Posted: 02/09/2007--25/11/2008 || Rate this Article: 3 || Views|| Sign In || Register ||Hello Guest
Warsaw, Polands historic capital is one of a new group of European cities that has enjoyed something of a tourist boom in recent years. Along with Prague and Budapest, what once were forbidding strongholds of the Eastern Bloc countries are now amongst Europes most unusual and exciting destinations. Warsaw still has an unjustified reputation for being somewhat gloomy and depressing, and indeed the reminders of communism can still be seen in Warsaw, but today the city welcomes the more adventurous tourist and is a lively blend of the old and the new.
The center of Warsaw is divided into the Old and the New Town C although even parts of the New Town date back to the early 1400s. Much of the city was destroyed in World War II and the subsequent reconstruction of the center of Warsaw was one of the biggest such projects in European history. Any visit to Warsaw must begin with a visit to the Old Town Square, one of Europes most attractive squares and the center of a World Heritage site. The square is lined with cafes and restaurants and during the warmer months becomes an impromptu outdoor art gallery. After dark, a meal at one of the restaurants specializing in the local cuisine overlooking the square makes for a romantic evening. On the north side of the square is the historical museum of Warsaw; on the south side is the magnificent Royal Castle. The castle was built to reinforce the decision to move Polands capital from Krakow to Warsaw in the 1500s, although most of what you see today was painstakingly rebuilt over a 20 year period beginning in 1971. The castle is open to visitors and contains several art galleries and rooms of elaborate furnishings, as well as the Senators Room, where the Polish constitution was adopted in 1791. Warsaw is one of the few European capitals where a large portion of the city walls survive. You can still see the Gothic looking barbican tower, a defensive feature which was built in 1548.
To the north of the Old Town is the New Town, a largely residential neighborhood of colorful town houses, antique shops and several lovely churches. The church of St Kazimierz has a spectacular Baroque domed roof as well as a series of gardens, basically unchanged from the 17th century which overlooks the River Vistula. One of the landmarks in the New Town is the striking sculpture depicting the Warsaw uprising against the Nazis in 1944.
Warsaw has its share of more modern buildings too; many large multinational companies have made their home here, helping to make it a truly international city. Probably the most famous example of modern architecture in the city though, is the 30 storey Palace of Culture building. As the name suggests, this is a relic from the Soviet style of architecture C the building was commissioned in 1952 as a gift from the Soviet people. Today the distinctive and ornate building is still the tallest C and most controversial - building in the country, and houses shops, restaurants and a theater. There is a spectacular view over the city and the surrounding countryside from the observation deck.
Warsaw also has a collection of streets known collectively as the Royal Route so-called because of the magnificent former royal residences that still line the streets. Today, most of these buildings have been turned into government offices. This neighborhood is also home to the University of Warsaw C student bars and cafes give the area a lively feel, especially after dark. The caf Blikle has been a landmark in this area for almost 150 years and still offers the best coffee and doughnuts anywhere in the city.
Further afield from the city center, the Lazienki Palace is a sprawling collection of beautiful gardens, lavishly decorated palaces and monuments. The site was originally developed in the 17th century by King Stanislaw and added to over the centuries. The Nazis actually tried to destroy the whole complex in World War II - but fortunately for future generations, failed because of lack of time. Today, its a pleasant place to wander, admire the peacocks that roam the grounds and perhaps take in play at the Old Orangery theater, one of the few remaining 18th century court theaters in the world. There is also a monument to Polands most celebrated composer, Chopin who sits gaining permanent inspiration from the beautiful gardens.
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