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Culture of Warsaw. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces
You will need more than one day full of sightseeing if you want to see all the sights of Warsaw. Beautiful old castles and churches, interesting museums and galleries are visited by thousands of enthusiastic travelers every year. Alexander citadel is a striking historical monument. This is a majestic castle that was built in the second half of the 19th century by the order of Russian Tsar Nicholas I. In 1963 a historical museum was opened in the citadel. Here visitors can see a collection of unique documents, weapons and other priceless artifacts.
Radisson Blu Centrum Hotel enjoys the constant popularity of among wealthy guests of Warsaw. It occupies a spectacular modern building with large windows and has its own wellness center, … 
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Warsaw presents a decent selection of attractive historic hotels, and Apartament Empire Stare Miasto deserves special attention. This aparthotel is located in the heart of the Old Town, near … Open
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Very many things in Warsaw bring to mind the tragic events of bygone days – most especially, the Second World War. Monuments in honor of fallen heroes and Jews killed during the Holocaust can be seen throughout the city (Pomnik Powstania Warszawskiego, Grob Nieznanego Zolnierza, Pomnik Bohaterów Getta). There are as well as evidence of the existence of a ghetto on the territory of the capital of Poland (wall and boundary lines in the Warsaw ghetto area). In addition, several museums in Warsaw are devoted to this topic – Muzeum Powstania Warszawskiego, Muzeum Wojska Polskiego and POLIN Muzeum Historii ydów Polskich. Basically, all these monuments and museums are located in the area around Stare Miasto.
Castle Inn can safely claim the title of the most romantic and charming hotel in Warsaw. Each of its double rooms is decorated in a unique romantic style; some of them feature huge wooden … Open
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It is necessary to highlight another place for lovers of “sad romance” and places from which “the blood runs cold” (or “krew jest zimna”, as they would say here). We are referring to the Cmentarz Powązkowski, which was built about 200 years ago. Here you can find very beautiful tombstones, some of which can be considered real works of art. Besides this, famous people are buried here. Aside from this cemetery, there are as well two more, both of which are also located within the territory of the Cmentarz Powązkowski. They are; Cmentarz Zydowski, where the victims of the Holocaust are buried, and Cmentarz Ewangelicko – Augsburski, where those who fought for the Protestant faith found their last refuge.
Arkadia shopping center, the largest one in Eastern Europe, is located in Warsaw. More than 200 stores of the famous world and Polish brands and about 20 restaurants and cafes are available … Open
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City tours, excursions and tickets in Warsaw and surroundings
Plan your own excursion through Warsaw: churches, museums and castles
Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw
Location on the map: 
Facts:
» The Palace of Culture and Science is the tallest building in Poland. Facts:» The building was constructed using the model of Soviet Stalinist skyscrapers as a gift of the Soviet Union to the Polish people.
» Nowadays, the Palace of Culture and Science is one of the ten highest skyscrapers of the European Union.
» The height of this 42-storey skyscraper is almost 168 meters, or 237 meters with a spire. The building has 3,288 rooms.
» Today the skyscraper serves as the office building and the exhibition center; the headquarters of a number of companies and government agencies are situated there. The Palace of Culture and Science houses cinemas, museums, bookstores, academic institutions, pools, theater and the largest conference room in Poland serving up to 3,000 people.
» The 30th floor of the building at a height of 114 meters has an observation deck offering panorama of the city.
Royal Castle, Warsaw
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Royal Castle is the architectural and historical monument built in 1598-1618 by the order of the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Vasa at the site of a medieval castle of the princes of Mazovia. Facts:» The palace was built in shape of a pentagon and attracted attention with its 60-meter Sigismund’s Tower.
» The building of the royal castle, which we see these days, is a reconstruction of the castle burned in 1939 and blown up by the Germans in 1944.
» The castle is a monument of national culture, the place of exposure of permanent and temporary exhibitions of ancient art, but also a place of formal meetings, a venue for concerts, workshops and the like.
» Currently, you can see paintings by Rembrandt and Matejko, old views of Warsaw by Bellotto, and the urn containing the ashes of Tadeusz Kosciuszko in the palace museum.
Holy Cross Church, Warsaw
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Basilica of the Holy Cross is the Catholic church built in 1679 - 1696 in Baroque style. Facts:» Columns of the temple house the urn with the hearts of Frederic Chopin and Wladyslaw Reymont.
» In 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising, the church was severely damaged; the facade of the building was destroyed along with arches and the altar, The Lord's Supper and The Crucifixion were damaged too.
» After the uprising the church was blown up by the Germans in January 1945.
» In the period from 1945 to 1953, the church was restored, but interior has undergone some changes, neither baroque nor frescoes have survived. The main altar was restored between 1960 and 1972.
» In 2002, Pope John Paul II has given the status of the minor basilica to the Church of the Holy Cross.
Field Cathedral, Warsaw
Facts:
» The Field Cathedral is the garrison church and cathedral of the Field Ordinariate of the Polish Army. » The church has organs of the 19th century and the images by Michael Willmann, the famous German painter of Baroque style. The Mausoleum of the defenders of the fatherland is to the left and the Katyn Chapel is situated to the right.
» In 1835 - 1837 the church was rebuilt and adapted to the Orthodox liturgy. Baroque decoration was deleted and bells were hung in towers.
