10 things to do in Warsaw

Iconic sights that represent Poland’s varied history, imperialism, religion and culture.

April 19, 2014 04:21 pm | Updated May 21, 2016 12:20 pm IST

An old Warsaw church.

An old Warsaw church.

Rebuilt into its original 13th century design after being almost reduced to rubble during World War II, Warsaw comprises palaces, churches, monuments and street sculptures. Featuring mostly Baroque and Neoclassical styles, their combined architectural silhouette is a visual feast.

Old Town: Surrounded by 14th century walls, Stare Miasto or the Old Town is Warsaw’s oldest district. The centrepiece of this World Heritage site is a paved square neatly surrounded by multicoloured townhouses — many of which date back to the 16th century — with a statue of a mermaid in the middle. Built by former wealthy members of the Polish society, most of the dwellings are dated back to 16th century. Their stylish ensemble gives the domain its unique period charms that draws the attention of visitors. The adjoining streets are filled with historic buildings, churches and monuments like the Jesuit Church, Church of St Martin and Barbican Towers. Being home to many of Warsaw’s top restaurants and bars, it’s also a favourite haunt for locals.

Royal Castle: Located at the entrance to the Old Town, this former residence of Polish monarchs since the early 17th century was rebuilt in the 1970s. More of a palace than a castle, this Baroque style edifice, which was originally designed by Italian architects Trevano and Castelli, contains have myriad of apartments and chambers ornamented with proud Polish moments. Worth miss the ballroom decorated with 17 pairs of golden columns; the Royal Princess Rooms which have historical paintings by Polish maestro Matejko; Canaletto Room displaying scenes of Warsaw as portrayed by famous Venetian painter Canaletto; the Lanckoronski Gallery with two Rembrandt masterpieces; and Senators Hall, in which the famous painting “Constitution of May 3, 1791” is exhibited.

St. John’s Cathedral: This stunning Gothic cathedral in the heart of Warsaw’s Old Town was built in the 14th century. It’s one of the oldest churches in Poland, but was completely destroyed during World War II. However like much of the Old Town, It was reconstructed true to its original architecture. In addition to being the site of many historical events, such as the coronation of the last Polish king, the cathedral houses the beautiful red marble tombs of many Mazowian dukes, and its crypt is the resting place of many celebrated Polish personalities, like Nobel Prize-winning writer Henryk Sienkiewicz.

Krakowskie Przedmiescie: It’s one of the most atmospheric streets of Warsaw that links the old town with other parts of the metropolis and displays convergence of rich culture, ancient history and vibrant contemporary life. Intermittently sprinkled with manicured greenery, the thoroughfare is flanked with former palaces now home to government offices, magnificently restored churches, country’s presidential residence, the Warsaw university complex, several statues and monuments and hordes of restaurants and cafes.

Church of the Holy Cross: Warsaw can aptly be titled as “City of Churches”; there are so many of them that in one visit it’s impossible even to just go past all of them. However Church of the Holy Cross is a special one, particularly for music lovers, it being the final resting place for the heart of legendary composer Fryderyk Chopin, The Warsaw-born genius who lived in Paris was buried there after his untimely death, but his heart was sent back to where it belonged. This church with Baroque crowns adorning its twin towers also houses the remains of Nobel Prize-winning author Władysław Reymont, and tablets honouring various Polish icons including poet Juliusz Słowacki and WWII hero Władysław Sikorski.

Lazienki Park: Located almost in the centre of the city, this expansive complex of heritage gardens is Warsaw’s “green lung”. The parkland features many architectural marvels, the two most tourist-haunted are the Chopin Monument and grand Palace on the Water, the summer residence of Poland’s last king August Poniatowski.

Jewish Quarter: When Hitler chose to expand Germany territories to provide “living space” for German people, Warsaw’s 350,000-strong Jewish communities had to make room by moving to the Nazi-built ghetto from where they eventually perished. Traces of the Jewish livelihood still remain but the best memoir is the Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto, which was instituted in 1948 to mark their heroic defiance of the Nazis.

Warsaw Rising Museum: Opened in 2004 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Warsaw Rising, this museum is a tribute to those who fought for Poland’s independence. Housed in an old tram power station, it not only recreates the city during its 63 days of military struggle but also draws gruesome pictures of life during Nazi occupation.

Palace of Culture and Science: This 30-storey-high building with a 230-metre spire dominates the city skyline. When completed in 1955, it was the second tallest in building Europe and gained respect for its many innovative design features. Despite passage of time, this symbol of Soviet domination, now housing several cultural outlets such as theatres, cinemas and a concert hall, provokes diverse reactions — from admiration to demands for its demolition to wipe off the decaying remains of the Soviets.

Hotel Bristol: Situated on Krakowskie Przedmiescie next to the Presidential Palace, Hotel Bristol is part of the city’s history. Established in 1901 and refurbished later, it has been the silent witness of many inspiring and gruelling Warsaw episodes. Enchanting with a majestic neo-renaissance facade, the refurbished hotel offers elegance and luxury. A coffee and cake at their Cafe Bristol is a great way of immersing oneself in its romantic interiors and classy hospitality.

Quick facts

Getting there: Emirates Airlines (www.emirates.com) via Dubai to Warsaw

Best time to visit: July to October

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.