How To Visit The Mobility Centre In Pozna\U0144

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1 POZNAŃ REGIONAL GUIDE I. WELCOME Welcome to our Region We are pleased that you have chosen our region as a place where you can make another step in the development of your research career and take an active holiday in your free time. We hope that what we can offer to you will live up to your expectations. This Guide gives an insight into the geography and culture of our region, as well as a few practical tips for foreigners on how to find their way in our region. The Guide has been published by the Polish network of Mobility Centres created to provide information and help to mobile researchers in administrative, legal, educational and cultural matters. he Mobility Centre in Poznań operates as part of the Adam Mickiewicz University Foundation, is situated within the area of the Poznań Science and Technology Park ( and based on the Regional Contact Point for EU Research Programmes ( The Centre covers two voivodships situated in the western part of Poland: Wielkopolska (with Poznań as its capital) and Lubuskie (with Gorzów Wielkopolski and Zielona Góra as its capitals). (In terms of administrative districts, Poland is divided into 16 provinces called voivodships.) Address: ul. RubieŜ Poznań Tel.: (+48) Fax: (+48) [email protected] How to get to the Mobility Centre From the Poznań-Ławica Airport (Lotnisko Poznań-Ławica) ( You have to take a taxi because our Centre is situated far from the airport. It is advisable to use taxis belonging to taxi companies (and to avoid taxis which are not well marked and do not have a clearly displayed price per kilometre). From the Railway Station (Dworzec PKP): Take urban line bus no. 51 at the stop in the vicinity of the Main Hall (route from Dworzec Główny to Os. Jana III Sobieskiego ), change to bus 67 (route Śródka Radojewo) at the Hotel Naramowice stop, get off at the ul. Bronisza stop, and then walk to the Centre. There is also a new bus line form the centre to our office. Bus no. 46 stops at the ul. Boranta. From this stop walk to the Mobility Centre. You can change to this bus line e.g. at the Hotel Naramowice stop. By car: Follow the national road in the direction of Biedrusko which will take you from the city centre to Szelągowska Street and then Naramowicka Street; when you have passed Hotel Naramowice and a parish church (on the right), turn right past Primary School No. 60

2 (Szkoła podstawowa nr 60) into Boranta Street, and at the end once again right into RubieŜ Street. How to find us II. ABOUT THE REGION WIELKOPOLSKA VOIVODSHIP: Introduction Wielkopolska is one of the oldest regions in Poland. Over years ago, this area around Poznań and nearby Gniezno was inhabited by the tribe of Polanians who were the fathers of the Polish State emerging later on. Thus, the region is also called the cradle of the Polish State. It was also here that the Christian baptism ceremony took place whereby the Polish State accepted Christianity as its religion. The first archbishopric was established and the first cathedral was built in the year 1000 in Gniezno. In the 13 th century, towns such as Poznań, Gniezno and Kalisz were granted town charters. Wielkopolska is situated in the Warta River basin. The region owes much of its development to the geographical position at the crossroads of trade routes leading from the north to the south and from the east to the west. Poznań, the capital of the region, is located halfway between the capital of Germany, Berlin, and the capital of Poland, Warsaw. The route from Berlin leads to Moscow, and the route from Prague northwards through Wrocław, Leszno and Poznań. Wielkopolska is one of the largest regions of the country. It is the second largest region in terms of the area, with almost 30,000 sq km (9.5% of the total area of Poland), and the third largest one in terms of the population, with almost 3,4 million inhabitants (8.7% of the population of the country). It is also interesting to note that the area of the region is larger than that of countries such as Albania or Macedonia, nearly identical to that of Moldova and almost the same as that of Belgium. Major cities and towns Poznań (557,000 inhabitants), Gniezno (70,000), Kalisz (107,000), Piła (75,000), Leszno (64,000), Konin (80,000) (population data for 2008). Tourist attractions Poznań: It is one of the oldest cities in Poland, with its origins going back to the 9 th century. Today, Poznań is a large industrial, trade, research and cultural centre. However, relics of the past are still the main tourist attractions of the city. Apart from architectural monuments, it is worthwhile to have a look at museum collections: painting and art collections, and unique exhibitions of musical instruments. Poznań is a city of greenery, with green areas covering 20% of its total area. It is also a city where you can find lakes and bathing beaches, a zoological garden, a palm house and a botanical garden. Main monuments in Poznań: - Old Market Square: the third largest one in the country, next to the squares in Cracow and Wrocław, with historic tenement houses and palaces; - Town Hall, a Renaissance monument from the 16 th c., where at you may see two moving figures of goats, the symbol of the city; - Parish Church from the 18 th c. where organ concerts are held every day at in summer; 2

