Warsaw Tour 4 Choise

7/29/2019 Warsaw Tour 4 Choise

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Warsaw for tourist look at:

www.warsawtour.pl

1. Warsaw Uprising Museum

ul. Grzybowska 79 (map)

tel. +48 22 539 79 05

www.1944.pl

The Warsaw Rising Museum is one of the most visited places in Warsaw. Opened on the 60thanniversary of the outbreak of fighting in the city, it is a tribute to those who fought and died

for a free Poland and its capital. The exhibition shows the struggle of everyday life before and

during the Warsaw Uprising and the horror of occupationwhich was a complexinternational situationto the post-war communist terror and the fate of insurgents in thePRL. Images and sounds present the days prior to the outbreak of the Uprising, its subsequent

phases, as well as the insurgents exit and their subsequent fate. With an area of over 3,000meters, there are nearly 1,000 exhibits and 1,500 photographs and films.

The heart of the Museum is a steel monument, passing through all the floors of the building.

On its walls is engraved the Uprising's calendar of events, and the sound of a heartbeat which

can be heard from inside symbolizes the life of Warsaw in 1944. A special attraction is theMuseum tower, with a beautiful view of Warsaw and Freedom Park with the Memorial Wall,

on which are engraved the names of more than 10,000 insurgents who died during battle. In

the central part of the wall the Monter bell is hung: weighing 230 kg, it is dedicated toGeneral Antoni Chruciel.

>From August 1st, visitors can see the 3D movie The City of Ruins. It is the simulation ofthe Liberator plane flights over destroyed Warsaw in 1945.

Opening hours:

Mon., Wed., Fri. 8 am - 6 pm, Thu. 8 am - 8 pm, Sat.-Sun. 10 am - 6 pm

Admission:

regular - 14 PLN, reduced - 10 PLN, groups - 7 PLN/person, on Sundays admission free

The City of Ruins movie - 2 PLN

2. azienki Krlewskie Museum
http://www.1944.pl/http://www.1944.pl/http://www.1944.pl/


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ul. Agrykoli 1 (map)

tel. +48 504 243 783

www.lazienki-krolewskie.pl

azienki Krlewskie Museum is a Palace-Garden complex which includes a park (76 hectares

of nature, right in the city center) and numerous historical objects. The park was created usingthe formerly wildly growing forest, allowing the animals to be 'detained' under natural

conditions. In the 18th century it became the most beautiful planned area in Warsaw and one

of the most beautiful in Europe, equally stunning in terms of its greenery and architecture.

azienki performs a variety of functions: it is a museum, a place of cultural, scientific andentertainment events, and a favourite place for walks. It is also an important place for music

lovers. For 50 years, at the foot of the world's most famous monument of Fryderyk Chopin,

on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer, free piano concerts have been held, gathering

crowds of tourists and music lovers.

Palace on the Islanda pearl of Polish architecture and one of the symbols of Warsaw, isthe most important building in the garden. Its history is closely connected with the reign of

Stanisaw August Poniatowski, the last Polish king. He decided to expand a small pavilion ofLubomirski's Bath to serve as one of his residences. The Palace, though badly damaged,

survived World War II and was re-opened to the public in 1960.

Mylewicki Palace

The palace took its name from Mylewice village, which was once located not far from thepalace. In 1774 the walls of the palace already existed, however the date of the

commencement of construction is unknown. The palace is situated at the closing of the road

leading from the city. King Stanisaw August Poniatowski ordered it to be enlarged with two-storey pavilions, combined with the main body with round fittings of a single storey, at this

point in its design, the building was finished by Merlini. The palace is maintained in the early

classicist style, making it one of Warsaw's few surviving examples of this architectural era.

The original aspects of the structure are the round outline of the 'wings', and the particular

shape of the roof which is designed to resemble patterns in traditional Chinese art.

White HouseSituated on the Royal Promenade, it was built in 1774 and designed by Dominik Merlini at

the command of Stanisaw August Poniatowski. The interior was decorated by two painters:Jan Bogumi Plersch and Jan ciso. The building is an original memento of the King

Stanisaw period because, although devastated, it was not completely destroyed during WorldWar II. Its unique interior includes gigantic paintings in the Dining Room, original Chinesewallpaper (from the second half of the 18th century) in the Drawing Room, and the Office

decorated with paintings by Jan Bogumi Plersch; all of these rooms have been preserved andare original. Also worth noting: in the Bedroom stands the King's authentic bed.

