The Old Town
The Old Town is the oldest part of Warsaw. It was founded at the turn of the XIII century, and its streets made a regular "chessboard like" pattern.
Destroyed during World War II, it was reconstructed in full. Its medieval structure was preserved. The Old Town complex as a whole is placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The New Town
The New Town, New Warsaw in old days, was formed at the turn of the XIV century. In 1408 it already had its self-government, own market square and town hall, as well as numerous sanctuaries. Until the XVIII century it was an independent city which, after the Constitution of May 3rd, was incorporated into Warsaw. Krasiński Square
The square, situated between the New Town and Bankowy Square, is the location of Krasiński Palace, baroque in style, which used to be one of the most beautiful aristocratic palaces of Warsaw. Designed by Tylman of Gameren, since 1764 it has been the property of the Republic of Poland. A modern building of the Supreme Court and Warsaw Uprising Monument face the Palace. Teatralny Square
From the end of the XVIII century to the middle of the XIX Teatralny Square and its surroundings constituted the commercial as well as cultural centre of Warsaw. Huge buildings, classicistic in style, created at the time of the Congress Kingdom of Poland, stand here. The most important of them is Teatr Wielki (National Opera), which used to be the biggest opera house in Europe. Piłsudski Square
It is located in the centre of Warsaw, close to the so called historic Royal Way. Its western frontage, with Saski Palace, used to be an important part of urban complex created in XVIII century, called Oś Saska (Saska Axle). The old courtyard of the Palace became a town square. After World War II, only a fragment of the Palace colonnade, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located along the Saska Axle was preserved. Today the Tomb is a place of national remembrance, and on Piłsudski Square national celebrations take place. Bankowy Square
Founded in 1825, where the courtyard of Ogiński Palace used to be located. In the second half of the XIX century, the Place was triangular in shape, later it was rebuilt. The buildings on the Square were designed by A. Corazzi. They were originally built, or rebuilt, in classicistic style. The seats of government authorities as well as of revenue authorities were located here. At present, the Mayor of Warsaw has its office at Bankowy Square. Krakowskie Przedmieście street
The most elegant street of Warsaw, along which mansions and farms of noblemen, and since the XVII century, palaces and residencies of magnates, surrounded by gardens as well as churches with cloisters were built. Several buildings, such as churches and palaces, dating back to XVII and XVIII century were preserved. Aleje Ujazdowskie
The street runs from Trzech Krzyży Square to Belwederska street. Aleje Ujazdowskie has always been one of the most elegant streets in Warsaw. Here you have old palaces, villas, elegant residential houses, a number of embassies, as well as the Office of the Council of Ministers, Ujazdowski Park, the Royal Łazienki and Belvedere Palace. Royal Łazienki
One of the most beautiful complexes of this kind in Europe. Founded in XVII century by Stanisław Lubomirski. In 1764 acquired by King Stanisław August Poniatowski, who is responsible for its present looks. It took almost 30 years to build this summer residence of the King, with parks and buildings, on the area of around 80 hectares. At that time an old bath, dating back to the XVII century, originally designed by Tylman of Gameren, was transformed by Domenico Merlini into a magnificent Palace on the Water, classicistic in style.
At the times of King Stanisław August the Theatre on the Island, designed by Jan Christian Kamsetzer, was created, as well as the Orangery housing a theatre, as well as the so called White House and Myślewicki Palace. The park, surrounding the Palace complex, combines elements of French garden with those of English park. Wilanów
Residence of King Jan III Sobieski and of August II. The Palace, together with the garden, constitutes one of the most precious monuments of Polish baroque. Built for King Jan III Sobieski at the end of the XVII century, by August Locci, later extended and rebuilt by consequent owners. It is an example of characteristic "entre cour et jardin" (between court and garden) architectural assumption. Its unique value lies in the original architecture and in preserved decorations (paintings and sculptures) of the elevation, as well as of the interior. The decorations are symbolic in character and refer to ancient Greece and Rome.
The interiors represent styles of three epochs. The oldest rooms, that is baroque chambers of the King, are located in the centre part of the Palace. The XVIII century interiors occupy the southern wing and the adjoining pavilion, where the bathroom of Izabela Lubomirska is located. The XIX century interiors, coming from the time the Palace was owned by Potocki family, are located in the northern wing. Warsaw of Chopin
Frederic Chopin lived in the so called "storm and stress" period, when democratic tendencies were being born, and Polish people made plans to make their country free. In his music, Chopin, in a powerful way, conveyed suffering and despair, heroic feelings and nostalgia, as well as homesickness he felt for his country. The music of Chopin is set in Polish music tradition. Making use of Polish folklore, it is of clearly national character, and that is why it became a symbol of Polish culture. In Warsaw there are many places connected with the life and work of Frederic Chopin. Heroic City
During World War II around 6 millions of Poles and Jews were killed. Warsaw witnessed the tragedy of extermination of its Jewish inhabitants, as well as of the 1944 Uprising, suppressed in such a cruel way. Destroyed by the Nazis, in a planned way, the City lost 80% of its buildings. There are many sites in Warsaw that make us remember those tragic events. Warsaw Judaica
Before the War, Warsaw was the second in Europe, and the fourth in the world (after Moscow, New York and Chicago), city with the greatest number of Jewish inhabitants. About 350 000 Jews lived here. At the time of German occupation, a Ghetto was made in the Jewish district. Since March 1942 the Jews were transported, on a large scale, to the death camp in Treblinka. 19 April 1943 was the day when the Germans decided to liquidate the Ghetto in a final way. In response, Jewish Combat Organization (ŻOB) in cooperation with Jewish Military Union (ŻZW) decided to resist. The Germans troops greatly outnumbered the insurgents, who nevertheless fought till May 1943. After the Ghetto was liquidated, and almost all of its inhabitants murdered, the Germans razed the Ghetto to the ground. Around 20 000 Jews managed to run away to the so called "Aryan side", hide there and live to see the liberation. Social realism in Warsaw
The rebuilding of Warsaw took place at the time when obligatory social realism style in art and architecture was taking shape. That is why in Warsaw there are numerous examples of this style |
