Poznań Through My Eyes: Old Town Goats, St. Martin's Croissants, and an Autumn Walk

For Vanesa, a Filipino who has called Poznań home for five years, the city is more than its historic landmarks. She takes us through the colorful Old Town, shares her love for St. Martin's croissants, and visits a park where she often spends time with her daughter. It's a personal glimpse into the Polish city where she's building a life with her family.

By Vanesa - Local Contributor, Poznań, Poland

Hi! I'm Vanesa, and today I'm taking you around Poznań, the Polish city I've called home for the past five years.

I'm originally from the Philippines, but my husband, Marek, is Polish, and we're raising our four-year-old daughter here. Over the years, I've grown quite attached to this city. There are still places I enjoy visiting again and again, and today I thought I'd bring you along to a few of my favorites.

We'll start in the Old Town, try something sweet that's very special to Poznań, visit a couple of beautiful churches, and then take a tram to a park where I often spend time with my daughter.

It's a lovely autumn day, so let's go!

A Morning in Poznań's Old Town

Whenever someone asks me what they should see first in Poznań, I usually think of the Old Town. It's where most tourists head, and for a good reason.

The Old Market Square is surrounded by colorful old merchant houses, each with its own character. I never get tired of looking at them. Some are painted in soft pastel shades, while others have much brighter colors and beautiful architectural details.

The square has a long history, dating back to 1253, when Duke Przemysł granted the town its charter under Magdeburg Law. It's amazing to think how much has happened here over the centuries.

Today, the weather is on our side. People are already walking around, restaurants are getting ready to open, and some visitors are browsing the souvenir stalls. There's even someone performing live music.

One thing you'll notice around the square is the fountains and statues. There are four fountains representing Apollo, Proserpina, Mars, and Neptune. You'll also find the Bamberka Fountain and a statue of St. John of Nepomuk.

But there's one attraction I particularly want to show you, and we need to be here at the right time to catch it.

Waiting for Poznań's Famous Goats

Now, if you visit Poznań, there's something you really shouldn't miss: our famous goats!

They're called Koziołki Poznańskie, and you'll find them high up on the Town Hall.

Every day, at noon and again at 3 PM, two mechanical goats appear above the clock and butt their heads together twelve times.

It might sound like such a simple thing, but you should see how excited everyone gets.

As the time approaches, people start gathering in front of the Town Hall. Everyone is looking up, waiting for the little doors to open.

And there they are!

The goats come out, face each other, and start their performance. I can hear children counting along, and when it's over, there's clapping from the crowd.

Today, there are lots of schoolchildren here on educational trips. Some are counting the twelve headbutts, while others are just excited to see the goats. It's really sweet watching their reactions.

I love this part of the Old Town. You have tourists taking photographs, couples walking together, friends meeting for coffee, and local people going about their day. Everyone seems to have a different reason for being here.

If you're feeling hungry after watching the goats, there are plenty of restaurants around the square. One place I'd recommend is Restauracja Bamberka, where you can try traditional Polish dishes.

If you're feeling adventurous, there's *czernina*, a soup made using duck blood. You could also try meat dumplings and finish with apple pie.

But today, I have something else in mind.

Something sweet!

The Croissant I Can Never Resist

One of the things Poznań is especially famous for is rogal świętomarciński, or St. Martin's croissant.

And believe me, this is something you have to try when you're here.

It's particularly popular in autumn, especially around St. Martin's Day on November 11, but you can find it at other times of the year too.

Unlike a regular French croissant, this pastry is quite large and has a rich filling made with white poppy seeds, raisins, candied orange peel, and nuts. It's usually covered with icing and more nuts on top.

There's a lovely tradition behind it, too.

The story goes that a baker named Walenty was inspired by St. Martin's generosity and decided to make a horseshoe-shaped pastry. In 1891, croissants were distributed to people in need, and over time, the pastry became one of Poznań's most loved traditions.

I stopped at Hanna Piskorska Cukiernia to buy one.

And here's something personal: my husband's uncle used to be a baker, and he made thousands of these croissants that were distributed across Poland. So this pastry has a little family connection for me as well.

Now I need something warm to drink with it.

I stopped by Żabka, our local convenience store, to get a drink. Coffee would be nice, but today I'm in the mood for hot chocolate.

I found a comfortable place to sit, with a view toward the Royal Castle, and finally opened my croissant.

Look at the size of this thing!

It's quite big, so you definitely don't need to buy several.

Time for a taste.

Mmm. I love it.

It's sweet, rich, and full of flavor. The different ingredients go really well together, especially the poppy seed filling and the nuts.

If I had to rate it, I'd give it a 10 out of 10.

Maybe I'm a little biased because I've been eating them for years, but seriously, try one if you come to Poznań.

A Couple of Churches Worth Stepping Inside

One thing I've learned from exploring Poznań is that you shouldn't always judge a building by how it looks from the outside.

Take the Franciscan Church, for example.

From the street, the exterior looks relatively simple. But once you step inside, it's a completely different experience.

There are beautiful decorations, paintings, and so many small details that you could easily spend a long time just looking around.

I was really impressed by the colors and the craftsmanship. Sometimes I find myself staring at a particular painting or decorative detail, wondering how much work went into creating it.