Old Orangery

In the east wing there is a wonderful interior, including one of the world's few genuine

examples of an authentic court theater: it's made of wood and the audience area, consisting of

a ground floor and boxes, is rich in decorative painting. The west wing contained living

quarters for servants and guest rooms.

Podchorwka
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Right next to the Palace on the Water, in the eastern part of the garden, there is the so-called

Wielka Oficyna (Grand Office), also called the Podchorwka (the Military College). Duringthe reign of Stanisaw August, it was here that the kitchen and outhouse with flats werelocated. In 1822, the building was transferred into the Cadet School of Infantry and hence its

present name derives from this. The building has been written into the history of the Polish

nation because it was here that Piotr Wysocki urged cadets to pick up their weapons andrevolt, effectively beginning the November Uprising.

AmphitheatreOpened on the anniversary of the election of King Stanisaw August, on September 7, 1791.Built according to a John Christian Kamsetzer design, situated on the bank of the pond, it's

based on older buildings that once stood in this spot. The audience area is reminiscent of the

theatre in the Herculaneum, and is topped with statues of famous dramatic writers, whilst the

stage reminds one of the ruins of the Roman Forum. Its most unique feature is the separation

of the audience from the stage using water.

Pavilions in the Park:

Hermitage

A small building, which was destroyed by fire early in the reign of Stanisaw August. Rebuiltin the 18th century, designed by Dominik Merlini, it has survived unchanged until today.

Currently, it houses a gallery where temporary exhibitions are presented, and it is also is a

venue for concerts and meetings with authors and artists.

Temple of DianaBuilt in 1822, its construction and design are inspired by ancient Greek buildings. The interior

is decorated with paintings and motifs of fruit and flowers.

Egyptian Temple

Built around 1822, today only a fragment of its original structure remains; the temple standsnear the pond. Historically, its roof served as a bridge and the main part of the building was

the glass-glazed conservatory with fig trees. Currently, the temple houses the Museum of

Scouting.

WodozbirThis is the place where the flowing water from nearby sources was collected and transferred

to the Bath and the park fountains. In 1827 the building was re-built to resemble the Roman

tomb of Cecilia Metelli on the Via Appia near Rome. Currently the interior serves as a

gallery, where temporary exhibitions are organized.

New Orangery

Built in 1860, designed by Adam Adolphe Loeve and Jzef Orowski. Initially, during thewinter months, this is where the palace's exotic plants were kept, but currently it houses apermanent garden and a restaurant, called Belvedere.

Stara Kordegarda

Built during 1791-1792 on the north bank of the pond. During the reign of King StanisawAugust, it was occupied by the royal guards protecting the Palace on the Water. The

decoration of the building was inspired by J.Ch. Kamsetzer, as is the stone colonnade. Today,

it is the seat and showroom of the Society of Fine Arts.

Nowa Kordegarda

Built between 1779-1780, it served as an entertainment pavilion for a popular social game of

the era, Trou Madam, a game which involved rolling stone balls. In 1782, it was adapted to

act as the manor theater room known as the Small Theater. After the construction of the newGrand Theatre in the Orangery, the Small Theatre lost its raison d'tre and the building was


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converted into a storage space for sculptures.

Narutowicz HouseThe building was erected in the 1930s as a residential building for senior officers. Before his

death, the first President of the Republic of Poland, Gabriel Narutowicz, lived here. Today, it

is a nursery.

Barracks of the CantonistsThe barracks were built between 1826-1828, in a simple, classical design. It acted as the

Cavalry headquarters in the 17th century, and today, it houses the Museum of Hunting and

Horsemanship.

In every nook and corner of the azienki Royal Park you can find a variety of unusual statuesand monuments, with the most important ones being:

Jan III Sobieski Monument

Honouring the victorious commander of the Battle of Vienna, the monument was put up by

Stanisaw August Poniatowski, the last king of Poland. The statue was to present valuescherished by king Stanisaw. Unfortunately, his reign did not stand up to the one of his great

predecessor and ended up in erasing Poland from the map of Europe. As the monument wasvery costly, its building was quickly followed by a satiric poem: "A hundred thousand for a

statue! I'd give twice the sum to freeze Stanisaw and to wake up Jan." Chopin MonumentInitially arousing great controversies due to its expressive form, the monument is one of the

icons of today's Warsaw. In due course, it has become an integral part of its surrounding,

making it impossible to even imagine the Royal azienki Park without the statue and Chopinconcerts held at its foot.

