Genius Loci in Poznań

Ancient Romans believed that every place had its protecting spirit, called genius loci. Today we will pay a visit to one.

This specific spirit is protecting Ostrów Tumski and will allow us to see and feel the profile of Poznań. Originally, the royal village was positioned on the island and surrounded for extra protection by a fence.

The fence was made of a combination of wood and stone. The wooden construction was filled with stones and earth to reinforce it.

What remains of it today? Well some wood ...

... and some stones.

But before you start smiling, recall that the walls of Ostrów were built a thousand years ago, when no machine tools were known. There were up to five meter high, with a good and well protected observation platform in the highest part.

And a carpet made of stones in the lower parts.

In the archaeological reserve on Ostrów Tumski you can find some artefacts collected in a neighbouring graveyard. It was the first Christian graveyard in Poland. You can see a knife, a hook and an awl. Sounds more like a content of the pyramids but remember that Christianity was very fresh on those grounds at the end of the tenth century.

Here come some rings and earrings that supposedly belonged to a princess.

As we leave the Genius loci archaeological reserve, you will surely notice a brick building where some type of corridor starts. It is actually a bridge that leads to another amazing museum of the history of Poznań - Brama Poznania (the Poznań Gate).

Inside you can take a real travel in time, throughout 1,050 years of the history of the place. Unfortunately I will not be able to take you on a tour there so let's only run on the rooftop. From the observation deck we will be able to take a last glimpse of the cathedral of Poznań in its full splendor.