XMAS IN POZNAN: XMAS MARKETS AND ICE FESTIVAL IN THE OLD MARKET SQUARE

18 Dec XMAS IN POZNAN: XMAS MARKETS AND ICE FESTIVAL IN THE OLD MARKET SQUARE

Just got back from Poznan, and itching to talk to you about it!

Yes cause Poland was probably this year’s biggest surprise.

Have you ever been to Poland?

This was my first time, and for some reason I pictured it grey, post-sovietic and kind of sad. Instead, I was welcomed by a young and enthusiastic city, full of life and smiles: Poznan.

Poznan is one of the wealthiest cities in Poland, located in the Western area, in the heart of the “Wielkopolska” region, only 270 km from Berlin, and it’s a jewel with which I completely fell in love!

I had already heard of Poznan, mainly thanks to its picturesque and famous square “Stary Rynek” also known as “Old Market Square”, but I never imagined the city had so much more to offer!

I’m going to talk more in detail about Poznan soon, meanwhile I want to take you with me discovering this city during Christmas: a warm Christmas that it’s celebrated with the Christmas markets and the Christmas lights, but also with an original contest, the Ice Festival!

As you can imagine, the ice festival is a contest where contestants challenge each other carving block after block of ice turning them into fantastic sculptures!

The contest is international and surprised me not only for the participants’ skills, but especially for their heterogeneity: among many countries I was particularly surprised to see contestants from the Philippines.. I admit it, I was intrigued not only by the fact that they knew how to carve ice, but that they could do it so damn good!

the ice festival starts on Saturday morning with the “speed ice carving” session

where contestants challenge each other carving the ice in a form that was particularly indicated to them

and goes on for the whole weekend, peaking on Sunday afternoon,

when they carve majestic sculptures live for enchanted citizens and tourists

that flocks in the square to see them and to assist to the awards

USEFUL INFO ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The Festival is held every year in the middle of December, check the Poznan Travel website for dates and other informations on next year’s event!

Poznan and the already amazing Old Market Square become even more beautiful during Christmas,

when they light up with lights, festivals, and many other happenings

this year a very special guest visited Poznan: Santa directly from Finland,

to take the kids’ wishes and greetings, and to pose with every single one of them

This is only the first one of a long serie of posts dedicated to Poznan,

the city that enchanted me with its beauty and the kindness of its people!

And you?

Have you ever been to Poznan? And Poland?

Which is the city with the best Christmas spirit you visited this year?