Welcome to Warsaw, the capital and largest city of Poland, standing on the river Vistula in the east-central part of the country. It began as a small fishing town and rose to prominence after 1596, when King Sigismund the Third moved the royal court here from Kraków. In the 19th century it was known for its elegant architecture and boulevards. The Second World War devastated the city, and much of it was destroyed. Yet Warsaw rebuilt itself, and its reconstructed Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around a quarter of the city is parkland. Let's begin at the castle.
Royal Castle
Photo: Chris Olszewski · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsAt the entrance to the Old Town stands the Royal Castle, once the residence of Polish monarchs and the seat of the royal court until 1795. A landmark moment in history happened inside these walls: the Constitution of 3 May 1791, the first of its kind in Europe, was drafted here. The Second World War destroyed the castle completely. In September 1939 it was set alight in an air attack, and in 1944 the Nazis blew it up. Reconstruction ran from 1971 to 1984, and the castle regained its original appearance. Today it is a museum of Polish and European art.
Warsaw Old Town
Photo: Hiuppo · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWander into the Old Town, the oldest part of Warsaw, with its market square, city walls, the Barbican and the statue of the Warsaw Mermaid. The settlement dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries, and most of the buildings around you look as they did in the 17th and 18th centuries. But here is the remarkable part: during the Second World War the Old Town was almost totally destroyed. Its reconstruction was the world's first attempt to bring back an entire historic city centre, and UNESCO listed it in 1980.
Palace of Culture and Science
Photo: Maciurella · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLook up at the Palace of Culture and Science, a 237-metre tower that dominates central Warsaw. When it was completed in 1955, it was the eighth tallest building in the world. It was designed by the Soviet architect Lev Rudnev, inspired by both Polish historical architecture and American art deco skyscrapers. Inside you will find theatres, museums, a cinema, a concert hall and even a public swimming pool. At the main entrance, look for the statues of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and the poet Adam Mickiewicz.
Wilanów Palace
Photo: Chris Olszewski · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWelcome to Wilanów Palace, built between 1677 and 1696 for King John the Third Sobieski, to a design by the architect Augustyn Wincenty Locci. Unlike so much of Warsaw, this palace survived the world wars, which makes it one of the most remarkable examples of Baroque architecture in Poland. Its museum was founded as early as 1805 and holds treasures of the country's royal and artistic heritage. In summer the palace and its park come alive with concerts in the Rose Garden.
Łazienki Park
Photo: Marek and Ewa Wojciechowscy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsStroll into Łazienki Park, the largest park in Warsaw, covering 76 hectares in the heart of the city. Its name means the Royal Baths, and it comes from an ornate bathing pavilion designed in the 17th century by Tylman van Gameren. In 1764 King Stanisław the Second August acquired the estate and remodelled the gardens extensively. After Poland regained independence in 1918, it became a public park. Keep your eyes open as you walk beneath its 9,500 trees: peacocks and red squirrels live here.
Warsaw Uprising Museum
Photo: Adrian Grycuk · CC BY 3.0 pl · Wikimedia CommonsIn the Wola district stands the Warsaw Rising Museum, dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. The idea for it was born in 1983, but it took many years to build, and it finally opened on 31 July 2004, the 60th anniversary of the uprising. Inside, hundreds of objects tell the story of the people who took part, from weapons used by the insurgents to their love letters. The museum also records the stories and memories of those who lived through it.
Castle Square
Photo: Rhododendrites · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHere is Castle Square, a triangular square in front of the Royal Castle and a favourite meeting place for locals and visitors alike. Historic townhouses surround you, and the square marks the start of the Royal Route leading south. Rising in the south-west corner is Sigismund's Column, honouring King Sigismund the Third. It was raised in 1644 and is the oldest of the city's symbolic landmarks, and the first secular monument in the form of a column in Poland.
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