Henryk Sienkiewicz Monument

The statue of one of Warsaw most popular writers, whose books still enjoy great popularity inPoland and abroad. The sculpture presents the Nobel Prize Laureate of 1905 at his work.

The Warsaw University Botanic Garden

Located in: rdmiecie, Aleje Ujazdowskie 4www.ogrod.uw.edu.pl

This is one of oldest botanical gardens in Polandit's estimated to be about 200 years old.This is a wonderful place that offers a substitute for the wilds of 'real' nature, right in the

bustling centre of the city: it has the perfect location, in the same neighbourhood as the

absolutely lovely azienki Park.The garden's founders were Micha Szubert and Jakub F. Hoffman; they launched it in 1818.Within the first six years of its opening, over 10,000 different plants were detailed and listed

within its grounds. Unfortunately, the rapid and impressive progress of the botanical gardenswas completely halted due to the November Uprising, and the gardens were forced to close, as

in 1834 the Tsar decreed that the University of Warsawand all its branches and subsidiaryprojectsbe shut down. The garden did not re-open until 1916, and once again, it did sounder the authority of the University, and the direction of Professor Zygmunt Wycicki.

Sadly, the garden suffered extensive damage during World War II: its greenhouses were

completely destroyed and its orangery and outbuildings were levelled, though many of the

trees and plants continued to grow wild.

It was not until 1987 that the government ordered the botanical gardens to be returned to their

pre-war state of beauty and stature, and that the gardens be a real centre of the study, research

and preservation of Polish wildlife, plants, shrubs and horticulture. Within a short time of thisdecree, the botanical gardens undertook specialised research and very succesfully fulfilled


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their role as an 'experimental, scientific studio' of botany and dendrology. It's interesting to

note that some of the trees standing today were planted by hand, by the garden's founder,

Micha Szubert, such as the massive and very unusual beech trees from China. The beech treehas, in fact, become the symbol of the botanical gardens.

The garden may be viewed and toured from the spring to fall, and numerous thematic

exhibitions are organized in the gardens, as well. The annual Rose Festival takes place in July,and there are many open-air performances and concerts, perfect for families with small

children. There are also competitions and events introducing new types of flowers, especially

breeds of roses. An interesting and historic detail is the small temple which has been built to

commemorate the May 3rd Constitution of 1792.

3. Museum of the History of Polish Jews

ul. Anielewicza 6 (map)tel. +48 22 471 03 00

www.jewishmuseum.org.pl

Locating the Museum in Muranw is no coincidence. Before World War II, this was the

central point of a district inhabited mostly by the Jewish population, while during the war and

after setting up the ghetto, the building served as the seat of Judenrat, a ghetto council

selected by German authorities. Also, this was where the Germanshaving put down theghetto uprisingestablished the "Gsiwka" concentration camp. Yet, this place deserves aspecial chapter in the history not only due to war-time events. In 1970, Chancellor of the

Federal Republic of Germany Willi Brandt knelt down in a historic gesture at the foot of theMonument of the Ghetto Heroes, right on the opposite side of today's Museum. This event

was hailed symbolic German apologies for the crime of Holocaust. The modern Museum is togive this site another mission: by becoming the centre of dialogue, it is to build new layers of

the common ground between the two so tragically tried nations.

The building design was selected by way of an international competition won by a Finnish

team of architects, whose design represents a range of symbolic meanings. The uniform, glass

faade is split by a gigantic crack evoking connotations with the Biblical crossing of the Red

Sea by the Israelis. Glass panels covering the elevation are embellished with letters taken

from Latin and Hebrew alphabets, signifying the word "Polin". In Hebrew, the word means

Poland, but it may also be interpreted as the phrase "here you will rest". Some believe the

latter was regarded as a good omen by Jews wandering across medieval Europe torn apart by

religious conflicts and thus they began to settle down in great numbers on the Polish land. The

territory was perceived as an oasis of tolerance, unique in Europe of that time. As a result, inthe 16th century Poland was home to approx. 80% of the world Jewish population.

The contemporary architecture of the building corresponds ideally with tasks assigned to the

Museum of the History of Polish Jews, the aim of which is to adopt an innovative approach to

presenting 1000 years of coexistence of the Polish and Jewish nations.

A permanent exhibition will be opened to public in 2014, but the facility already offers some

of its spaces for holding various kinds of meetings, concerts, theatre performances and other

events.

