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We came to Warsaw, the capital of Poland, in August 2003. It is a large, cosmopolitan center and as such we found it be a bit less interesting than many of the smaller towns we normally visit. For the tourist, the most interesting parts are in the old town and new town. The town was almost completely demolished during the war, but the old town squares have since been rebuilt.
Above right is the rebuilt Warsaw Castle, a massive edifice enlarged over the centuries as subsequent kings added their own touches. The structure shown above was origianlly built from1598 to 1619 and had the interiors reconstructed in the 18th century. However, after the war, all that was left standing was the front archway below the tower along with piles of rubble. Years after the war, work began on rebuilding. Donations were sought from the populace and much of the money to rebuild the castle came from those donations. It was a monumental task but the finished product has become a historic treasure. Many of the original furnishings were recovered after having been taken during the war. tours are available to see the interior or you can visit on Sunday as we did when no tours are available, but entrance is free. Opposite the castle is a colorful group of rebuilt houses clustered together, just inside the remains of the old city wall above left.
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Just a few blocks north of the Castle square is the old market square (above right). All reconstructed, these houses still have their original basements and foundations. The square is full of shops and lined with outdoor restaurants catering to the tourist trade.
Further north still the rebuilt barbican (right) erected in 1548 and the city walls, now being rebuilt. The brick barbican and walls were part of the medieval walled circuit around Warsaw. North of this is the New Town.
We found the flower planter like the one at above, left to be a colorful addition to the cityscape. The planter is fully planted with succulents, ivy, spider plants and flowering plants to create a living sculpture.
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Near the city center the buildings take on a much more modern look, but one that has created a bit of controversy since its creation is the towering Palace of Culture and Science (right). Built in the early 50’s it was a “gift of friendship” from the Soviet Union to the Polish nation. It is still Poland’s largest and tallest (234 meters) building. It stands in a relatively open area and this is visible from near and far. Some joke that the best view is from the palace (it has a viewing platform on the 30th floor) because it is the only view that does not include the palace itself. We found it large and a bit obtrusive, but actually, compared to some of the newer modern buildings nearby, this at least has some architectural style.
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