Poznań is now Poland's fifth largest city. It is the historical capital of the Wielkopolska ("Greater Poland") region, and is currently the administrative capital of the province called Greater Poland Voivodeship.

Poznań is today one of the largest Polish centers of trade, industry, sports, education, tourism and culture. More recently it also claims to be an important design center as a number of initiatives were undertaken: "Concordia Design", "Poznan School of Form", "Art&Fashion Festival" to mention only a few. Poznań is also becoming a know-how hub with many technological parks and transfer of knowledge centers (the oldest one started in 1995 is "Poznan Science and Technology Park".

The city hosts regular international trade fairs and was the host city for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in December 2008, a key stage in the creation of a successor to the Kyoto Protocol. Poznań was one of the host cities for the association football tournament UEFA Euro 2012. The city also hosts a number of rowing world cup events by the Malta lake (for example "ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships" in 1990, 2001, and again in 2010). Also, a great number of various international festivals takes place in the city - Transatlantyk – Poznań International Film and Music Festival, "Malta International Theater Festival" and "Maski Festival" to name just a few.

In 2012 the Poznan's Art and Business Center "Old Brewery" ("Stary Browar") won a competition organized by National Geographic Traveler and was given the first prize as one of the seven "New Polish Wonders". Poznań has been placed at high positions (very often the first