Opening hours:

Mon., Wed.-Sun. 10 am-6 pm

Admission:
http://www.jewishmuseum.org.pl/http://www.jewishmuseum.org.pl/


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Walk + movie:

regular - 9 PLN, reduced - 5 PLN, regular for groups - 8 PLN, reduced for groups - 4 PLN

Walk + movie + exhibition:


Exhibition:


Events organized at the Museum (concerts, performances, etc.) will be priced individually.

Please check the current program for details.

Umschlagplatz

10 Stawki Street

Since July 22, 1942, transports of Jews to the Treblinka death camp departed from this square.

This is commemorated by the monument with 448 names, from Abel to anna, cut in one ofits walls, as a symbol of thousands of Jews trapped in the Warsaw ghetto, and next to it there

is a verse from the Book of Job 16:18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry haveno place.

Monument to the Ghetto Heroes

It was unveiled on the fifth anniversary of the outbreak of the uprising on the ruins of the

ghetto. The reliefs were created by Natan Rappaport. The west side of the monument, entitled

Fight, shows men, women and children holding grenades, guns and bottles of gasoline intheir hands. This side of the monument symbolises the heroic uprising of insurgents, while the

other side entitled March to death represents the suffering and martyrdom of innocentvictims. Copies of these reliefs are exhibited at the Yad Vashem Institute in Jerusalem, which

deals with the study of the Holocaust. The Warsaw monument is covered with slabs of stone

ordered during the war

by the Germans in Sweden, as a material for monuments which were to commemorate the

victory of Hitler. The square opposite the monument bears the name of Willy Brand,

Chancellor of Germany, who in 1970 knelt at the foot of the monument, which was

interpreted as a request for forgiveness of German crimes against the Jewish people.

After the end of the uprising, almost all the buildings in the ghetto were razed to the ground,and the entrance to the area was punished with death. Only St. Augustine church tower,

converted into a warehouse, protruded from the ruins. The Germans carried out secret

executions here, as evidenced by the Monument to the Memory of Jews and Poles located in

Gibalskiego Street.

Keret House

the space between buildings in 74 elazna and 22 Chodna Streetswww.domkereta.pl

The building built in 2012with the narrowest point of 72 cm, and the widest of 122 cm

fills a narrow gap between the post-war block and an old tenement house, and is now thenarrowest house in the world. The interior has been designed making the maximum use of the
http://kerethouse.com/http://kerethouse.com/http://kerethouse.com/


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available space. On two levels, there is everything necessary for lifebedroom, kitchen,bathroom, and a space to work. Various artists from around the world are to be invited there,

the first of whom is Etgar Keretan Israeli writer, whose family came from Warsaw. Theinstallation is expected to continue at least until 2016.

The house can be visited in a specially designated timesdetails on the project website.

Prna Street

The small street is one of the few places where Jews lived before the war, in which the vibe of

the old Warsaw has survived. The Jewish atmosphere of the area is evokedby the SingersWarsaw festival, which is held every year in late August and early September, and on thefaades of the buildings you can see the open-air exhibition And I Still See Their Faces

presenting pictures of the pre-war Jewish population.

4. Old TownRoyal Castle

pl. Zamkowy 4

www.zamek-krolewski.com.pl

Built in the 15th century, this castle served as residence of Mazovian princes. Once the capital

was moved to Warsaw from Krakw, the castle served as seat of the king and the government.

The castle has been renovated repeatedly and destroyed completely during World War II. Itwas rebuilt between 1971-1988 using castle remains and rubble. Today, the segment with the

clock tower opens the way to the Old Town. Museum attractions include two originalRembrandt paintings as well as works by Bernardo Bellotto, aka Canaletto, court painter to

Polish King Stanisaw August Poniatowski. Canalettos paintings were vital during Warsawspost-war reconstruction.

On the Vistula side are the recently renovated Kubicki Arcades which support the foundations

and the cliffs and give the structure its shape. Following the 1831 Uprising they were used as

stables and barracks, and then as garages. The arcades are original, as they were not destroyed

during World War II. Currently they house an archaeological exhibit and pension.

King Zygmunt III Waza ColumnPlac Zamkowy

The oldest and tallest non-church monument in Warsaw was raised in 1644 by King

Wadysaw IV, in honour of his father Zygmunt III Waza, who in 1596 moved the capitalfrom Krakw to Warsaw. The monument stands 22 metres high with the actual figure of the

King measuring 275 cm. The sword he holds in his right hand symbolises bravery, while the

cross he holds in his left hand symbolises his readiness to fight evil. According to legend,

should the Kings sword fall downward, disaster is sure to follow. The statue fell duringWorld War II and its destroyed column placed next to the Royal Castle, where it can still be

seen today.

