LET'S EXPLORE POLAND

Copyright 1996 by the AngloPol Corporation

This series will take us through the cities, towns, villages and countryside of Poland, 
as well as give us insights into the rich history and culture of the nation.

Part 12

THE CAPITAL--WARSAW

Warsaw has existed for over 700 years and has been the seat of Polish government since 1596. It is located in a lowland region called Mazovia in central Poland. The city is divided by the Vistula river (Wisla) into two parts, one being called Praga. The North is dominated by industrial sites and the South has an increasing number of residential areas. The left bank of Warsaw features Mokotow, Wilanow and Ursynow on the South, Ochota and Wola on the South-West and West, Zoliborz on the North and the Center in the middle. There the Old Town [Stare Miasto] is located.

Our tour of Warsaw begins at the Castle Square [Plac Zamkowy] in the Old Town. It's the most popular and, perhaps, the most beautiful point of interest in the capital. On the east is the Royal Castle, completely destroyed during the Word War II and reconstructed in the '70s. Fortunately, many of the precious royal collections were hidden and saved during the war. The castle is open to the public and one can visit many of the rooms, which are decorated with original interior pieces.

The castle was build in the early 17th century; at this place once stood the wooden palace of the Dukes of Mazovia. The castle got its final shape in the late 18th century.

In the middle of the Castle Square stands the Column of King Zygmunt III Wasa, erected in 1644 by King Wladyslaw IV, one of the oldest monuments in Poland. The pedestal was exchanged many times so that one can see parts of the old ones on the right side of the Royal Castle. A column 20 meters high with the figure of the King 2.7 meters, it was the first monument of a public person in Poland. Likewise, the column of King Zygmunt III Wasa was one of the first monuments that was rebuilt after the war.

Continuing our trip, we go next to the Old Town, taking Swietojanska street on the West side of the Square. It was the main street of Old Warsaw. On the right side one sees the Cathedral of St. John [Katedra Sw. Jana]. It was built in the early 14th century and rebuild many times. After WW II it was reconstructed in its original design. In the crypt are the tombs of Dukes of Mazovia and author Henryk Sienkiewicz (Nobel prize winner for "Quo Vadis".) Next to the cathedral is the Church of the Merciful Mother, with the highest tower of the Old Town, founded by King Zygmunt III Wasa.

Following the street we reach the Old Town Market [Rynek Starego Miasta], which covers more than 6500 square meters. On all four sides stand 3- or 4-story houses from the 17th and 18th century, also reconstructed after WW II. In the Old Town Market are numerous restaurants and cafes, galleries, shops and many, many artists, presenting their paintings, sculptures, etc.

The North side of the Market features the Historical Museum of Warsaw, where visitors can learn more about Warsaw, from ancient times to the present. It also shows an excellent film on the destruction and reconstruction of Warsaw with showings available in Polish, English and French.

Here is also one of the most beautiful houses of Warsaw: the "House of the little Negro" [Dom pod Murzynkiem.] On the West side, called the Hugo Kollataj Side, is the famous Fukier's winery [Dom Klucznikowski] with a gothic portal.

The South side (Zakrzewski Side) features the "Bazyliszek House," named after a monster from dark ages ... On the East side of the Old Town Market (Bars Side) you will find the Museum of Literature and many restaurants. In the north corner of this side is a small alley, called the "Stone Stairway", which leads to the east, down to the Vistula river.

To continue our Warsaw Tour, we return to the Castle Square and start along the Royal Tract. Along this road people traveled to the Jazdow Palace, the King's summer residence in Lazienki, to Wilanow and Krakow. No other street represents the history of the capitalship of Warsaw, as does this. The street grew with the capital and mirrored important events of the history.

Moving southward on Ulica Krakowskie Przedmiescie [Krakow Suburb Street], we pass St. Anne's Church on the left. The next stop is the Adam Mickiewicz monument, honoring the most famous Polish poet. The monument was erected for the 100th birthday of Mickiewicz in 1898 and its official opening was a great act of patriotism. Not far away stands the Carmelite Church, which survived WW II, featuring a baroque interior with an high altar designed by Tylman van Gameren. The church was build in the second half of the 17th century and later rebuild in neo-classical style.

Next to the church stands the Radziwill Palace, seat of the Polish Cabinet, founded in the 17th century by the Radziwill Family and rebuilt many times. In front is the monument to Jozef Poniatowski, Polish general of Napoleon's army, who died in the battle of Leipzig in 1813. This monument was designed by a Dutch artist Thorvaldsen and erected in 1832. On the other side stands the Potocki-Czartoryski Palace, designed by J. Fontana. The building houses the Ministry of Arts and Culture and is fronted by magnificent iron gates.

Next to the Radziwill Palace is the most representative hotel of Warsaw, the Bristol. It was build in neo-renaissance style and opened in 1899. The Bristol Coffee House was once the meeting place of Polish aristocrats, famous artists and politicians.

On the other side of Krakowskie Przedmiescie Street is the Europejski Hotel, build in the middle of the 19th century. The street beside this hotel leads to Marshal Jozef Pilsudski Square. His monument is located next to the Europejski Hotel, across from the Square of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, founded in 1925. That monument is a part of the Saxon Palace, which was completely destroyed during WW II and was not rebuild. Behind the Tomb is the Saxon Garden, designed by Tylman van Gammeren, an ideal place for a rest after our journey from Old Town.