Nearby is the Royal Castle. I visited it with a friend about two weeks ago, and I still remember the view from the rooftop. It's one of those places where you can look out over much of Poznań and appreciate how the older parts of the city fit together.

Before leaving the Old Town area, I also stopped at St. Stanislaus Church, often called the Fara Church.

This is another church with a magnificent interior. Honestly, it's one of the most impressive I've visited.

During one of my visits, I was fortunate enough to attend a Mass there. As a Catholic myself, it was a meaningful experience.

Religion is an important part of life for many people in Poland, and visiting these churches has helped me connect with another side of the country's history and culture.

After spending some time here, I'm ready to head somewhere a little quieter.

Everyday Poznań Beyond the Old Town

Of course, Poznań isn't all historic churches and colorful old buildings. There are museums, shopping centers, supermarkets, and local markets where people go about their everyday routines.

I like that you can find something completely different just a short distance from the Old Town. Some streets have impressive older buildings, while others are full of modern shops and busy traffic.

And when I want to do some ordinary shopping, places like Biedronka are part of daily life here. The local markets are also interesting to visit, especially when people are out buying fresh produce and other things for home.

These might not be the places tourists usually come to see, but they're part of the Poznań I've come to know over the past five years.

Taking the Tram to Wilson Park

Alright, we're leaving the city center now!

I'm heading to the tram stop, where you can check the timetable and see when the next tram is arriving.

I use the tram to get around Poznań, and today I'm taking it toward Wilson Park, or *Park Wilsona*.

I wasn't originally planning to spend much time there, but the weather is so nice that I decided to stop before going home.

It's autumn, and this is one of my favorite times of the year to visit the park.

Just look at the leaves!

There are so many beautiful shades of yellow, orange, and brown. Some are still on the trees, while others have already fallen onto the paths.

It's quiet here compared with the Old Town. You can hear birds, the occasional dog barking, and people walking past.

Sometimes I just want to sit somewhere like this, enjoy the fresh air, and do absolutely nothing.

Today, I'm on my own, but I usually bring my daughter here.

She's four years old, and she loves watching the birds and feeding the pigeons and ducks. Seeing how happy she gets over something so simple always makes me smile.

Look, there are some ducks over there now!

They seem to be waiting for someone to give them a little food.

Another thing I enjoy here is watching people walk their dogs. Some dogs are running around and playing, while others are simply enjoying their walks with their owners.

I don't actually have a dog myself.

At home, we have three Maine Coon cats!

I think cats suit our lifestyle a little better. You don't need to take them out for walks every day, which is convenient for someone like me.

You might find this funny considering I'm taking you around the city today, but I'm actually not someone who loves going out all the time.

Most days, I'm perfectly happy being at home with my family and our cats.

But when I do feel like getting out, especially on a day like this, the park is one of the places I enjoy coming to.

A Park That's Changing, and a City I'm Still Getting to Know

There's something else I want to show you while we're here.

Parts of Wilson Park are undergoing major renovations.

There used to be a fountain in one area, but work is happening there now, and I'm curious to see what the finished space will look like.

The botanical garden area is also scheduled for a long renovation, expected to take about two years according to the plans I saw.

I've already seen some images of how it's supposed to look when everything is finished, and I'm excited to see the result in person.

I guess I'll have another reason to come back.

One thing I appreciate about spending time in places like this is the chance to meet people.

Sometimes I end up having conversations with older Polish people. They're often friendly and curious, especially when they realize I'm not originally from here.

They ask me how I like living in Poland, how long I've been here, and what I think about the country.

And of course, there's the language!

I've been learning Polish, and trust me, it isn't easy.

Even after five years here, I'm still learning new things. People often appreciate that I'm making an effort to speak their language, and those little conversations encourage me to keep improving.

One of my personal goals is to pass the national Polish language exam.

I know I still have plenty to learn, but that's part of living in another country, isn't it?

You gradually become more familiar with the language, the customs, and even the little everyday habits that seemed strange when you first arrived.

Filipino by Blood, Polish by Heart

Before I finish our walk, I want to tell you a little more about myself.

I'm Vanesa, I'm 30 years old, and I originally come from the Philippines.

I'm married to Marek, who is Polish, and we have a lovely four-year-old daughter.

I've been living in Poland for five years now.

When I first came here, everything was different from what I knew back home. The language, the food, the weather, and even the way people go about their daily lives took some getting used to.

But as the years have passed, I've grown to love this country more and more.

I enjoy learning about Polish traditions, exploring its cities, and discovering the stories behind places that people might pass every day without thinking about them.

And I especially love that my daughter gets to grow up surrounded by both Polish and Filipino cultures.

For me, Poznań isn't just a city where I happen to live. It's where my family is, where we're making memories, and where I've started building another part of my life.

So that's our little walk around Poznań for today.

We saw the famous goats, enjoyed a delicious St. Martin's croissant, visited some beautiful historic places, and spent a peaceful afternoon among the autumn leaves.

Nothing too complicated. Just a nice day in the city I call home.

I'm proud to be Filipino by blood, Polish by heart.

And I hope you enjoyed seeing a little of my world today.

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