Lech, Czech and Rus Fountain in Pobiedziska

On the market square of Pobiedziska, halfway between Poznań and Gniezno, three legendary brothers rest on a large boulder in the middle of a round basin. The Lech, Czech and Rus Fountain is a small monument with bronze figures — one standing and two seated — that suits a town on the Piast Route well. It is a short stop, but with an interesting story behind it.

A legend from the Greater Poland Chronicle

The story of the three brothers was recorded in the Greater Poland Chronicle, written in the second half of the 13th century, most likely before 1296. According to its author the brothers came from Pannonia and founded states named after themselves, and Lech, stopping at a place rich in fish and game, is said to have declared "Let us build a nest" — hence the name Gniezno, from the Polish word for nest. The fountain in Pobiedziska is a reminder that this part of Greater Poland is the legend's true home.

Where the name Pobiedziska comes from

The town's name has nothing to do with the brothers' rest. Linguists derive it from the Proto-Slavic word "pobeda", meaning victory — Pobiedziska is "the place where a victory was won". Local tradition links this to Duke Casimir the Restorer, who is said to have defeated the rebel Masław here in 1048. The earliest surviving record of the name, "Pobezisch", comes from a document of 1233.

Tripto tip

A few minutes are enough for the fountain, but walk round the whole square: it still has half-timbered houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, and the town also has the early Gothic Church of St Michael the Archangel from the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries. The square is public space, so no ticket is needed, though the water may be switched off out of season. For a longer stop, head to the Piast Route Miniature Open-Air Museum, about 5 km from town on the Poznań–Gniezno road: since 1998 it has displayed 1:20 scale models of 35 buildings from Greater Poland and the Piast Route.