Warsaw : Experience the Medieval Era through Royal Castle and Gothic Architecture

Warsaw is a medieval city and is the capital of Poland that is popular for large number of palaces and classic architectures. The city has a turbulent history and it is well preserved with help of all the museums. The modern skyscrapers, Gothic-Renaissance styled church and amazing aura of Market Square surrounded by colorful and pastel buildings, open air quaint café and hustle bustle of tourists makes Warsaw a fascinating city.

1. Royal Castle of Warsaw

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The Royal Castle of Warsaw formerly served as residence for the Polish monarchs and is located centrally in the city. It has been plundered many times in the history of its existence and saw complete destruction in 1944. The castle was rebuilt in the year 1965 with help of the ruins and remains. Its iconic architecture and mannerist early baroques make it impressive and were given the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1980. The massive brick made castle has beautiful preserved interior and the Sigismund’s Tower I located in the center of main façade flanked on both sides by castles.

2. Old Town

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The old town in Warsaw is undoubtedly one of the most attractive neighborhoods and given the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a mix of renaissance styled attractive and colorful architectures and buildings from medieval times coaxing us to take a plunge into the history of the city. The old town is located along Vistula River. The old town now is marked by number of lively and quaint cafes, restaurants, baroque cathedrals and medieval architecture punctuated along the cobbled street and the alleys. It was established in the 13th century.

3. Lazienki Park

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It is the largest park in Warsaw that is surrounded by lush green surrounding and serene environment that is spread across 76 hectares of the land. The park is also home to the Royal palace and the complex is situated in the central district of Warsaw. It is a part of the royal route that connects the Royal Route to the Wilanow Palace. It was initially designed in 17th century for Stanislaw Herakliusz Lubomirski as a bath park and was designated as a public park in the year 1918. It has a huge complex including Palace, classical amphitheater, old and new orangery, Egyptian temple, stables etc.

4. Warsaw Uprising Museum

Photo by Mitch Altman

The Warsaw Uprising museum was opened as a tribute to the residents of Warsaw who lost their lives fighting for independence of Poland. It was inaugurated on the 60th anniversary of fighting outbreak in Warsaw. The Warsaw Uprising took place in the year 1944 and it has abundant resource about the history of the city. There are hundreds of artifacts and photographic representation of the events displayed in the museum. It covers all the aspects of the Warsaw Uprising and is a reserve of information for historians.

5. Holy Cross Church

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The Holy Cross Church is a Roman Catholic Church that was established as a small wooden chapel in the 15th century with erection of the Holy Cross. The church was designed by royal architect Jakub Bellotti and its construction was completed in the year 1696. The church has much historical significance and is the place where the last Polish King forged order of the knights of St. Stanislaus. It has two towers that rise on two corners with a cross in between on the façade.

6. Carmelite Church

It is also known as The Lady of the Assumption of Virgin Mary and St. Joseph and is a Roman catholic church. The neo-classical inspired architecture of the church gives it an impressive look and the church was established in 1761-82. The twin belfries shaped like the censers makes the design of the church unique. The baroque church was designed by notable architect Michal Stefan Radziejowski. The church was destroyed during World War II and it has been rebuilt and reconstructed later.

7. POLIN Museum of History of Polish Jews

Photo by Fred Romero

The museum is a significant place to delve deeper into the history and heritage of Poland and Warsaw. The museum was opened in 2013 and there are narrative exhibitions about the Jews community who have survived and flourished in Poland. The museum is dedicated towards preserving the history of Polish Jews. There are many educational and cultural programs that are organized in the museum along with events, debates, screening, workshops, concerts etc. It definitely is a must visit place to delve deeper into the history of Polish Jews.

8. Wilanow Palace

The baroque styled royal mansion is one of the most iconic buildings or architecture in Warsaw. The palace has an interesting history and the main floor of the palace is divided into interesting rooms. The museum was established in the year 1805 and is a huge collection of royal art and heritage. There are number of cultural events and concerts that are conducted in the palace. The palace was built for King John III Sobieski in the 17th century and the architecture shows distinctive Jewish style. The palace is surrounded by a garden.

9. Presidential Palace

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The Presidential Palace is a classic building and palace that was constructed in 1643 and has been reconstructed multiple times ever since. It was a private property for the aristocrat family for nearly 175 years. The Neoclassic style building was designed by Chrystian Piotr Aigner and after the resurrection of World War I, it was taken over by New Polish authorities. It was built for Stanislaw Koniecpolski. As of now since 1994 the palace is the office or official seat of President of Poland and hence the name of the palace.

◎ Closing

Warsaw is a city loved by history and culture enthusiasts. The turbulent yet interesting history of city is represented in middle of all the chaos. The buildings and architectures in the city from medieval times makes the whole place an interesting mosaic of modern and ancient.

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