This is our third day in Poznan Poland, and we have been having an amazing time so far, and are so glad we decided to visit.
Poznan seems to be a city full of surprises, and today turned out to be no exception. First off we headed for a walk through the old town. There is a main walking mall that is a complete mix of old and new styles of shops. As it is brick paved, it is only for pedestrians, and a leisurely stroll led us to a rather surprising and quite prestigious place to shop.
Shopping, Arts and also a Business Centre “Stary Browar” is the center of commerce and art, and was built in late 2003. It is located at 42 Półwiejska Street, Poznan.
Known as The Old Brewery, here we wandered into an amazing complex made up of three different buildings of 210 stores, partly joined by a large glass courtyard that opens out in the summer to an incredible outdoor area.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Old Brewery – main function area
The owner is the richest lady in Poland I believe, and she takes pride in her art and interior design. Her eye for detail is impeccable.
This shopping center has won awards for design, and I am not at all surprised. The building itself is art.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Old Brewery – artistic and functional
The glass courtyard area looks out onto a huge statue. In fact, it is a functioning piece of art, and it is in the Guinness World Records as the largest working beer stein. This is proudly standing next to an art exhibition area, which showcases many famous artists and their exhibitions.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Old Brewery – courtyard external area
Inside the Old Brewery, you will find amazing creative pieces of art from all around the world. You will find sculptures, paintings, and general decoration that will amaze you. Intricacy places old bottle tops. Or old pieces of ‘junk’ that were rescued from the site when they were rebuilding. Below you can see some construction and other signs they found, so they turned it into an artistic collage in one of the connecting walkways.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Old Brewery – rubbish becomes art with signs
Overhead, an old bicycle and other wheels have been placed together for an eye-catching display.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Old Brewery – rubbish becomes art with wheels
Even this inside store, has an outside feeling to it. Everywhere you look in the first two buildings seem to exude style.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Old Brewery – a myriad of stores
Tucked away down a hallway is also a hidden hotel called Blow Up Hall 5050. Sting stayed here, and the key to the room is a mobile/cell phone. Art and Design mix in every area including the high ceiling bar, and walkway. We had the chance to look around and it was just amazing.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Old Brewery – Blow Up Hall
The third and final building in this shopping complex is the newest and is more like a shopping center you may have visited in the past. Whilst extremely well presented, the building still houses many of the owner’s personal art collection she shares with the public.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Old Brewery – 3rd building
This huge structure hangs from the ceiling, and the artist has several in the serious around the world. It opens I believe on the hour with moving mechanisms, but we decided to head on and missed that.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Old Brewery – moving art
From here we went to a model of Poznan called Makieta Dawnego Poznania.
It was a sound and light show of a handmade model in a basement room based on Braun-Hogenberg’s picture of 1618. This was quite a surprise as at first we sat and thought it was a pure history lesson, and then there was smoke that came out and moving lights that tell a story of Poznan over the centuries.
The narrator talks fast and we did miss a bit of information. But it is only a 30-minute presentation, and you can sit or stand in the darkened room and understand a good part of it if Poznan is all new to you.
We headed out for a quick bite to eat, and some shopping. Explorason selected a new summer top, and I picked up a couple of lovely jumpers/sweaters on sale as it is the end of the winter season. I was quite surprised at how many fashion stores there were.
Next, we had heat about making Lolly Pops or Lollipops as we Australians call them. Thus the name of this article….. “Positively Poznan Poland – Prestigious Place and Producing Pops”. The Prestigious Place was definitely the Old Brewery, and the Producing Pops comes next at Slodkie Czary Mary.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Slodkie Czary Mary store sign
We had heard we could make lollipops here, and there was a 4:00 p.m. session (other session times available). There was a vast selection of candy for sale here of all shapes, kinds, and flavors.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Slodkie Czary Mary – wares for sale
When we walked in we seemed to sit around for a while. No-one talked to us, so we weren’t too sure. But turns out it was just the lack of English and the busyness of the staff. But we weren’t too sure we were going to make or create anything at all.
We stood behind the glass dividers and watched in awe as the staff mixed the boiling liquid and then started the mix. Just prior to this they had beckoned us over. Next, very dark blue food coloring was poured in. We could smell the clear liquid – it was banana!
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Slodkie Czary Mary – demonstration
Faster than lightning, these two ladies pulled and twisted as the mixture was setting slowly.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Slodkie Czary Mary – making the candy
Before our very eyes, the candy was forming and turning into what looked like golden hair.
Soon it was rolled into finger-sized sausages. These were crafted together, and some more rolling and using and twisting occurred.
Once it was pulled into long thin shapes it was finally our turn.
“Do you want to make?” the lady finally asks us. Relieved we now know we will have some action ourselves in this kitchen “Yes, Yes” we both reply.
We are given our own sausage lengths of the candy sugary mix and we start to work. Explorason wants to make a square lollipop to remind him of Minecraft.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Slodkie Czary Mary – creating our own lollipop
I make a love heart. It is tough work and takes unite a lot of strength to shape it.
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Slodkie Czary Mary – shaping the lollipop
The staff are actually very friendly and write our names on nice stickers, and pack up our lollypop. Then feel us some smaller ones for free, and also we get some rock candy with an animal shape inside – a hippo! There was a small fee charged for the making of the lollipop, but considering we get to keep it, this is a great deal and it was a load of fun and we left as two very happy customers.
So as we wandered back to the Puro Hotel, we felt like we had enjoyed another day in Poznan.
We ended up downstairs at the Puro Hotel playing Polish Monopoly with the help if the staff and Google Translate. We had a really fun night. We have both loved the real family feels Poznan has about it. This city is perfect for family travel, and we highly recommend it.
And we still have one day to go to Poznan. Be sure to check out our next blog to see what we get up to tomorrow!
Exploramum and Explorason – Poznan, Poland – Puro hotel – playing Monopoly
BOOKINGS and ENQUIRIES: Book this hotel here
Old Brewery: http://www.poznan.travel/en/poi/show/id/866
