| Monuments and interesting places to visit à Varsovie are mainly situated in the very centre of the city. If you like long walks and visiting historical places, beautiful parks, palaces & monuments. These should take you through the most interesting parts of Varsovie. If you have more free time visit the museums and their exhibitions. |
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 THE ROYAL CASTLE
The Royal Castle is the royal palace and official residence of the Polish monarchs, located at the entrance to the Old Town. The imposing façade, built of brick is 90 m long and faces the Castle Square. At each end of the façade stands a square tower with a bulbous spire. The Sigismund’s Tower (60 m high) is located in the centre of the main façade, flanked on both sides by the castle.
 The interior consists of many different rooms, all painstakingly restored with as much original exhibits as possible. Of great interest is the Senate Chamber where the Constitution of 3rd May 1791 was declared. The Upper House were rooms tor those waiting for an audience with the King. Here visitors can admire the paintings by Canaletto representing views of late 18th century Varsovie. These paintings were used as references in the reconstruction of the Old Town of Varsovie. The Old Throne Room and several luxuriously appointed private apartments are very interesting as is the Conference Cabinet with its paintings of European sovereigns who ruled during the reign of Stanislaw August.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9.50 – 17.00. On Sundays, 10.50 – 17.00.
The Royal Castle
Plac Zamkowy 4
www.zamek-krolewski.pl |
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KING ZYGMUNT III COLUMN
The King Zygmunt III Column is dedicated to Zygmunt III Waza who made Varsovie the capital of Pologne. This column is also the symbol of the city and the Polish nation. It was commissioned in 1644 by Wladystaw's IV to commemorate his father's achievements and assure the memory of this popular King. During the Second World War the column and all of the Old Town was destroyed. Some of the original pieces of the column can be found next to the Royal Castle. The King Zygmunt III Column is a well known landmark. |
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 OLD TOWN
When you leave the Castle our tour continues along Swietojanska Street, a narrow street, fronted by impressive tenement buildings. This leads us from the Royal Castle to the Old Town Square. The Old Town is one of the most picturesque places à Varsovie where most of the most important monuments can be found. In fact this area of Varsovie was reconstructed after its total destruction during World War Two. It is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the heart and soul of Varsovie and rebuilding the area can be said to represent the Polish peoples will to remain unconquered and free. |
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ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL
Half way down Swietojanska Street, on your right, you will see the red bricked facade of St. John's Cathedral. It is one of the oldest churches à Varsovie. It was in this building that the oath of the Constitution of the 3rd May 1791 was sworn. The Cathedral Crypt contains the tombs of some of those who played an important part in Polish history. Stanistaw August Poniatowski, Henryk Sienkiewicz, Gabriel Narutowicz and Ignacy Paderewski. |
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 OLD TOWN SQUARE
The Old Town Square. In the summer the Square is filled with street cafes and you can sit under parasols sipping your favourite beverage and admire the fine architecture around you. It is a busy place with a constant movement of people. There are many very good restaurants to be found here and many bars. For souvenir shopping it is the ideal spot. There are galleries and museums to visit and from here you can hire a horse drawn carriage to take you round the Old Town. This is the most picturesque place in the capital. In the middle of the market square there is a bronze statue of the Mermaid of Varsovie - the emblem of the city. The market square is divided into Each of the late Renaissance or Baroque tenements in the Old Town have their own particular style and their own history. |
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BARBICAN
The Barbican was constructed in 1548 as part of the 1200 m long city wall defences. The soldiers have long gone and nowadays it's a place for painters and musicians.
Go through the Barbican into Nowomiejska Street, which changes very quickly to Freta Street. Out onto Freta Street again and with the Old Town behind you walk down to the. yes you've guessed. The New Town and its Market Square. Cross the square towards its left comer. Follow the street that leads to the left. A little more than 100 m further you wilt see. on your right, the red bricked belfry of The Church of Our Lady Mary. |
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CHURCH OF OUR LADY MARY
The Church of Our Lady Mary is the parish church of the New Town. It was founded by Prince Janusz and his wife Ann in 1409. The edifice has been rebuilt many times. The belfry is in the Gothic style. The church is located in a picturesque and quiet area of the New Town. Standing in front of it you can see the Vistula River and the so named Kosciuszko banks of the river. In the square there are outdoor theatre performances and concerts which are organised locally. |
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KRASINSKI SQUARE
Situated in a corner of the square is the Varsovie Uprising Monument. This impressive monument was created for the 45th anniversary of the Varsovie Uprising. It was to commemorate the heroic uprising against the Germans in the city. The uprising broke out on 1 st August 1944 and lasted 63 days. The German armed forces were much stronger than the civilians of Varsovie and the fight was not an equal one. This is considered one of the most tragic and bloody episodes in Polish history. |
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KRASINSKICH PALACE
The Krasinskich Palace (the Palace of the Republic) situated opposite the Varsovie Uprising Monument was the residence of Jan Krasinski. Today it is part of the Polish National Library. The Palace is regarded as the most impressive Baroque building in the city. It was built between 1677-82 by the eminent Dutch architect Tylman from Gameren. The numerous bas-reliefs on the Palace facade are modelled on figures from Antiquity. The greenish" coloured modern building that surrounds part of the square is the new The Supreme Court. Behind the Palace there is a quiet park. You can take a break in your tour here and from under the shade of the chestnut trees admire the park's floral displays. This was one of the first parks à Varsovie to be opened to the general public. |
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| Miodowa Street is a busy street and because of the number of well-appointed residences on the street. Number 24 is the former Collegium Nobilium - a school created to teach the elite of the Polish nation. The school introduced new methods of teaching that were not popular during its time. Now it is the home of the Theatrical Academy. Number 17 is the residence of the Polish Primate. It was built in the 18th century. Straight ahead is St. Ann's Church. |
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ST. ANN'S CHURCH
The St. Ann's Church was built on the high banks of the Vistula in 1454. It has been destroyed and rebuilt several times so it can be said that it is a masterpiece of many epochs and with its 16th century belfry can be considered a mixture of many styles. The interior of the building is in splendid and very beautifully restored Baroque. |
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Varsovie Attractions touristiques