The most important events during the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union will take place in five cities: Sopot (July), Wroclaw (September), Cracow (October), Poznan (November) and Warsaw (December). Polish Presidency team. For the requirements of meetings for delegates, venues meeting the highest conference infrastructure standards have been selected.
Aside from conference facilities, a deciding element in selecting locations was the existence of a wide range of hotels meeting the required standard and the possibility to guarantee independent, free transport links for meeting participants, in particular the availability of airports and the widest possible network of direct flights.
SOPOT - Sheraton Sopot Hotel, Conference Centre & SPA
This venue is located on the Sopot beachfront next to the famous Sopot pier - the longest in Europe. The hotel is recognised for being the largest and most modern conference centre in Pomerania, with 2,000m2 of conference and banqueting halls equipped with the very latest technological innovations. Restaurants and a bar can be found at the venue, complete with terraces offering an unforgettable view across the Gdansk bay.
WROCŁAW - Centennial Hall
The Centennial Hall is a unique venue for meetings in Wroclaw. Dating from 1913, this historic building was constructed with mass events in mind. Exhibitions, festivals, tournaments and meetings have taken place here. The eminent German architect Max Berg, creator of Centennial Hall, called it a cathedral of democracy. When opened it was the largest reinforced concrete structure in the world and was home to the largest dome built since the Pantheon in Rome eighteen centuries earlier. In 2006 the Centennial Hall and its surroundings, the former Restaurant Pavilion, pergola and fountain, was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
One of the largest and most spectacular fountains in Europe can be found next to the Centennial Hall. Hundreds of jets create a screen of water for laser animation displays. During performances using water, coloured lights and music, the Wroclaw Fountain becomes a water theatre - a striking attraction within the Centennial Hall complex.
KRAKÓW - Auditorium Maximum
This venue is a part of the Jagiellonian University which, founded in the fourteenth century, is the second oldest university in Central Europe.
In 2001 the Senate of the Jagiellonian University adopted a resolution on creation of a lecture hall complex, the Auditorium Maximum. The construction of lecture halls in the centre of Krakow created a firm foundation for the development of humanities at the university and is very popular with students. At the same time the Auditorium Maximum fulfils a key role within Krakow's academic community - a conference centre.
POZNAN - Poznan International Fair
Poznan International Fair is one of the largest exhibition centres in the world and is unequalled in Poland in terms of the amount of space available to exhibitors.
It is here that the Poznan International Fair Conference Centre is located, which provided the infrastructure and support for the UN COP14 climate summit (14th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
WARSAW - Copernicus Science Centre
The Copernicus Science Centre provides modern scientific communication through interactive exhibitions aimed at various groups (adults, young people and children), together with shows and workshops on scientific topics, debates, discussions and activities combining science and art. The centre's mission is to stimulate curiosity, aid awareness of the world, enable learning and inspire public dialogue on topics related to science.
The first building at the Centre was opened on 5 November 2010, together with five galleries. Since 21 June 2011 the Centre has been home to the Heavens of Copernicus - one of the most modern planetariums in Europe.
The Copernicus Science Centre is a cultural institution established and financed by the City of Warsaw, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Ministry of National Education.
