Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Imperial Zamek of Poznań


(There are a lot of pictures, click on Zamek of Poznań, left side of blog)

Zamek Imperial was on the spot of earlier fortifications of the cities last Emperor Wilhelm II of Prussia between 1904 and 1910. He was a key element of the castle, founded at the beginning of the twentieth century in the town centre. On the six floors of the castle there were 585 premises, a clock tower, which is possible by a winding staircase, up to 75 meters in height.

When Poland regained its independence over the building of the state it was the residence of the President of the Republic of Poland. For several years it housed here Ministry of the former Prussia, whose task was to achieve unification with the rest of the country Wielkopolski, in part it also dealt with training rooms for the University of Poznan. During the German occupation in Poznan castle was stationed the Nazi governor Warthegau Arthur Greiser. The building pleasedsed Hitler so much that he ordered its rebuilding in order to adapt it to the German standards. Construction works were carried out under the supervision of architect Albert Speera. There was then a pleasant Byzantine chapel (based on the famous Capella Palatina in Palermo), which occupied two floors up. In its place, a heated cabinet room a balcony and a heated floor.

Hitler wanted to be in Poznan because the great hall could seat two thousand seats. He planned the demolition of walls between the panel room, recreational room and Salą Marmurową. His ideas never were accomplished because in 1943 the Soviets quickly invaded from the Eastern Front. After the conversion remained among other rooms of the Greiser cabinet, which are today hidden in three wainscot door. Some of them lead to a powerful bombshelter, built specially for Hitler. Rebuilding the castle cost 24 million Germans Marks. According to stories of workers who lived there during the occupation, Hitler came to Poznan in 1939. The visit was kept secret and only lasted a few hours. During the liberation of Poznan walls of the castle were severely damaged. Later, it was planned to be destroyed by the Nazis - fortunately they lacked dynamite. January 1, 1963 the castle became a Palace of Culture. Currently, there are various cultural institutions, pubs, discos, cinema and theatre. Often organized here are all competitions, workshops and cultural events, from punk concerts to exhibitions of Bulgarian Impressionists.

For a very, very long time already the building is being put to cleansing operations. After more than two years,finally, the entire south wall and front of the castle on Saint Martin street again looks like one hundred years earlier during the formal opening.

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