Citadel: Memory and Art
A walk through Citadel Park, once the Winiary fortress: two military museums, the war cemeteries and Abakanowicz's 112 figures.
Route map
Route stops
- 1Poznań Army Museum
Museum of Greater Poland's military history 1918-1945 on the park's southern edge.
- 2Commonwealth War Cemetery
Graves of Allied POWs and airmen, including 'Great Escape' (Stalag Luft III) victims.
- 3Polish Military Cemetery
The Polish Military Cemetery, also known as Cmentarz Bohaterów, sits on the southwestern slope of Park Cytadela and honours soldiers who fell during both World Wars. Part of a larger cemetery complex, it shares the grounds with the Garrison Cemetery and the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery, all overseen by the striking Monument to the Heroes. Visit this sobering testament to Poland's military heritage, set within the historic fortress park.
- 5Monument to Marshal Vasily Chuikov
This monument honours Marshal Vasily Chuikov, commander of the Soviet 8th Guards Army, whose forces captured the Poznań Citadel in 1945. Located within Park Cytadela near the Monument to the Heroes, the sculpture stands as a reminder of the city's role during the Second World War. Visitors to what to see in the park will encounter this significant memorial whilst exploring the grounds.
- 6Bell of Peace and Friendship Between Nations
The Bell of Peace and Friendship Between Nations is an 850kg bell installed in Park Cytadela in 1986, suspended 10 metres high and adorned with dove motifs. It's rung on public holidays and historical anniversaries as a commemoration and symbol of reconciliation between nations. What to see: visitors can view this significant monument within the park grounds.
- 7Armaments Museum
The Muzeum Uzbrojenia (Museum of Armaments) focuses on Poznań's military history, particularly the Second World War and interwar period. Part of the Greater Poland Independence Museum, it combines indoor displays of weapons, uniforms, documents and photographs with an impressive outdoor collection of large-scale military vehicles and machinery. The museum attracts over 40,000 visitors annually. It's an essential visit for those interested in Poland's twentieth-century military heritage.
- 8Magdalena Abakanowicz 'Unrecognized' Installation
Magdalena Abakanowicz's 'Nierozpoznani' (Unrecognized) installation consists of 112 cast-iron headless and armless figures, each over two metres tall, arranged in coordinated rows throughout Citadel Park. Facing different directions, the sculptures bear a carved spine unique to each figure. This powerful work explores human identity, dignity and presence in the contemporary world. The arrangement creates a haunting yet profound meditation on what it means to be human. A striking visit to what to see in Poznań's cultural landscape.
