reveals the place of the birth of Polish statehood to visitors. It is an innovative example not only in the city, but also in the country of thinking about museology, architecture, public space and the life of the local community.

The Poznań Gate is not a traditional museum, but a dynamic cultural institution that perfectly fits the historical tissue of the city. She created a space around herself that naturally attracts people, becoming a place for creative activities, meetings and leisure.

The Poznań Gate is located in the oldest part of the city, above Cybina, in the vicinity of two historical districts: Ostrów Tumski and Śródki. The complex of its buildings is a newly built, minimalist in the form of the main building and the revitalized Cathedral Lock (the remains of the preserved from the times of the Prussian rule preserved on Ostrów Tumski). It is symbolically connected by a footbridge over the river. The main building is cut half way through the fissure, which in an interesting way frames the view of the oldest cathedral in Poland.

The idea of ​​the creators of this unique Center was to present the heritage of Ostrów Tumski and the first testimonies of Polish statehood, to encourage visitors to take a closer look at the island and its monuments. The Poznań Gate exhibition is a multimedia and interactive story that prepares the viewer to search for and interpret the traces of the past in the real space of the Cathedral Island.

Most important dates:

•     July 2009: settlement of the competition for the architectural design of the Interactive Center of Ostrów Tumski History (ICHOT)
•     May 2010: settlement of the competition for the exhibition project of the Interactive Center of the Ostrów Tumski History
•     November 2010: start of construction works after receiving EU funding
•     August 2013: Interactive History Center of Ostrów Tumski receives the name Poznań Gate
•     30 April 2014: the grand opening of the Poznań Gate

Interesting numbers:

The Poznań Gate concept is associated with a very large-scale operation. This is best illustrated by specific numbers:

•     In 2014, we were visited by over 140,000, in 2015 nearly 200,000 people,
•     The record number of visits to the Poznań Gate's exposures over one weekend is over 2,100 visitors,
•     The area of ​​the buildings occupies a total of 5116 m2,
•     Pouring foundations required 7500 m3 of soil,
•     600 tons of steel and 6000 m3 of concrete were used for the construction of buildings.

A unique exhibition

The innovative concept of building the Poznań Gate has gained recognition in Poland and around the world, bringing the institution:

•     2015: nomination for the most important European architectural award: Mies van der Rohe Award 2015 - for the best implementation on the Old Continent
•     2014: title of one of the 7 new wonders of Poland in the fourth edition of the National Geographic Traveler magazine competition
•     2014: Second place in the 2013 Solidarity plebiscite

The Poznań Gate concept assumes the use of the latest exhibition trends and the implementation of an educational program inspired by the experiences of the best European institutions dealing with historical and cultural heritage.

The multimedia exhibition does not have a strictly defined direction. Its arrangement assumes the freedom of sightseeing, according to many paths, opening various perspectives for interpretation.

The exhibition consists of four main rooms, three rooms designed for families with children and two screening rooms. Modern audiovisual technology - monitors, prisms, stereoscopic glasses, touch screens, virtual books - allows the visitor to travel in time to the beginnings of the Polish state. Thanks to it, you can become a witness to the baptism of Prince Mieszko I, see how the first cathedral was built in Poland, get to know the greatest representatives of the Renaissance connected with Poznań, move to aristocratic salons of the 19th century or discover archaeologists with secrets hidden in the walls of Ostrów Tumski. Each of the visitors decides by themselves what path the exhibition will go through, and is accompanied by an audio guide that allows free access to information.

The Poznań Gate every day

The Interactive Center of the Ostrów Tumski History has a rich offer for both individual guests and organized groups. The Poznań Gate's facilities also include classes for:

•    Pre-school children,
•     Children attending elementary school,
•     Junior high school students,
•     Youth high school,
•     Integration classes,
•     Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities,
•     Children and young people who are deaf and hard of hearing,
•     Families (you can use the discount - Big Family Card),
•     Seniors with grandchildren,
•     Teachers.