Attraction in Poznań

Ratusz i koziolki

At noon two mechanical billy goats emerge above the Ratusz clock and butt heads twelve times, drawing a crowd every single day. The Renaissance town hall, remodelled by Giovanni Battista di Quadro, also houses the city's history museum.

Reviewed and updated July 2026

Ratusz i koziolki — Photo: Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Poznan's Town Hall stands in the middle of the Old Market Square, and every day at noon it draws a crowd for one reason. Two mechanical billy goats appear above the clock and butt heads twelve times. The koziolki are the city's mascot, and catching the show is a fixture of any visit.

The Renaissance town hall

The town hall was rebuilt in Renaissance form between 1550 and 1560 by the Italian architect Giovanni Battista di Quadro, after the old Gothic building burned. Its three-tier arcaded loggia is one of the finest of its kind north of the Alps, and the tower rises about 61 metres above the square. Inside are grand painted halls that are worth seeing in their own right.

The mechanical billy goats

The goats butt heads at 12 noon each day, played out below a trumpeter. Arrive a few minutes early and stand in the square facing the clock on the eastern gable to see it clearly. It lasts under a minute, so do not be late. The mechanism sits above a clock that dates in origin from the middle of the 16th century.

The legend of the goats

The story goes that two goats, meant for a feast to mark the new clock, slipped their ropes, ran up to the tower and clashed horns in front of the assembled dignitaries. The crowd was so taken with the sight that the goats were built into the clock, and they have butted heads at noon ever since. It is a legend rather than record, but it explains the city's fondness for the koziolki.

Inside the town hall museum

The town hall now holds the Museum of the History of the City of Poznan, a branch of the National Museum, set across the decorated rooms of the old building. It covers the city's past from its early days as a seat of the Polish state through to modern times. Check opening days before you go, as it keeps separate hours from the square.

Finding the Ratusz on Stary Rynek

The town hall is on the Old Market Square in the centre of the Old Town, an easy walk from anywhere in the historic core. See the Poznan guide for getting into the centre.

What is nearby on Stary Rynek

The square and the streets around it fill an easy morning:

The colourful merchant houses and museums ringing the Old Market Square.
Stary Browar, the arts and shopping centre a short walk south.
The Imperial Castle, west of the Old Town.

Good to know

The billy goats appear at 12 noon daily above the town hall clock, and the show is free to watch from the square. For museum opening days and tickets, check the official channels.

Questions about the goats

When do the Poznan goats appear?

Every day at 12 noon, above the town hall clock on the Old Market Square. The display lasts under a minute, so arrive a few minutes early.

Can you go inside the town hall?

Yes. The building houses the Museum of the History of the City of Poznan, so you can see the painted halls inside on a museum ticket. It keeps its own opening days.

Frequently asked questions

Every day at 12 noon, above the town hall clock on the Old Market Square. Two mechanical billy goats butt heads twelve times below a trumpeter. It lasts under a minute, so arrive a few minutes early and face the clock on the eastern gable.

Yes. The building houses the Museum of the History of the City of Poznan, a branch of the National Museum, set across the decorated painted halls. It keeps its own opening days, separate from the square.

Legend says two goats meant for a feast to mark a new clock slipped their ropes, ran up the tower and clashed horns before the assembled dignitaries. The crowd loved it, so the goats were built into the clock and have butted heads at noon ever since.

The town hall stands in the middle of the Old Market Square, an easy walk from anywhere in the historic core.

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