Poland - Eastern Europe - page 470

Cathedral The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul retains its importance as one
of the most revered churches in Poland. Excavations have revealed the presence of a
church on this site for more than 1,000 years, since the Polish kings first accepted
Catholicism in the 10th century. Architectural tinkering and rebuilding through the
years, and the burning of the cathedral in 1945, have greatly altered its appearance,
with the current appearance a mix of neo-Gothic and baroque. The remains of
Poland's first kings, Mieszko I and Boleslaw the Brave, are in a chapel at the back of
the altar.
Ostrów Tumski 17. & 061/852-96-42. Mon-Sat 9am-6pm.
National Museum An impressive art collection that's particularly strong on
examples of the “M l oda Polska” art movement from the early years of the 20th cen-
tury and some riveting abstracts from the 1950s and 1960s. An older wing holds
extensive collections of Italian, Dutch, Flemish, and Spanish paintings.
Marcinkowskiego 9. & 061/852-59-69. Admission 4 zl ($2/£1); free Sat. Tues-Sat 10am-5pm (Thurs 4pm); Sun
11am-3pm.
AFTER DARK
The Zamek Cultural Center ( 2 w. Marcin 80/82; & 061/646-52-60; www.zamek.
poznan.pl) is a good first stop to check on what's on in Pozna ^ . For events, buy tick-
ets at the City Information Center/CIM (Ratajczaka 44; & 061/851-96-45; www.
cim.poznan.pl).
For drinking and clubbing you won't have to venture far from the Stary Rynek. To
get started, check out Dom Vikingów or Bee Jay's (see “Where to Dine,” above). For
dancing, Cute (Stary Rynek 37; & 061/851-91-37 ) is one of the city's best-known
venues for house, techno, trance, and just plain dance. For a quieter night in summer,
do like the locals and simply choose a table on the Rynek and watch the city walk by.