3 - St. Adalbert Hill: St. Adalbert s Church from the turn of the 15 th and 16 th centuries, with a wooden bell tower from the 17 th c.; and the Carmelite Church and Monastery from the turn of the 17 th and 18 th centuries; - Ostrów Tumski: a complex of historic sacred temples (with first parts built as early as the 10 th c.), and a cathedral from the 15 th century. Near Poznań: - Kórnik: the Palace from the 19 th c., a library and an arboretum; - Rogalin: the Palace from the 18 th c.; a painting gallery; a park with Rogalin Oaks, the largest cluster of old oaks in Europe; - Gniezno: the Cathedral which was first mentioned in historic documents in the 10 th c., and later rebuilt in its present Gothic style; - Biskupin: a reconstructed ancient Slavonic settlement from 550 B.C.; - Ostrów Lednicki: an archaeological reserve with fragments of stone buildings from the turn of the 10 th and 11 th centuries; and a skansen with wood historic items from the turn of the 16 th and 17 th centuries; - Licheń (near Konin): a Marian sanctuary, the largest church in Poland; - Wolsztyn: the Engine House, the only steam engine skansen still open in Europe. Scenery and climate The Wielkopolska Voivodship is situated in lowland Poland. You will see here extensive open fields, meadows, large stretches of forest, and plains with meandering river valleys and moraine hills. Green areas cover ca 25% of the total area of the region. Wielkopolska has numerous landscape parks and natural reserves, and a part of its area is covered by a national park. Unique riches of the region are natural postglacial lakes. Main natural attractions: - Wielkopolska National Park - Noteć Forest - Drawsko Forest - Zielonka Forest - Landscape Reserve Morasko Meteorite. Annual events Poznań: - International Poznań Fair: the fair has been divided into thematic events and is thus held more than a dozen times each year; ; - H. Wieniawski International Violin Concert: held every 5 years; - Midsummer Day Fair: held in June in the Old Market Square where market stalls with regional products are put up and artists give performances on a stage; - International Theatre Festival Malta : July; ; - Archaeological Festival in Biskupin: September; Map of the region Tourist information Tourist information is free. You may also obtain some free information materials. Poznań: - Municipal Information Centre (Centrum Informacji Miejskiej) ul. Ratajczaka 44; tel.: Tourist Information Office (Biuro Informacji Turystycznej) Stary Rynek 59/60; tel.: Glob-Tour 3

4 Railway Station, Main Hall (Dworzec PKP, Hala Główna); tel.: LUBUSKIE VOIVODSHIP: First settlements in the areas of the present Lubuskie Voivodship date back to the times of the Piast dynasty. The capitals of the region are Gorzów Wielkopolski and Zielona Góra. Gorzów Wielkopolski is situated on 7 hills. It is called the city of parks as parks cover nearly 30% of the agglomeration area. The centre of the city is the Old Market Square, with the 13 th century Gothic Cathedral and the Pauksch Fountain as its main highlights. Other relics of the past which have survived until the present day are fragments of the ramparts from the 14 th century, the witch well, and a 250-year old granary on the Warta River which now houses a gallery of modern art. The history of Zielona Góra is linked with weaving and grape growing. The name of the city ( Green Mountain in English) reflects perfectly the character of the city as virtually all housing estates are surrounded by forest areas. The city has 5 municipal parks and many individual tree specimens within its limits. There are also many forests and hills around Zielona Góra. The main monuments of Zielona Góra are the Old Market Square, the Hunger Tower and ramparts. Tourist information: Gorzów Wielkopolski: - Municipal Information Centre (Miejskie Centrum Informacji) ul. Wełniany Rynek; tel.: Zielona Góra: - Information and Tourism Promotion Centre in Zielona Góra (Zielonogórskie Centrum Informacji i Promocji Turystyki) ul. Kupiecka 15, tel.: III. RESEARCH IN THE REGION Research potential of the region The research infrastructure of Wielkopolska reflects strong and significant research potential of the region, concentrated mainly around Poznań. The Wielkopolska region has 33 universities and other higher education institutions, most of them located in Poznań. The capital of the region is also the seat of the Polish Academy of Sciences, with its 24 centres, 27 branch institutes and research institutes. Wielkopolska currently has ca 170,000 students, which means that the number of students has almost doubled since the early 1990-ties. There are over 8,000 academic teachers and 1,500 staff in research centres. Poznań is the third academic centre in the country, next to Warsaw and Cracow. Academic and research institutions in Poznań have developed extensive co-operation with numerous centres around the world. Many scholars from Poznań give lectures and carry out research abroad, not infrequently are awarded honorary doctoral degrees by foreign universities, and are also members of Academies of Science in other countries. The Adam Mickiewicz University and its scholars are a good example of recognition gained for high academic standards. The good reputation of the university is confirmed by its high ratings in the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the prestigious prizes awarded by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland. Among other educational achievements, the Poznań University of Economics ranks very high, after being granted additional funds for its activities by the European Integration Committee. This shows that research topics chosen by the university are considered to be on the right track in Wielkopolska. Moreover, the Poznań University of Technology was invited to become a member of the Conference of European 4

