The National Museum in Poznan is one of the largest museums in Poland, with collections ranging from medieval Silesian painting to 20th-century Polish modernism. The Spanish and Dutch Old Masters section is unexpectedly strong — the museum acquired significant works during the interwar period when private collections were being dispersed across Europe. The Polish gallery gives a good survey of the national tradition from the Romantic era through the avant-garde.
The building itself, a solid neoclassical block on Marcinkowskiego Avenue, was purpose-built as a museum in 1904. The permanent collection runs across three floors; temporary exhibitions occupy the ground floor. The museum is well-signed in English, and the audio guides are worthwhile for the medieval section. Allow two to three hours for a thorough visit; the paintings and decorative arts are spread across a large number of rooms.