» After the restoration of independence in 1919, the Polish authorities have returned the church to the Catholics, and intended it for the department of the Polish Army.
» The church was badly damaged during the war, but it began to recover in 1946 - 1960 under the leadership of Leon Marek Suzin.
» During the war, the statue of the Virgin Mary Queen of Poland has miraculously survived.
Carmelite Church, Warsaw
Location on the map: Facts:
» The Carmelite Church is located in the historic center of Warsaw, in the Krakow suburb. This is one of the most famous churches in the city constructed in Baroque style with elements of Rococo and Classicism. Facts:» The church was built in shape of a Latin cross with main and two side naves.
» The main portal of the church is decorated with carvings of black and greenish marble, and the coat of arms of the Princes Radziwill is placed over the portal.
» There were two bell towers on each side of the façade; new bells were installed in 2000.
» The facade is topped with a copper sphere with the gilded hostia on it.
» Interior of the church is adorned in style of Late Baroque with Rococo elements. The walls and the main altar of the church are decorated with paintings by the famous painter of the 18th century, Shimon Chekhovich and Polish artist Franciszek Smuglevich. Gilded ceiling is decorated with gorgeous stucco.
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What to visit during two-day excursion in Warsaw
Old Town
Where: Rynek Starego Miasta, Warsaw;
Where: Rynek Starego Miasta, Warsaw;
Royal Castle
Where: Plac Zamkowy 4, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 355 51 70;
Where: Plac Zamkowy 4, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 355 51 70;
Park Lazienki
Where: Ulica Agrykoli 1, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 621 62 41; Opening hours: The palace is open Tuesday-Sunday 9.00-16.00;
Where: Ulica Agrykoli 1, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 621 62 41; Opening hours: The palace is open Tuesday-Sunday 9.00-16.00;
Pawiak Prison Museum
Where: Ul. Dzielna 24-26, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 831 13 17;
Where: Ul. Dzielna 24-26, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 831 13 17;
Chopin Museum
Where: Ul. Okólnik 1, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 826 59 35;
Where: Ul. Okólnik 1, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 826 59 35;
Historical Museum Of Warsaw
Where: Rynek Starego Miasta 28-42, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 635 16 25;
Where: Rynek Starego Miasta 28-42, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 635 16 25;
The National Museum
Where: Aleja Jerozolimskie 3, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 629 30 93;
Where: Aleja Jerozolimskie 3, Warsaw; Telephone: +48 22 629 30 93;
Reference information
Map of all palaces
Public palaces near Warsaw
♥ Palace 'Krasiński’s Palace' Warsaw, 0.3 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Palace of the Four Winds' Warsaw, 0.4 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Sapieha Palace in Warsaw' , 0.7 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Tin-roofed Palace' Warsaw, 1.1 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Saxon Palace' Warsaw, 1.1 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Presidential Palace' Warsaw, 1.4 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Palace 'Czapski Palace' Warsaw, 1.6 km from the center. On the map
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Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Warsaw and around
♥ Art museum 'Lanckoroński Collection in the Royal Castle' Warsaw, 1.1 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Art museum 'Academy of Fine Arts Museum inside Czapski Palace' Warsaw, 1.6 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Art museum 'National Museum' Warsaw, 2.7 km from the center. On the map
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Map of all churches
Cathedrals and basilicas near Warsaw
♥ Bazylika św. Krzyża, Warszawa, 1.7 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Bazylika Katedralna św. Michała Archanioła i św. Floriana Męczennika, Warszawa-Praga, 2.1 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Bazylika Najswietszego Serca Jezusowego, Warszawa-Praga, 4.2 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Bazylika Świętej Trójcy, Kobyłka, 16.6 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Bazylika Zwiastowania NMP, Czerwińsk nad Wisłą, 49.6 km from the center. On the map
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♥ Bazylika Zwiastowania NMP, Pułtusk, 51.2 km from the center. On the map
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Thailand Relaxes Its COVID-19 Policy
New Year events in Thailand are likely to bring more people this year because everyone is tired of lockdowns and craving normal life. Many tourists, who book hotels in Pattaya, Krabi, or Phuket for the holiday season, also want to participate. As champagne has become an essential drink for New Year celebrations, the question regarding alcohol consumption comes to mind. The government allowed serving alcoholic drinks during the New Year countdown but only open-air cafes and restaurants with good ventilation will be permitted to do this until 1 am on 1 January 2022. This rule is nationwide.
Read this
02.06.2023
New Year events in Thailand are likely to bring more people this year because everyone is tired of lockdowns and craving normal life. Many tourists, who book hotels in Pattaya, Krabi, or Phuket for the holiday season, also want to participate. As champagne has become an essential drink for New Year celebrations, the question regarding alcohol consumption comes to mind. The government allowed serving alcoholic drinks during the New Year countdown but only open-air cafes and restaurants with good ventilation will be permitted to do this until 1 am on 1 January 2022. This rule is nationwide.
Read this
02.06.2023
Photogallery of cultural heritage of Warsaw
Landmarks of culture on Warsaw map: art-galleries, monuments, palaces, etc
Culture guide to Warsaw. Which fascinating sights to visit once you are in Warsaw: temples, churches, museums, theaters and castles. Recommendations (with addresses, phone numbers and links) on the places 'must visit' in Warsaw. Plan your own city excursion by using this page info!