5 Schools of Advanced Education and Research (CESAER) as the first technical university in Poland and one of three in Central and Eastern Europe. The research conducted by the Poznań University of Life Sciences is particularly useful for the region's economy. Its scientists are involved in all initiatives designed to modernise and increase the effectiveness of the Wielkopolska agriculture, and are introducing new technologies into food processing. The Poznań University of Medical Sciences is a leading Polish medical centre, well equipped for research in basic medical sciences, clinical trials, diagnosis and treatment. Teaching and research are mainly based on co-operation with 5 Clinic Hospitals as well as other hospitals in the city. In 1991, the University decided to introduce study programs in English. Selected higher education institutions and research institutes: Public higher education and research institutions: Wielkopolska Voivodship Poznań: - Adam Mickiewicz University (Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza): - Poznań University of Economics (Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny): - Poznań University of Medical Sciences (Uniwersytet Medyczny im. Karola Marcinkowskiego): - Eugeniusz Piasecki University School of Physical Education (Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego im. Eugeniusza Piaseckiego): - Poznań University of Life Sciences (Uniwersytet Przyrodniczy w Poznaniu): - Poznan University of Technology (Politechnika Poznańska): - Academy of Fine Arts in Poznań (Akademia Sztuk Pięknych): - Ignacy Jan Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznań (Akademia Muzyczna im. Ignacego Paderewskiego): Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences: - Kórnik Library of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Biblioteka Kórnicka Polskiej Akademii Nauk, PAN): - Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences (Instytut Chemii Bioorganicznej Polskiej Akademii Nauk, PAN): - Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences (Instytut Fizyki Molekularnej Polskiej Akademii Nauk, PAN): - Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences (Instytut Genetyki Człowieka Polskiej Akademii Nauk, PAN): - Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences (Instytut Genetyki Roślin Polskiej Akademii Nauk, PAN): Lubuskie Voivodship, Zielona Góra: - University of Zielona Góra (Uniwersytet Zielonogórski): Libraries in Poznań: - Adam Mickiewicz University Library (Biblioteka Uniwersytecka UAM): ul. Ratajczaka 38/40; tel.: Raczyński Library (Biblioteka Raczyńskich): Pl. Wolności 19; tel.: British Council British Library of the Adam Mickiewicz University (British Council Biblioteka Brytyjska Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza): 5

6 ul. Ratajczaka 39; tel.: IV. PRACTICAL INFORMATION 1. EMRGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS 997 Police 998 Fire Brigade 999 Ambulance Service 986 Municipal Guard 112* Emergency telephone number accessible from both mobile and fixed phones; after an interview about the nature of the emergency, the operator will connect you with the relevant emergency service. * The system is operational in some voivodships, and is currently being implemented in all parts of Poland. 2. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Poznań offers you the following means of public transport: trams, urban buses and suburban buses. If you wish to go places situated near Poznań, you may take a suburban bus or a train. Tram and urban bus There are various types of tickets used in trams and urban buses in the city. The most popular ones are fixed-period tickets which you can buy at Ruch or Kolporter network newsstands and in the ticket machines at the stops. It is not possible to purchase a ticket directly from the driver. The type of ticket should be chosen depending on the duration of travel as given in the timetable at a stop. With one fixed-period ticket, you may change trams or buses. You may also stamp another ticket if your travel is longer than the original time limit. The main types of tickets are: 15-minute (2.00 PLN in July 2009), 30-minute (3.60 PLN in July 2009), one-hour and 1.5-hour tickets. Stamping two 15-minute tickets at the same time is not adequate as stamping one 30-minute ticket. However, you can first stamp only one such ticket and another one after 15 minutes. Another type of tickets used in Poznań is a 10-stop ticket (only for buses) which you can buy at MPK (Urban Transport Company) ticket outlets. There are also 24-hour tickets and 7-day travel cards recommended for tourists visiting the city. People working or studying in Poznań may use various types of travel cards for one or several months, depending on the distance for which they travel. Such travel cards may be purchased from MPK ticket outlets. They are available in the electronic version, the so-called KOMKarta. You buy one KOMKarta and recharge it in designated recharging outlets; if you choose this option, please remember to keep the receipt as a proof of recharging. The MPK timetable is available in the section Public Transport at: Suburban bus Suburban routes are operated by various companies, including the Public Road Transport Company (Przedsiębiorstwo Państwowej Komunikacji Samochodowej, PPKS), each of them with its own rules for the purchase of tickets. Car You are required to pay a charge for parking your car in the city centre between and from Monday to Friday inclusive. The parking charge per hour ranges from 2 to 4.30 PLN (in December 2009). There are three different parking zones depending on the distance from the city centre. These zones are marked with letters and colours: A red (closest to the centre, and with the highest charges), B yellow, and C green. In order to pay for parking, 6

