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Warsaw is the capital of the Polish Republic and one of the most beautiful cities in Eastern Europe. There are many historical sights, landscaped parks and museums.
Who travels to Warsaw and why
Warsaw is an ancient city founded in the 13th century. But during the Second World War, its central part was practically destroyed. Many monuments were restored from scratch according to photographs and drawings, while they were restored with perfect accuracy. Every year millions of tourists come here to admire the streets, squares, palaces, in which different architectural styles are mixed.
Warsaw is a city of happy holidays:
- In the fall, a beer festival awaits guests. At the event, beer lovers are offered to taste 800 beers from different countries, try original snacks, and learn the secrets of brewing. Master classes, exhibitions and fairs work in the city for three days.
- In August, Warsaw invites you to a music festival dedicated to Chopin. For a whole month, classical music concerts are held at different venues. Polish and foreign musicians perform on the stages, and people from different parts of the world come to listen to them.
Many people prefer to combine sightseeing with outdoor activities. In Warsaw, tourists are offered yachting on the Vistula, kayaking and kayaking, walking in parks. Biking and hiking tours of the area can be booked at local travel agencies.
Warsaw is famous for entertainment. For a small fee, adults take a helicopter flight, play paintball, shoot from a bow. Nightclubs open in the evenings. To dance and have fun, people go to the Tygmont jazz club, where theme parties and performances by popular musicians are regularly held.
For parents with children, the Polish capital guarantees an unforgettable experience. There are many entertainment centers, cinemas, museums. The Łazienki Park, the Funpark Digiloo with trampolines and inflatable slides, and the local zoo are ideal for families.
Interesting places
Old city
The oldest historical district, located in the center of Warsaw, is the heart of the city. Many buildings were destroyed during the war, but the Poles managed to completely restore the lost masterpieces. Walking along the streets paved with paving stones, you can see the Royal Palace, the town hall, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the barbican.
Krakow suburb
The walking avenue connecting the Old Town with the modern districts of Warsaw is called the Krakow Suburb. This is a wide road paved with Chinese granite, along which the most beautiful churches and palaces rise.
The most famous buildings are the University of Warsaw, the Presidential Palace, the Church of St. Anne. The Krakow Suburb is home to prestigious restaurants and cafes serving delicious pastries, Italian pizza and national dishes.
Palace Square
Between the Royal Palace and the Old Town there is a lively beautiful square. Its central figure is considered to be a column with a statue of King Sigismund III, installed back in 1644. During the Warsaw Uprising, the granite monument was toppled.
It took about 5 years to restore the attraction. Palace Square is used for celebrations and holidays, and in winter they set up a Christmas nativity scene and a Christmas tree.
Market Square
Until the end of the 13th century, the Market Square played an important role in the life of the townspeople and was the political and cultural center of Warsaw. Now it is a popular tourist attraction. Street musicians and artists work here, souvenir shops, cafes, and shops are open.
On the Market Square there is a monument to the Warsaw Mermaid. The proud warrior is the symbol of the city. Her image with a sword and shield adorns the coat of arms of the capital.
Architectural monuments
the Royal Castle
The architectural complex was erected at the end of the 16th century at the direction of Sigismund Vasa on the site of an ancient defensive castle of the Mazovian dukes. It was repeatedly subjected to fires and destruction, but managed to maintain its original appearance.
In the inner chambers there is a national museum. Tourists are shown the throne room, the Chamber of Deputies, the marble room, the meeting room, the royal library. Paintings by famous artists are exhibited in a separate wing. The gems of the collection are paintings by Rembrandt, Matejko and Bellotto.
Wilanów Palace
On the outskirts of Warsaw stands a baroque palace built in the 17th century for the Polish king. The white majestic building often changed owners. In 1799, Kostka Potocki became its owner, an artist and collector who founded one of the first Polish museums in the palace, which is still operating.
Among its exhibits are antique furniture, paintings, weapons, and sculptures. The Wilanów Palace is framed by a well-groomed park with benches, paths and fountains.
Presidential Palace
The presidential residence in the Krakow suburb is the largest castle in the city. It was built in the middle of the 16th century for Hetman Stanislav Konetspolsky. In 1852, the main building suffered from a fire and was rebuilt, acquiring features of the classical style. The first floor is decorated with a row of arches and a colonnade of the Corinthian order. There are marble statues on the roof.
