The 19th century Bazar – one of the most significant institutions of the Polish social, economic and political life under the partitions, one of Poznan’s most important symbols. The company Bazar Poznański was established in 1838 upon the initiative of Karol Marcinkowski, a doctor and a prominent figure among Poznan’s positivists. The company built a great hotel with shops on the ground floor (Hipolit Cegielski had his hardware store here). In the evening of 26th December 1918, Ignacy Jan Paderewski was speaking out of the windows of the very same Bazar – the following day, the Wielkopolska Uprising broke out to ultimately bring freedom to Wielkopolska. The edifice has been thoroughly restored over the last dozen years or so by the company Bazar, established by the successors of the founders of the 19th century Bazar. Again, there are stores on the ground floor, some of the building is used as office space, the neo-Baroque façade has been restored. The works still continue, however, on the reconstruction of the historical interiors. [Anna Plenzler; Historic monuments in Poznan; Poznan 2007]