The Imperial Castle in Poznan, one of the city’s most important monuments, has undergone various changes over the years, with its architecture being adapted to the needs of successive eras. One of the most conspicuous deficiencies in the current structure of the edifice is the no longer existing finial of the clock tower, which was demolished after World War II. In connection with the recent redevelopment of the courtyard in front of the Castle and the erection of a new pavilion there, sometimes referred to as the CPN, the question arose: wouldn’t it be better to rebuild the clearly missing element crowning the formerly historic block? To this end, a project was set up as part of the Poznań Civic Budget, proposing the reconstruction of the tower. The web developer Poznaniator went one step further and created a loose visualisation of the reconstructed fragment, inspired by modern solutions used, for example, in the modernisation of the Reichstag in Berlin.
Poznan Castle and its fate
The Imperial Castle in Poznan was completed in 1910. The magnificent neo-Romanesque edifice was built for Wilhelm II – the last King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany, representative of the Hohenzollern dynasty. After the Third Reich’s invasion of Poland, the building was rebuilt in the spirit of National Socialism and was to become Adolf Hitler’s headquarters. During the fighting for the city in 1945, the building was severely damaged. The top of the tower, although partially preserved, was demolished in the following years. According to the post-war authorities, the structure was to be a symbol of German domination over Poznań – the cradle of Polish history and culture. As a result of this decision, for several decades the Imperial Castle has had a squat stump in place of the former elegant tower. Since 1989, there have been many proposals to rebuild the lost fragment, but this has never been a priority for the city authorities. The idea of rebuilding the tower has attracted a lot of interest from local residents, but has encountered resistance from officials and institutions managing the castle.
Święty Marcin Street in 1915. Photo: Deutsche Fotothek
History of the Reichstag and the glass dome
Like the Imperial Castle in Poznan, the German Reichstag has gone through a turbulent history, culminating in its destruction during World War II. After the break-up of Germany, the building ceased to fulfil its previous function and its reconstruction was not completed until the 1970s. After the reunification of the country, the Bundestag decided to modernise the building. Between 1995 and 1999, a comprehensive reconstruction was carried out according to a design by the British architect Norman Foster. It was then decided to give the building a new, symbolic form: the original dome was replaced by a modern glass structure, allowing visitors to admire the city from above and literally look down on the hands of the politicians working in the plenary chamber. This was a deliberate architectural move to emphasise the transparency of democracy and to draw lessons from German history.
Poznań Civic Budget: residents’ project
On the initiative of residents, a project was recently created as part of the Poznań Civic Budget, which proposed a public consultation and an architectural competition for the reconstruction of the tower. Potential functions of the new structure were indicated, such as a viewing terrace, exhibition space or a restaurant. The idea won public support, but city officials and the Castle Cultural Centre do not recommend its implementation in the near future. City officials argue that the reconstruction of the tower is not currently possible due to limited funding and other budget priorities. They stress that it would be wasteful to organise an architectural competition and consultation in a situation where there is no guarantee for the project. The Zamek Cultural Centre also does not see the possibility of implementing the project immediately. The institution points out that it is currently focused on other investments, such as the revitalisation of the rose courtyard and the renovation of the historic facades. At the same time, the institution points out that an international architectural competition would have to be held if adequate funding were to become available in the future.
The clock tower of the Imperial Castle, 1944 and 2021. Photo: Polona and Scars of Poznań
A glass dome on the tower of the Imperial Castle?
Online creator Poznaniator believes that the reconstruction of the Imperial Castle tower could be approached in a similar spirit to the Reichstag. In his opinion, the missing finial does not have to be a faithful reconstruction in its original form and with the same materials, but a modern structure could be designed that would not only refer to the historical silhouette of the Castle, but at the same time become a new tourist attraction. The proposal is to create a glazed finial that would act as a vantage point. From its top, it would be possible to admire the panorama of the city and its surroundings for several kilometres, and the tower itself would become one of the most recognisable symbols of Poznan. The idea of rebuilding the tower in a modern form could contribute to revitalising the city centre. The introduction of such an attraction would attract tourists not only from Wielkopolska, but also from all over Poland. Queues of visitors, as in the Reichstag in Berlin, could stretch for many metres, which would increase interest in other cultural institutions located in and around the castle. This could also be an opportunity to increase attendance at exhibitions and events held in the building.
Poznan Castle: reconstruction with a vision for the future
The key question remains whether the city will ever decide to rebuild the missing part of the tower. It should be mentioned that the Castle lost not only this element after 1945, but also several others, including the gable on the side of Niepodległości Avenue. The project requires a broader debate and support, both from the authorities of Poznań and financially. Voices of reluctance to reconstruction are still being voiced in the public space, argued on the grounds of former symbolism and German domination, which in this day and age is completely absurd. The reconstruction of the tower would undoubtedly be a great opportunity for the city, and an important and historically valuable piece of architecture would return to its skyline. Unfortunately, the eventual reconstruction will have to wait a long time yet. At present, the city and the Castle Cultural Centre do not share this enthusiasm, indicating that the investment is not a priority.
Source: Poznaniator, Głos Wielkopolski
See also: Architecture in Poland | Renovation | Monument | Metamorphosis | Poznan | whiteMAD on Instagram
The Imperial Castle in 1916 and the tower proposal. Source: Deutsche Fotothek and Old Poznań Then and Now/Poznaniator
The Imperial Castle then and now
Święty Marcin Street with the Imperial Castle, 1915 and 2021. Fot. Deutsche Fotothek and Scars of Poznań
Święty Marcin Street in 1945 and 2025. Photo: MKZ and Old Poznań Then and Now
Reichstag