The inside of the Presidential Palace is allowed as part of an excursion. Guests have access to the ceremonial halls, where official meetings and events take place. There you can see a marble fireplace, rock crystal chandeliers, paintings by famous Polish artists.
Ujazdowski castle
The residence of King August II was built in the middle of the 17th century on the site of an abandoned ancient castle. After the death of the owner, the Baroque mansion was abandoned for a long time, and then a hospital and military barracks were equipped in it.
Today the architectural complex has been restored and is available for tourists. Inside it operates a center for contemporary art. People come here to admire paintings, engravings, sculptures and take a walk in the beautiful manor park.
Monument to Nicolaus Copernicus
In front of the Staszic Palace, in 1830, a monument to Nicolaus Copernicus appeared, which quickly became one of the most famous in Warsaw. The three-meter bronze statue of the scientist was made with filigree precision by Bertel Thorvaldsen. On a high pedestal, the inscription “To Nicolaus Copernicus from grateful compatriots” is engraved.
During the war, the Germans decided to melt the sculpture into metal, so they removed it from its pedestal and took it away. Fortunately, they failed to accomplish their plan, and the monument was returned to the city after the victory.
Kazimierz Palace
In the Krakow suburb there is a magnificent neoclassical palace built in the 17th century for Vladislav IV.
The building has been expanded and rebuilt several times. In 1816, the University of Warsaw and a secondary school, where the young Frederic Chopin was educated, started working in it. Today the Kazimirov Palace, destroyed during World War II, has been restored. It housed the university administration and the historical museum.
Palace of Culture and Science
The Palace of Culture and Science made of imported stone and sandstone has a height of 235 meters. It has 42 floors and more than three thousand rooms. At a height of 114 meters, an observation deck is equipped, fenced with a steel grate. The skyscraper, erected in the style of Stalinist realism, is clearly visible from different parts of the city.
Internal rooms are used as offices, exhibition centers, museums, conference rooms, cinemas, restaurants. The concert hall of the palace is used for celebrations and performances by famous Polish and foreign musicians.
Warsaw Barbican
The semicircular outpost is part of the 16th century fortifications that surrounded and defended Warsaw. It is located between the New and Old Towns and is an important historical landmark. The fortress attracts attention with powerful masonry, battlements, round towers, narrow loopholes.
Citadel
The construction of fortifications to protect the Russian territory began in 1832 by order of Emperor Nicholas I. The complex surrounding Warsaw included the Alexandria citadel, forts Vladimir, Slivitsky, Alexei, as well as churches and outbuildings.
To date, the fortifications have been partially destroyed. Only the Alexandrian fortress, consisting of powder magazines, an arsenal, Ivanovsky gates and defensive towers, is well preserved. On the tour you can see an exhibition of ancient weapons, a monument to Russian soldiers and a bastion.
Temples of Warsaw
Church of St. Anne
The graceful white church in the Krakow suburb, dedicated to St. Anne, was founded in 1454. It was damaged more than once during the wars, rebuilt and changed its appearance.
In the 18th century, the façade was remodeled in the Rococo style, adding two tall bell towers and adorning it with statues of saints. There are several chapels inside the temple. The vaults are decorated with frescoes, paintings, crystals. The main shrine of this church is the relics of St. Vladislav Gelnevsky.
Church of St. Jacek
In the center of Warsaw, the baroque church of St. Jacek flaunts, erected at the beginning of the 17th century at the direction of the aristocratic Kotovsky family. It kept rare church relics, a large collection of old printed books, and for many years a boarding school and an orphanage for boys functioned in the back rooms.
During the war, the temple was destroyed during the bombardment and the valuables were lost. Now it has been restored and is open to believers.
Church of the Holy Cross
The temple of the Catholic Order of the Lazarists is located in the historic center of the city. It was erected at the end of the 17th century on the site of a wooden chapel. The magnificent facade is decorated with bell towers with domes. There are marble sculptures in the niches near the main entrance.
In front of the church, on a granite pedestal, there is a bronze statue of Jesus Christ with a cross. The central altar was designed by Tilman van Gameren and is called the “Altar of the Fatherland”. Urns with the remains of F. Chopin and Vladislav Reymont are buried in the temple.
