Discover Warsaw (Poland)


Warsaw was for centuries the seat of Polish royal power, and the lovingly restored Royal Castle, first founded in the fourteenth century, is a spectacular reminder of past glories. Like Warsaw's Old Town, the palace was rebuilt following the destruction wrought during the Second World War.

Warsaw has a long tradition of science and has erected monuments to scientific greats like Marie Sk'odowska-Curie and Copernicus. The Copernicus Science Centre is an engaging institution dedicated to bringing science to the public, which it does in stunning technicolour with its planetarium, high voltage theatre, numerous workshops and an ever-changing array of exhibitions.

From an earlier age, the Palace of Culture and Science is a Soviet-built skyscraper, Poland's tallest building and a classic example of Stalinist architecture. Warsaw's inhabitants have a love-hate relationship with it, as its many nicknames suggest: 'Stalin's Syringe', and 'The Elephant in Lacy Underwear', for example, yet its 30th floor terrace offers fantastic views across the city.

Warsaw's cultural highlights include the Fryderyk Chopin Museum, and numerous galleries, including the Zach'ta National Gallery of Art, the Museum of Modern Art and the Eryk Lipi'ski Museum of Caricature. The monument to national poet Adam Mickiewicz offers another tale of destruction and reconstruction.

Today, Warsaw is a thriving modern city, and newer constructions such as the National Stadium and the Z'ote Tarasy office complex are continuing the tradition of architectural innovation which has made it such a fascinating place to visit.