The Polish capital of Warsaw lies
in the central-eastern part of Poland. It stands on the Vistula River on the site of
a 14th century stronghold and trading center. Warsaw has for centuries been a center
of refinement and knowledge. It’s strategic position has also made it
one of the most invaded countries in Europe. This is a city that resonates
with a powerful spirit of reinvention, a spirit that has been forged from a history that has pushed it to the brink of destruction
time and time again. Today’s Warsaw has been largely shaped by
two of history’s most defining events, World War Two, and the closing of the Iron Curtain. But Warsaw is a survivor, and from the ashes of war
and the shackles of Communism, the city has risen again. Tributes to this heroic history are dotted
throughout the city, but there is a youthful rebirth here too.
With a burgeoning fashion scene, stylish shopping malls
and edgy art installations, Warsaw has opened its arms to the world. The true heart of Warsaw is its Old Town a stunning tribute to the city’s will
to survive and rebuild. This is where, in the dying days
of the second world war, brave locals launched the Warsaw Uprising, one of the most heroic resistance actions
ever seen against the Nazis. In retaliation, the Nazis almost completely destroyed
the city. The opulent Royal Castle, in Castle Square
which served as the seat of power for Polish Kings for many centuries
was one of the countless buildings that were systematically destroyed, many by dynamite. Before the detonations, however, and at enormous personal risk, museum staff and civilians managed to save
a number of the castle’s treasures. After the war, much of the Old Town was painstakingly rebuilt using 18th century paintings as a reference. In front of the castle is
King Sigismund’s Column. Badly damaged but restored,
at the end of the war, this is another symbol of the city’s resurrection. One of the few statues not destroyed by
the German army, is the nearby Syrena or mermaid statue. The symbol and protector of Warsaw, the mermaid has been on the city’s
coat of arms for centuries. The Old Town is also home to
some of Warsaw’s beautiful cathedrals. Visit St Johns Cathedral and St Anne’s Church, whose interior miraculously survived the war. From the tower at the top of the stone stairs, the Warsaw skyline spreads out before you. On the northern side of the Old Town Square
is the Warsaw Museum, a keeping place of the city’s dramatic stories. Visit the beautiful Warsaw University which served as military barracks
for the German army. During the occupation,
education was mostly outlawed, but an underground “secret university”
emerged. More than 3,000 students continued their lessons
throughout the occupation in homes around the city, but many paid the ultimate price. Their fate was shared by millions of Poles
during the Second World War and Warsaw has a number of powerful monuments
honouring the nation’s loss. The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews is built on the site that was once
the infamous Warsaw ghetto. Here, more than 400,000 men, women and children were incarcerated in just less than
one and a half square miles. Nearby, the Warsaw Uprising Monument and
the Warsaw Rising Museum pay tribute to one of the bravest chapters
of the city’s long history. The Palace of Culture and Science, is a remnant from a slightly later era; it was a gift to the Polish people from Stalin
at the height of the Cold War. Travel a little further back in time with
a stroll along the Royal Route. This path was once used by Polish Kings traveling
from the Old Town to the Wilanów Palace. Today it is a popular tourist walk,
studded with historical sites. As you head along Nowy Swiat Street, you’ll pass the monument to Polish astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus, who on his deathbed in 1543, revolutionised science with his theory
that the earth orbits the sun. A little closer to the river is
the Copernicus Science Centre whose mission is to inspire people to observe,
experiment and challenge conventional wisdom. In the Holy Cross Church, lies a very personal reminder of another of
Warsaw’s famous sons, composer and pianist, Fryderyk Chopin. This musical genius so loved
the city of his birth that he requested his heart be returned to Warsaw
when he died. You can see where it now resides here. During the summer months, Chopin’s music floats through Lazienki Park, the largest park in Warsaw. Lazienki Palace started life as a bathhouse
but in the 18th century, the last Polish King converted it
into his summer residence. The last stop on the Royal Route is
Wilanow Palace. With its luxurious artworks and formal garden, it is an outstanding testament to
Poland’s early wealth and magnificence. But even as Warsaw honours its past, this city of rebirth is creating new stories. Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Poland’s economy has boomed. That economic success is reflected in the
luxury malls that have sprung up, such as Zlote Tarasy and the VITKAC department store. Other areas in Warsaw are also being transformed. A number of former industrial areas are now
serving up cutting edge spaces and hip restaurants. Visit Praga, on the right bank of the Vistula River
to discover venues like the Soho Factory. Once an ammunition factory, it is now home to a range of stylish shops
and museums such as the Neon Museum. This exhibition is dedicated to preserving
the iconic signs from Warsaw’s Soviet era, many of which were produced
by some of Poland’s most famous artists. These reclaimed urban areas are perhaps
the perfect reflection of Warsaw today. Just like the people of Warsaw, these young and innovative areas are creating
new life and beauty amidst the remnants of an often tragic history. Warsaw today shines like a beacon to the the world. It reminds us that, no matter how dark a city’s past, the spirit of hope will always triumph in the end.