Church of St. John the Baptist
In the Old Town there is the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, founded in 1390. The building in the brick Gothic style was intended for the coronation and repose of the rulers and was the main temple of Warsaw. In 1618, the interior was decorated in the Baroque style, giving it a special splendor.
The princes of Mazovia and many prominent residents of Poland are buried in the local crypt: Stanislav Poniatowski, Stanislav Wojciechowski, Heinrich Sienkiewicz.
Church of St. Casimir
The baroque church of St. Casimir in Warsaw attracts attention with a huge dome with a cross. The pediment of the facade is decorated with original ornaments.
During the war, the temple was used as a hospital, but in August 1944, German troops subjected it to a powerful bombardment. Civilians and priests hiding inside died. Engravings of the 19th century, the gravestone of the Duchess of Bouillon and a marble altar have been preserved in the restored church.
Museums in Warsaw
Historical Museum
The History Museum on the Market Square occupies several large mansions. Its funds contain more than 300 thousand items covering events in the city from antiquity to the present day. Tourists are shown finds from archaeological excavations, a collection of silverware, ancient weapons, armor, maps and drawings of Warsaw.
The main exposition is the exhibition “Things of the city”. It presents paintings, antique furniture, sculptures, awards donated by the residents of the capital.
Museum of the Polish Army
In the center of Warsaw is the Museum of the Polish Army, which tells about the valiant victories of the national army in different historical eras.
Visitors can see the uniforms of soldiers and officers of the royal guard, modern uniforms, and weapons. Paintings depicting famous generals and battle scenes are kept in a separate room. A significant part of the museum is dedicated to the events of World War II and Poland’s contribution to the fight against fascism.
F. Chopin Museum
In 1955, on the initiative of artists, the Frederic Chopin Museum was opened in Warsaw. The exposition in a white two-story mansion stores items related to the life and work of the composer. The collection contains personal correspondence, photographs, jewelry, and paintings. Guests have access to newspaper publications about Chopin from different years, a diary and working sketches of the musician.
National Museum
The National Museum of Warsaw was created to preserve ancient and modern works of art. It consists of 6 branches located in different parts of the city.
The main building is located on Jerusalem Avenue. The funds contain medieval paintings by Italian, French, German artists, Polish paintings, objects of ancient art and artifacts revealing the culture of Coptic Christians. The collection of coins, manuscripts, icons is very popular.
Warsaw Uprising Museum
The Warsaw Uprising Museum is located in the old tram power station. Its purpose is to preserve the memory of tragic historical events. The exposition tells about the life of people in the city during the Second World War and about the Resistance.
The exhibition halls display archival documents, letters, photographs, personal diaries and rebel stories. Not far from the museum there is a memorial wall engraved with the names of those killed in the Warsaw Uprising.
Copernicus Science Center
The science museum, built on the banks of the Vistula, will interest adults and children. There are interactive exhibits for conducting independent experiments. Permanent exhibitions highlight the interaction between man and the environment, the development of civilization and science, and natural phenomena.
The museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions presenting important scientific achievements. There is a planetarium on the territory, showing an exciting show on spherical screens.
parks
Lazienki
In the 17th century, a large park designed by Tilman Gamerski appeared in the center of Warsaw. It attracts attention with smooth alleys, well-groomed lawns, clean lakes, openwork bridges. The central place in the ensemble is occupied by a palace on the water, erected for the royal family.
The summer residence rises on an island among spreading trees. The park has preserved an old greenhouse with tropical plants, an ancient amphitheater, a white house with a pavilion and a water tower.
Zoo
The Warsaw zoo, which opened at the beginning of the last century, quickly grew and became one of the best in Europe. World War II nullified all the efforts of enthusiasts: many animals died or were taken to Germany. After the victory, the zoo was restored and its territory was significantly increased.
Today it is home to 3.5 thousand animals from all over the world. Visitors get acquainted with the inhabitants of the African savannah and the Indian jungle, watch rare reptiles and birds. Playgrounds and cafes are equipped within the park.
Botanical Garden
In the center of the Polish capital there is a botanical garden belonging to the University of Warsaw. It was planted in 1811 for medical school students. Students here studied the properties of plants and used them to create medicines.
The garden is currently open to the general public. Tourists come to see the rose garden, flower beds and medicinal plants, greenhouses with cacti. The park has beautiful paths and benches for rest. Those who wish can purchase seedlings and seeds in a small shop.
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