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You are here : Home > Places to see in Poland > Warsaw > Old Town in Warsaw > Lazienki Park & Palace > Wilanow Palace > Palace of Culture > Memories of World War Two in Warsaw |
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The Old Town in Warsaw |
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The Old Town (Stare Miasto) in Warsaw
To understand modern day
Warsaw one has to understand the history behind the
city. Silhouette of Warsaw's "Syrenka" The task was to rebuild the capital city as fast as possible in order to accommodate all the returning war exiles whose homes and lives had been destroyed. The Old Town has since been painstakingly restored to it's former glory and Warsaw's Old Town now attracts millions of visitors each year.
The main square in the
heart of Warsaw's Old Town is a charming area. Destroyed during the war and subsequently re-built in a Gothic style-the cathedral houses artworks by Veit Stoss (the same artist who created the magnificent wooden altar in Krakow). On the outside wall can be seen fragments of a German tank. East of the Old Town
Square lies a maze of cobbled streets. Along one
such street you will find one of the narrowest
houses in the world at Ulica Kanonia 20/22. Barbican in Warsaw's Old Town Totally destroyed by the Nazis after the Warsaw Uprising, the Old Town of Warsaw was painstakingly rebuilt. The reconstruction project lasted from 1949 to 1963 (the Royal Castle was only rebuilt in 1970/71). King Zygmunt's column
stands in front of the Royal Palace.Built in
As retribution for
the failed Uprising Hitler ordered that the Royal
Castle be levelled to the ground. German sappers
drilled holes into the foundation and dynamite was
then inserted into the walls........the whole
structure was brought down in 1944.
Royal Palace and King Zygmunt's column in n 1971, a national
fund raising campaign was initiated with the purpose
of collecting money to finance the rebuilding
project. People
Some of the original fixtures from the Pre-War Castle still exist and have been restored to their original locations throughout the building. The original fixtures were rescued from the rubble and can be identified by their tarnished appearance. The Castle is now a
beautifully restored museum housing many original
artifacts that were hidden from the Nazis during the
war. The museum is open
Tues-Sat 10am - 6pm
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of Warsaw was
approximately 1.2 million. By 1945, over half the
population were killed, including the large Jewish
community who were systematically exterminated.
The
failed
Filled with cafes, bars, shops and restaurants it's
an ideal place to sit, relax and people watch. In the
middle of the square is the symbol of Warsaw, the Syrenka (Little Mermaid). She is the mythical
protectress of the city and appears on Warsaw's
coats of arms.
On Ulica Kanonia can be found Warsaw's oldest
church, St John's Cathedral-Katedra Sw.Jana). The
kings of Poland were coronated here and in fact,
Poland's last king is buried in one of the crypts.
Main Square in Warsaw's Old Town
remnants of the city's defensive walls.
Considered to be a gateway between the Old Town and
New Town it is a very picturesque area. Further
along the city walls you will find an iconic image
to many Poles, the statue of the Little Insurgent.
Erected to commemorate the part
1664 to
commemorate King Zygmunt III (who was responsible
for moving the capital from Krakow to Warsaw). The
column was damaged during the war but thankfully not
destroyed. 
were
encouraged to send in old photographs and drawings
of the building (exterior and interior) to assist
the architectural restoration team. The project was
finally completed in 1988.