Church of St. Martin

ul. Piwna 9/11
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The church is located on Piwna Street, which is the longest street in the Old Town, with a

length is 250 m. Founded in 1356 by the Duke of Mazovia Ziemowit and his wife Euphemia,

it has been reconstructed. The main body of the church is baroque, and located next to the

monastery are buildings of the Augustine priests, where the Mazovian voivodeship local

councils took place in the 16th century. The church played a resistance role in the 1970s and

'80s, as it was a place where opposition members gathered.

Cathedral Basilica of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist

ul. witojaska 8www.katedra.mkw.pl

Modestly squeezed in a series of buildings, the cathedral was erected in its current form

(earlier there was a wooden chapel on this place) in the 14th century as a parish church, andgradually took on increasing importance, until it became the most important church in the

Republic of Poland. Weddings, coronations and royal funerals were held here. Primate Stefan

Wyszyski's tomb is in the basilica and in the crypts there are also numerous tombs: of the

dukes of Mazovia, the archbishops of Warsaw, the last Polish King Stanisaw AugustPoniatowski, President of Poland Gabriel Narutowicz and Nobel prize winning-writer Henryk

Sienkiewicz. In the summer, organ concerts are held in the cathedra

church of Our Lady of Grace the Patron of Warsaw

ul. witojaska 10www.laskawa.pl

Built in the late-Renaissance style, between 1609-1629, the early-Baroque altar has a

miraculous portrait renowned for the graces of Our Lady of Grace, the Patroness of Warsaw;

it was donated by King John Casimir to Pope Innocence X. The stone bear lying in front of

the church has a romantic legend connected to it: in this enchanted rock, a shy prince waits for

the one woman whose love can restore him to manhood

Old Town Market Square

Founded in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, this is one of the most picturesque corners

of the city. It was once the main square of Warsaw: celebrations and markets were organised

here, and legal judgements were passed on the condemned. The central part of the market was

originally occupied by the town hall which was demolished in 1817, and in 1944, the Old

Town was completely destroyed. All its buildings were reconstructed after World War II andtheir appearance is a perfect match to the Square's original look in the 17th and 18th centuries.

A legend says that in the basements of the buildings located along one side of Dekert, at the

corner of Krzywe Koo, there lives a Basilisk. It guarded the treasures once stored there, andevery man who tried to reach them was killed by the gaze of the Basilisk, which turns men tostone. He was defeated in the end by a wandering tailor who showed the monster a mirror.

The Basilisk was petrified by its own appearance, and hid away; from then on, he was nolonger a threat to residents. Today on the faade of the building there is a picture of the

Basilisk, which is the symbol of the renowned Warsaw restaurant of the same name.

Monument of the Warsaw Mermaid
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The Mermaid Statue stands in the very centre of Old Town Square, surrounded by a fountain.

Due to vandalism, the original statue had been moved to the grounds of the Historical

Museum of Warsawthe statue in the square is a copy.This is not the only one mermaid in Warsaw. Another is located on the bank of the Vistula

River near witokrzyski Bridge and another near ulica Karowa.

According to legend, a mermaid swimming in from the sea stopped on the riverbank near the

Old Town to rest. She found the place so admirable that she decided to stay. Local fishermenliving nearby noticed that something was creating waves, tangling nets, and releasing their

fish. Although their original intention was to trap the offender, they fell in love with the

mermaid upon hearing her sing. Later, a rich merchant trapped the siren and imprisoned her ina wooden hut. A young fisherman heard the mermaids cry and with the help of his mates,released her, whereupon she declared her readiness to offer fishermen her help whenever itwould be needed. Ever since, the mermaid, armed with sword and shield, has been ready to

help protect the city and its residents.

Stone Stairs

Extremely picturesque stairs that have existed since the 15th century, they led outside of the

city centre's defensive walls, running past the Vistula. Initially, the steps were made of wood,

and in the 18th century, they were changed to stone and gave the street its name. An

interesting fact is that during one of his visits to Warsaw, Napoleon Bonaparte marched down

the stairs.

Barbican and defensive walls

The remnants of Warsaw's defensive walls, erected in 1548 by Giovanni Batista Venetian. In

the Barbican (in the alley wall which links the Old and New Towns) there is an exhibition

illustrating the history of the city's fortifications, with models of the towers and walls,

explaining why Warsaw's Old Town is a UNESCO cultural heritage monument.

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Warsaw Tour 4 Choise