7 you should insert coins into a parking metre which you can find in the street. The machine will not give you change. The ticket printed by the metre should be put behind the front car window. Taxi There are many TAXI service providers, including companies and individual drivers. Some of them are members of bigger corporations, thus offering better prices and getting quicker to their clients. We suggest that you should use such company taxis because their drivers charge the same price per kilometre. When ordering a taxi over the telephone, you automatically get a discount. It is thus much cheaper than catching a taxi in the street. It is not advisable to take a taxi directly at the airport or a railway station because taxi drivers there often demand higher prices than in case you call a taxi company. Some taxi telephone numbers which you may call: (price for beginning the route: 5 PLN; price for every next km: 2 PLN) (price for the first km: 6 PLN; price for every next km: 2.18 PLN) (Prices are valid for July 2009) 3. ADDRESSES OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES Registration: Poznań: Municipal Office (Urząd Miasta) ul. Libelta 16/20; tel.: Opening hours: Monday and Thursday , Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday Visa extension, residence permit and residence card: Poznań: Voivodship Office, Division for Foreigners (Urząd Wojewódzki, Oddział ds. Cudzoziemców) Pl. Wolności 17; tel.: Opening hours: Monday , Tuesday-Friday Work permit Poznań: Voivodship Office, Division for Foreigners (Urząd Wojewódzki, Oddział ds. Cudzoziemców) Pl. Wolności 17; tel.: Opening hours: Monday , Tuesday-Friday HEALTH SERVICE Researchers holding a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are entitled to free primary medical services in healthcare institutions which have concluded a contract with the National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, NFZ). These institutions are marked with a plate with the following logo: 7

8 In the event of an emergency, you may use the ambulance service. Please remember, however, that should your call be unjustified, you will be charged for the services provided. Once you have found a hotel or other accommodation for your stay in our region, please check where you have the closest out-patient clinic. It is advisable to go there and obtain all the necessary information before you may urgently need their services. If you wish to see a general practitioner, you should first make an appointment (preferably by phone) and remember then to bring your identity card and medical insurance document. If you wish to see a specialist medical doctor (other than a gynaecologist or obstetrician, dentist, dermatologist, venereologist, oncologist, ophthalmologist or psychiatrist), you need a referral from your general practitioner. Please remember that prescriptions given by a medical doctor are valid only for 30 days, and those for antibiotics for 7 days. Selected hospitals and pharmacies: - Emergency Ambulance Service (Pogotowie Ratunkowe) ul. Rycerska 10; tel.: 999 for accidents or for emergency sickness cases Hospitals: - Voivodship Hospital (Szpital Wojewódzki) ul. Juraszów 7/9; tel.: hour Hospital Emergency Departments: - Military Hospital with an Out-Patient Clinic (Szpital Wojskowy z Przychodnią) ul. Grunwaldzka 16/18; tel.: , , HCP Medical Centre (HCP Centrum Medyczne) ul. 28 Czerwca 1956r. no. 194; tel.: Healthcare Centre for Mother and Child (SZOZ nad Matką i Dzieckiem) ul. Krysiewicza 7/8; tel.: hour pharmacies: - Pharmacy Galenica (Apteka Galenica) ul. Strzelecka 2/6; tel.: Pharmacy 24 (Apteka 24) ul. Hetmańska 26; tel.: Pharmacy St Lazarus (Apteka św. Łazarza) ul. Głogowska 107/109; tel.: Moreover, virtually every bigger shopping centre has pharmacy which is also open on Saturdays and Sundays in the business hours of a given centre. Detailed information, including addresses of hospitals and 24-hour pharmacies, may be found at: poznan.pl A list of hospitals and pharmacies on duty is also published in local daily newspapers. 5. BANKS, PAYMENTS When choosing a bank, you should first of all check its charges and commissions for operating a newly opened account and ease of access to cash machines in all parts of the city. Banks are open from Monday till Friday, few of them also work on Saturday, and all are closed on Sundays and public holidays. However, you will find many 24-hour cash machines. Large banks have their own cash machines, and there are also independent cash machine networks (Euronet, Cash4YOU). If you have a card of a given bank, you may use its cash machines free of charge, whereas other card holders pay a commission. Some banks do not charge their clients for using Euronet cash machines or make only nominal charges. More detailed information can be obtained from your bank. 8

