Święty Marcin
Encyclopedia
Święty Marcin ' in full ulica Święty Marcin ("Saint Martin Street"), is a main central street in the city of Poznań
in western Poland
. It runs from south of the old town district, westwards past the church of St. Martin of Tours
from which it takes its name, past the "Zamek
" (former German imperial palace), to Adam Mickiewicz Square, and finally to University Bridge (Most Uniwersytecki), by which it crosses the railway line and leads to the roundabout
called Rondo Kaponiera.
On Adam Mickiewicz square is a statue of Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz
, as well as a monument to the victims of the Poznań popular protests
of 1956 (erected in 1981). On the left of the square are the central buildings of Adam Mickiewicz University.
Tram
s run along most of the length of the street, in both directions at the western end, and eastwards only along the central portion.
The area around St. Martin's church was originally a separate settlement outside the medieval walled city of Poznań. It was brought within the city boundaries in 1797, at the beginning of the period of Prussian
rule, and the street began to be laid out soon after that. It was named St. Martin Strasse in German (later, during the Nazi occupation, it was called Martin-strasse). Following the building of the 19th-century fortifications
around Poznań, the street led to the Berlin Gate, the main western entrance to the city. The imperial palace and other grand buildings in its vicinity were built following the demolition of this fortfied line in the early 20th century.
In the communist period the street was renamed ulica Armii Czerwonej, meaning "Red Army
Street".
On St. Martin's Day, November 11 (a public holiday on account of its being Polish Independence Day
), a procession is held, passing along the street from St. Martin's church to the Zamek, where a fair and entertainments take place. The crescent cake known as rogal świętomarciński is traditionally baked in Poznań for this day.
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
in western Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It runs from south of the old town district, westwards past the church of St. Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
from which it takes its name, past the "Zamek
Imperial Castle in Poznan
The Imperial Castle in Poznań, popularly called Zamek , is a palace in Poznań, Poland. It was constructed in 1910 by Franz Schwechten for William II, German Emperor, with significant input from William himself...
" (former German imperial palace), to Adam Mickiewicz Square, and finally to University Bridge (Most Uniwersytecki), by which it crosses the railway line and leads to the roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
called Rondo Kaponiera.
On Adam Mickiewicz square is a statue of Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz
Adam Mickiewicz
Adam Bernard Mickiewicz ) was a Polish poet, publisher and political writer of the Romantic period. One of the primary representatives of the Polish Romanticism era, a national poet of Poland, he is seen as one of Poland's Three Bards and the greatest poet in all of Polish literature...
, as well as a monument to the victims of the Poznań popular protests
Poznan 1956 protests
The Poznań 1956 protests, also known as Poznań 1956 uprising or Poznań June , were the first of several massive protests of the Polish people against the communist government of the People's Republic of Poland...
of 1956 (erected in 1981). On the left of the square are the central buildings of Adam Mickiewicz University.
Tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s run along most of the length of the street, in both directions at the western end, and eastwards only along the central portion.
The area around St. Martin's church was originally a separate settlement outside the medieval walled city of Poznań. It was brought within the city boundaries in 1797, at the beginning of the period of Prussian
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
rule, and the street began to be laid out soon after that. It was named St. Martin Strasse in German (later, during the Nazi occupation, it was called Martin-strasse). Following the building of the 19th-century fortifications
Poznań Fortress
Poznań Fortress, known in German as Festung Posen was a set of fortifications in the city of Poznań in western Poland, built under Prussian rule in the 19th and early 20th centuries...
around Poznań, the street led to the Berlin Gate, the main western entrance to the city. The imperial palace and other grand buildings in its vicinity were built following the demolition of this fortfied line in the early 20th century.
In the communist period the street was renamed ulica Armii Czerwonej, meaning "Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
Street".
On St. Martin's Day, November 11 (a public holiday on account of its being Polish Independence Day
Polish Independence Day
National Independence Day is a public holiday in Poland celebrated every year on 11 November to commemorate the anniversary of Poland's assumption of independent statehood in 1918 after 123 years of partition by Russia, Prussia and Austria....
), a procession is held, passing along the street from St. Martin's church to the Zamek, where a fair and entertainments take place. The crescent cake known as rogal świętomarciński is traditionally baked in Poznań for this day.