Highlights

Parks and Squares in Warsaw
Its oldest park is Ogród Saski, located 10 minutes away from the Old Town.

The Old Market Square was founded by the 13th Century. The majority of the buildings that surround it were destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt between 1948 and 1953.

Teatralny Square used to be the commercial and culture center of Warsaw. Nowadays, you will find many interesting, huge buildings surrounding it, created at the time of the Congress Kingdom of Poland.

Krasiński Square is the location of Krasiński Palace. It is situated between Bankowy Square and the New Town. Among the amazing buildings that surround it you will find the Supreme Court and Warsaw Uprising Monument.

Traugutta Park is a huge place ideal for walks. In this park you will discover a secessionist statue representing motherhood, which dates back to 1902 and is the work of art by Waclaw Szymanowski.

The Old Town
The Old Town is the oldest part of Warsaw. Dating back to the 13th Century, it was completely destroyed during the Second World War and was later reconstructed. It has been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The central part of it is the Old Town Market Square, where you will find traditional cafes, shops and restaurants. The cobbled streets and unique old architecture of the Old Town attract tourists of all ages.

The New Town
The New Town dates back to the 14th Century. Up to the 18th Century, it was an independent city, with its own town hall and a self-government, but it was added to Warsaw after the Constitution of May 3rd. It is almost closed to traffic and most of its attractions are located around Dluga Street (except for Citadel Museum, which is found on Skazancow Street).

Museums in Warsaw
The Citadel Museum was used during World War II to house Polish political prisoners. Nowadays it offers many interesting exhibitions to learn more about the Polish history. Here cells can be seen and an exhibition of documents and souvenirs concerning prisoners during the War are shown.

The Museum of the Polish Army was established in 1920. It houses the largest collection of military objects in Poland.

The National Museum’s building was designed by T. Tolwinski. It houses important collections of Classical and Mediaeval art, European art, Polish art, crafts and coins. Between 1939 and 1945 most of the collections were transferred to Germany and then part of it was recovered.

The Arsenal, Museum of Archaeology in 1943 was the place where the Action near the Arsenal took place, a heroic sabotage of Polish resistance.

The “Pawiak” Prison Museum was a Gestapo prison during the German occupation and the place where members of the Polish resistance were tortured.

The Warsaw Uprising Museum was created to materialize the atmosphere of Uprising days and everyday life of civilians. Here you will find photographs, newspapers, documents, weapons and uniforms related to Warsaw Uprising.

The Maria Skłodowska-Curie Museum is a biographic museum that holds exhibitions on the scientific activity and life of this Polish scientist, including books, photographs, documents, and letters.

The Historical Museum of the City of Warsaw was founded in 1936. Here you will find archives, prints and engravings, maps and different objects from the November Uprising, the Great Emigration period and of Warsaw’s history in general.

Fryderyk Chopin Museum shows Chopin’s manuscripts, documents, paintings, sculptures, and engravings, as well as his family’s.

Palaces in Warsaw
The Presidential Palace was built in 1643-1645 for the commander-in-chief of the Polish Army. Here, the Warsaw Treaty was signed in 1955, and in 1970, the treaty on normalization of mutual relations between Germany and Poland. It is the President’s home since 1994.

The Leszczyński Palace dates back to 1826 and was designed by Antonio Corazzi. Its ionic portico was later on imitated in many villas.

The Sobański Palace dates back to 1853 and was created by Julian Ankiewicz. In the building you will find the busts of two Polish kings and in its garden a statute of David.

The Kazimierzowski Palace was built as a summer residence for King Jan Kazimierz in 1660. Between 1765 and 1768 it was rebuilt for the seat of the School of Knights. Since 1824 it houses the Warsaw University rector’s office.

The Potocki Palace is the seat of the Ministry of Culture and Art. It was built in the 18th century and was reconstructed in 1948- 1950.

The Palace of Culture and Science was a gift from the Russian people to Poland. It is located in the center of the city, built in 1952 – 1955 in stone and limestone. The idea of its construction was Stalin’s. The shape of this building is similar to the Moscow Skyscrapers.

Churches in Warsaw
The Church of Saint Alexander dates back to 1818-1825, designed by Chrystian Piotr Aigner to honor Tsar Alexander the Great. It was destroyed in 1944 and later reconstructed in a Classicist style.

The Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and of St. Joseph was built between 1661 and 1681 in Baroque style. It was designed by J. Belloti and founded by King Władysław IV.

The Church of Our Lady Queen of Poland was built in 1642, founded by King Władysław IV. In 1991, it became the Field-Cathedral of the Polish Army.

The Church of the Holy Cross was built between 1679 and 1696 also in Baroque style. There you will see its characteristic figure of Christ carrying the Cross with its inscription reading: “ Sursum Corda”.

St. Joseph's Care Church is a beautiful sanctuary where you will find amazing sculptures, a wooden Calvary from the 18th Century and a monument to cardinal Stefan Wyszyński.

The Holy Trinity Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession was built in 1777-1782 and was rebuilt after the war. The Warsaw Chamber Opera usually organizes concerts in this church, due to its impressive organ and the acoustic improvements.

Monuments in Warsaw
Warsaw Uprising Monument was built in 1989, 45 years after Warsaw Uprising. It symbolizes the soldiers' fighting on the barricades and coming down to the sewage channels.

Frédéric Chopin Monument is a replica made in 1957 – 1958 of a sculpture that dates back to 1904. The original one was cast in Paris. It was built in Secesja (art noveau) style and the monument that can be seen nowadays has been made based on the models and photographs of the original statue.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a symbolic monument in honor to all the unknown soldiers who died for Poland. It was destroyed in 1944 and later rebuilt.

Monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino: it honors the 2nd Polish Corps. It was raised in May 1999.

Ignacy Jan Paderewski Monument: This patriot was one of the founders of the Polish Independent State. He died in 1942 in the US, and besides, he was a famous pianist and composer, politician and social militant.

Adam Mickiewicz Monument: He was the greatest Polish poet. The monument was built in 1898, in the 100th anniversary of the poet’s birth.

Juliusz Słowacki Monument: He was a famous romantic Polish poet of the 19th Century.

The Monument to the Fallen and Murdered in the East is a train platform like the one used to transport Polish people into the Soviet Union. The platform has crosses, which symbolize the dead people. It was raised in September 1995.

Jan Kiliński Monument: He was the leader of Warsaw burghers in the Kościuszko Insurrection.

Monument to Pawiak Victims: This monument consists of a dead tree with obituary notices of the killed prisoners.

The Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto was designed by Natan Rappaport. It was financed by Jewish organizations and raised in the ruins of the Ghetto in 1948, on the fifth anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.

Nicholas Copernicus Monument: The statue of this famous astronomer was designed by B. Thorvaldsen. In 1944 the monument was attacked and it was later restored.