Warsaw

The capital. Combining New and Old. Full of energy.

Description

Warsaw, since 1595 the capital of Poland, is a symbol of the turbulent history of our country. The Old Town Area - the oldest quarter of Warsaw totally destroyed during the Warsaw Uprising [1944], then, after the war, perfectly reconstructed. To realise how incredible it is, you should visit the Warsaw History Museum located just at the Old Town Market Square and see the film “Warsaw Remains”. The Royal Castle - since 1595 the royal residence, then the seat of the Polish president, after the reconstruction became the museum and the scene of the gala receptions. The Warsaw`s oldest monument, the King Sigismund Column built in 1644 stands before the castle. It is where the Warsaw Royal Route begins and takes you along the most beautiful Warsaw palaces and aristocratic houses. Lazienki Royal Park and Palace Complex - the most beautiful architectural and park complex came into being in the 18th century thanks to the last King of Poland Stanislaw Poniatowski.

The most interesting sights located in the park are The Palace on Water - the King`s favourite residence, the Island Theatre, patterned after the Roman theatre at Herculaneum, the Orangery, containing a sculpture gallery and one of Europe`s surviving 18th century theatres. On summer Sundays, the park is filled with Chopin music thanks to the recitals performed at the foot of the Frederic Chopin Monument. The Royal Route leads to the Wilanow Palace and Park, built in the 17th century as a summer residence of the King John III Sobieski. The palace is a perfect example of Baroque architecture and contains the unique painting gallery with its valuable collection of coffin portraits. The Palace houses the museum of the palace’s interiors - the King`s private chambers, the banquet hall, the chapel and the library.
Other historic sights worth visiting are as follows:

  • Jewish Heritage - Umschlagplatz - a martyrological site to commemorate the Jewish people who died during the World War II, The Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto, fragments of the Ghetto Wall at Sienna Street;
  • Museum of the History of Polish Jews Polin;
  • World War II - The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Memorial to the Heroes of Warsaw Rising, Pawiak Prison Monument;
  • The Warsaw Rising Museum.

Palace of Science and Culture is “the youngest palace” of Warsaw built in 1955 as a gift of the Soviet Union to Poland. It is the perfect example of the sociorealism architecture, one of the most controversial buildings, a symbol of the communists times, one of the highest buildings of Warsaw which offers the city’s panorama from the 30th floor. In Warsaw you can admire a variety in modern architecture. Moreover, you can be an eye-witness to new fantastic constructions because many parts of Warsaw are completely changing their image. New buildings worth noticing are: the Supreme Court edifice on the Krasinskich Square, The Warsaw University Library with its unique garden on the library’s roof, the Golden Terraces - the shopping complex, the National Stadium built for EURO 2012.

Out of the city, there is Mazovia - a region which has a lot to offer for the tourists seeking both natural beauty as well as insight into the cultural heritage. The vast forest and green areas invite for walking, horse riding, cycling, picnics or various outdoor activities. The renovated palaces, castles, mansion houses, skansen museums and country buildings are a real asset of the Mazovian landscape.

We particularly recommend the following sights:

  • The Mansion House in Zelazowa Wola where F. Chopin was born;
  • The Baroque Residence in Nieborow;
  • The Etnographic Museum in Lowicz;
  • The Castle in Pultusk beautifully located on the Narew river [cruise in genuine gondolas is a must];
  • as well as golf game at the First Warsaw Golf and Country Club.