9 Charge cards are very popular; you may use this non-cash payment method in most bigger and medium-size shops as well as restaurants (where you can see card logos on the entrance door). In some bigger supermarkets or chain shops, designated cash desks accept payments in euro at the exchange rate given there. Currency may be exchanged in banks and exchange desks (the latter usually offering a better exchange rate). You may not pay with traveller s cheques in Poland. However, cheques may be cashed in some bigger banks. Website addresses of major banks together with a list of cash machines in a given city are available in the section for foreign researchers of the Regional Portal. 6. POSTAL SERVICE Central Post Office (Poczta Główna) ul. Kościuszki 77; tel.: hour Post Office (Poczta Całodobowa) at the West Railway Station (Dworzec Zachodni) ul. Głogowska 17; tel.: INTERNET CAFES Internet cafes charge a fee for using the Internet. In most cases, you should pay for at least one hour of access. Selected Internet cafes in the most convenient locations in Poznań: - Adax Internet Cafe ul. Półwiejska 28 - Internet Space Cafe ul. Roosevelta 10 - Klik. Club Internet Café (Klub Internetowy) ul. Szkolna 15 - Tunel Cafe ul. Dworcowa 1 (in the underground tunnel of the station) 8. LAUNDRIES AND DRY-CLEANERS Dry-cleaners are the most common type of cleaning services in Poland. Some of them also offer ironing services. There are few self-service laundries, and they are not so popular as in other European countries. Addresses of selected dry-cleaners in the most convenient locations in Poznań: - ul. Półwiejska 42 lok ul. DruŜbickiego 2 (at the shopping centre Plaza) - ul. Dąbrowskiego 24 Self-Service Laundry (Pralnia samoobsługowa): - ul. Mostowa 3A - os. Przyjaźni 125c 9

10 9. SELECTED SUPERMARKETS Poznań has a number of hypermarkets of large international chains, including Auchan, Carrefour, Tesco, Lidl, Albert and Geant. Some of them operate their own free bus services; buses leave from stops situated in the city centre. Hypermarkets are open till late evening on week days, as well as on Saturday and Sunday. They accept charge cards. Some shops have Euronet network cash machines where you can get money. Cheques are not accepted. Prices of products offered in hypermarkets are generally lower than those in local chain supermarkets and small shops in the city. Local chains of smaller supermarkets include, for example, Biedronka, śabka, ABC, Lewiatan, and the Poznań chain of Piotr i Paweł. Supermarkets are open in roughly the same hours as hypermarkets, some of them even for 24 hours. The places increasingly frequented in Poznań are shopping centres which house both small exclusive boutiques and a supermarket. They are open on all days of the week. Selected centres (in the alphabetical order): - Shopping Centre ETC : Swarzędz, ul. Poznańska Galeria Pestka: Aleja Solidarności 47 - Panorama : ul. Górecka Kingcross : ul. Bukowska Kupiec Poznański : Pl. Wiosny Ludów 2; - M1 : Franowo: ul. Szwajcarska 14 - Stary Browar : ul. Półwiejska 32; - Poznań Plaza : ul. DruŜbickiego POLISH LANGUAGE COURSES FOR FOREIGNERS Selected language schools in Poznań (in the alphabetical order): - Akcent: os. Bolesława Chrobrego 3c; tel.: Berlitz: pl. Wiosny Ludów 2; tel.: Idea Language Centre (Centrum Językowe Idea): St. Rynek 71/72; tel.: ; - EMPIK: ul. 27 Grudnia 17/19; tel.: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Interesting websites about the Wielkopolska and Lubuskie Regions: