A SHORT GUIDE TO GNIEZNO

Introduction

Gniezno is located in central-western Poland, in the Greater Poland voivodship, 48 km northeast of Poznan. It is at the centre of the Gniezno Lakeland, with a population of over 70,000 and a total urban and suburban area of 40,89 km2. Although Gniezno is a small city, it makes up for its size in history and local attractions.

Rated as one of the oldest towns in Poland, Gniezno maintains a unique place on the country’s map. Nearly all historic buildings within its walls can trace their origins to the earliest period of the Polish state. Recently a number of these buildings have been renovated, helping to revive the visible historic importance of the town in Poland. Gniezno is also recognised as a significant place of worship of Saint Adalbert, the first bishop of Prague.

The single most unmissable thing to see in Gniezno is the 14th-century Gothic Cathedral, with its priceless Gniezno Doors, memorabilia, relics, and the tomb of Saint Adalbert that draws Catholics from all over Europe. The Cathedral witnessed the coronation of the first five Polish kings, and one can also visit the archive containing several of Poland’s earliest manuscripts. There are also several Gothic churches to see in this history-laden town, and the Archdiocesan Museum and the Museum of the Origins of the Polish State are well worth a visit.

When you grow weary of museums, galleries and exhibitions, consider a stroll around the tranquil Lake Jelonek, one of the best places to view the splendour of the old town of Gniezno or simply follow Gniezno Royal Trail and chase the Rabbit 😊

For more details see: gniezno.home.pl/________PLAKATY/przewodnik_2018_korektaEN.pdf

https://youtu.be/9eUqPNHDqcI

 

Annual Events:

  • SpeedwayTournament for Bolesław Chrobry Crown – First King of Poland
  • Basketball International Tournament (July)
  • Christmas market and winter fair (December)
  • Gniezno Days (April)
  • Royal Arts Festival (July – August) – street buskers, food trucks, re-enactment battles, street performances, concerts and many more.

       

  

Arriving in Gniezno

  • By plane: The nearest airports with scheduled passenger service are in Poznań (50 km) and Bydgoszcz (90 km).
  • By train/coach: Gniezno can easily be reached both by train and coach. The railway station as well as the coach station are located about 15 minutes’ walk from the city centre.

Map of Gniezno

 

Getting around

  • On foot: Most tourists will find it unnecessary to use public transport in Gniezno, as all main tourist attractions are situated in the very centre.
  • Taxi: Taxis can be taken from taxi ranks or ordered by phone. It is obviously a more expensive way of traveling about the city than by public transport but it is no doubt a safer way to get home  late at night.
  • Bus service: There is a reliable bus service in the city with frequently-running buses on the most important routes. On boarding the bus one needs to punch a ticket and keep it in case a ticket collector comes and wants to check it. On frequent travels by bus it is worth considering taking out a season ticket.

How to buy a ticket:

  • download an application on your smartphone: http://www.mpk.gniezno.pl/kup-bilet
  • at the newsagent’s
  • direct from a bus driver yet in such a case the fare is given a slight extra charge.

For bus schedule see: http://rozklad.com/start/index.php?IDKlienta=GNIEZNO_MPK

 

Money matters

  • Prices: On the whole, most goods and services appear to be cheaper in Poland than in other Western European countries. Yet the average pay in Poland is considerably lower than, say, in the UK.
  • Money exchange: Money can be changed in bureaux de change and banks. Most of these types of places are located in the city centre. The national currency is Polish Złoty PLN.
  • Credit Cards: Payments can be made in most shops, restaurants, etc. All major cards are accepted.

 

ID

Identification documents must be carried at all times. If you don’t want to carry your passport, make a photocopy of it plus have the school address and phone number at hand. Police can  stop you in the street and ask for your identity papers. Just show the ID to the officer

 

Shopping

Polish supermarkets are generally situated locally. Most of them are open very long hours, on Sundays shops are closed (except for the last Sunday of the month).  There are some 24-hour-7-day-a-week shops for emergencies in the city. On the outskirts there are two large shopping malls: Galeria Gniezno and Galeria Piastovia.

 

Entertainment

  • There are relatively many pubs in Gniezno. Half a litre of good quality Polish lager costs up to 7PLN.   Gniezno is not short of restaurants. Some fine ones are in the city centre. Chrobrego Street – the main street in town – also abounds in restaurants and bars with outside seating full of people especially in the summertime.

  • If your inclination is of more athletic nature then you can spend your time dancing the nights away in the numerous clubs in the city, go to the local swimming pool, ice-skating rink (winter) or visit a jump arena. For sports fans, there are local sports teams – speedway, football and basketball.
  • If it is films you are after there is a cinema which plays all foreign films in their original version.

 

Weather

Summers are relatively hot. Winters are rather cold, though the temperatures of expected minus 25 Centigrade are  not often recorded.

 

The Polish language 

  • A few helpful phrases (phonetically):Nye umyem po Polsku, tilko po angielsko: I don`t speak Polish, only English.
  • Dzenkuye: Thank you.
  • Prosszhe:
  • Gdziey yest: Where is .... ?

Enjoy your time here!