Tucked away in Poznań’s elegant Sołacz district lies a green jewel that has charmed generations: Park Sołacki. With over 14.6 hectares of picturesque landscape, its story stretches back more than a century, blending nature, history, and community spirit. It’s more than just a park – it’s a living testament to Poznań’s resilience, changing tastes, and the enduring love locals have for their precious green spaces.
A Landscape Carved from History
Long before Poznań took shape as a city, the area now known as Sołacz was home to people of the Łużyce culture, their settlements clustered around the swampy Bogdanka river valley. As centuries rolled by, the area evolved from a simple milling settlement to one of Poznań’s oldest villages, retaining its rustic feel well into the 20th century.
The dawn of the 1900s brought winds of change. Poznań’s fortress status faded, opening the door for suburban growth. Baruch Elias, a wealthy Jewish banker from Berlin, seized the moment. In 1909, after years of negotiations and legal battles, Elias’ dream of a prestigious villa district took root. Under a visionary urban plan by renowned German planner Josef Stübben, Sołacz would become a modern neighborhood – with one condition: space for a grand public park.
The Birth of Park Sołacki
Thus began the transformation of marshland into a serene, English-style landscape park. Construction started in 1908 under Hermann Kube, the German director of Poznań’s municipal gardens. Streams were redirected, lakes formed, and nearly 3,000 trees and 12,000 shrubs were planted, including exotic species like Douglas fir and Canadian hemlock. By 1911, Park Sołacki opened its gates, offering the city a breath of fresh air.
Soon, visitors found themselves strolling past two shimmering ponds, crossing wooden bridges, or enjoying dinner at the restaurant perched over the water – a structure moved from the 1911 East German Industry Exhibition. By 1913, the park boasted tram connections and even a fleet of rowboats gliding across its ponds, further cementing its place in Poznań’s social life.
The Golden Years – and Hard Times
Between the wars, Park Sołacki thrived. Professors, artists, and families flocked to its leafy paths. Festivals, concerts, and dances lit up its meadows, while children fed swans and lovers rowed boats across glassy waters. Even during World War II, the park survived relatively unscathed, though its name was changed by occupying forces.
But decades of neglect followed. After the war, fallen trees and rotting bridges replaced manicured paths. Stagnant, murky waters filled the once-pristine ponds. Locals called it the “Pirate Park,” reflecting its decline. The spark of its early days seemed lost.
A Revival and Return to Glory
It wasn’t until the late 20th century that Park Sołacki began its renaissance. In the 1990s, restoration efforts cleared the ponds, rebuilt bridges, and trimmed wild undergrowth. The once-fading restaurant reopened as an elegant venue, while paths were repaved, benches replaced, and old lampposts lovingly restored.
Today, Park Sołacki is once again alive with laughter and life. Children play in its western meadow, couples linger on shaded benches, and wedding photographers capture timeless moments beneath towering trees. Though the rowboats have yet to return in full, locals still dream of their comeback, hoping to once more drift lazily across the park’s placid waters.
More Than Just a Park
Park Sołacki isn’t merely a pretty patch of green. It’s a testament to Poznań’s love of nature, a monument to careful urban planning, and a living link between past and present. From humble beginnings as a village to its golden age as Poznań’s favourite escape, Park Sołacki continues to evolve, its story written in the rustling leaves and rippling waters of this urban paradise.
If you find yourself in Poznań, make time to wander through this elegant English-style haven!
