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| WARSAW TRAVEL GUIDE Warsaw is the capital of Poland and its largest city. It is located on the Vistula River roughly 370 kilometers (230 mi) from both the Baltic Sea coast and the Carpathian Mountains. Its population as of 2006 was estimated at 1,700,536, with a metropolitan area of approximately 3,350,000. The city area is 516.9 square kilometers (199.6 sq mi), with an agglomeration of 6,100.43 square kilometers (2,355.4 sq mi) (Warsaw Metro Area — Obszar Metropolitalny Warszawy). Warsaw is the 8th largest city in the European Union. Warsaw gave its name to the Warsaw Pact, Warsaw Convention, Treaty of Warsaw and the Warsaw Uprising. It is often said that Warsaw bears some resemblance to the mythical Phoenix. Having been completely destroyed, the city somehow managed to lift itself from the ashes. In the aftermath of the 1944 Uprising against the Nazis , Warsaw was obliterated with 9 out of every 10 buildings crumbled in ruins. At the end of World War II (1939-45) it was virtually uninhabited, yet with a tremendous reconstruction effort, most of the city was rebuilt as early as the 1950s. The Communist era (1945-1989) has significantly contributed to the city architecture, with the most noticeable landmark, the Palace of Culture and Science (Polish: Palac Kultury i Nauki, PKiN) , a "personal gift" from Joseph Stalin, dominating the Warsaw landscape. Since the fall of communism, Warsaw has been developing rapidly, even chaotically at times. Certainly, the harmonization of urban landscape was of little importance to the country's first entrepreneurs, as they were busy plugging gaps in supply by selling various items on a provisional basis. Warsaw's all about change now. You wouldn't recognize the city if you last saw it ten years ago or so. In the next ten years, it'll be a completely different place again. Off the beaten path, now is the time to see some of the Warsaw's peculiarities before they disappear forever. The Warsaw Uprising, not to be confused with the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943, is a strong statement testifying to the spirit and soul of not only Varsovians, but all Poles. After five years under German occupation, the leaders of the Polish underground resistance decided to fight back against the Nazi terrorists. With over 45,000 troops already in Warsaw, the Home Army (also referred to as the "AK") and several allied organizations took up strategic locations around the city and began the Uprising. Nationwide, there was 400,000 or so troops involved in the resistance. The Uprising was to begin at the "W- hour", or on August 1st, 1944 at 5PM, however, because the order wasn't prepared in time the liaisons and couriers were unable to get the word out in time because of the curfew in force. In the the city center, and the districts of Wola and Zoliborz fighting broke out before the "W-hour". The effectiveness was amazing, especially in the first few days. Within days of fighting the Polish resistance had secured key locations which allowed for the creation of a Polish postal service in Warsaw, the creation of resistance hospitals, and even the opening of cafés that gave Varsovians and the insurgents some much needed rest. Underground newspapers and radio stations popped up almost immediately to counter the German and Soviet propaganda that the uprising was illegitimate. Fighting continued until October 5, 1944 when the Home Army and its allied organizations surrendered. Despite it's successes and valor in the face of being outnumbered and out gunned, the Home Army was unable to continue its fight without the help of the Allies. America and Britain did very little to support the Uprising, other than dropping some supplies over the city. The Soviet Union took a multifaceted role – allying themselves with the Home Army to win victories against the Germans in other Polish territories, then disarming and imprisoning the Polish soldiers. The Soviet Union purposely allowed the Warsaw Uprising to fail by abandoning the Home Army and Varsovians so it could install a puppet government easier. After the surrender, the German army, despite its agreements under the surrender treaty, in retaliation for the uprising destroyed over 85% of Warsaw, including the "Old Town" which is rebuilt after the war. Of 987 historically important buildings, only 64 were left untouched by the Germans. The Polish soldiers were rounded up and sent to concentration camps. Warsaw's civilian population was "evacuated" with some being sent to concentration camps camps, or sent to Germany for forced labor, others were sent to various Polish cities. In the end, the Uprising cost 180 thousand civilians their lives, the lives of an additional 18 thousand insurgents, the capital its glory, and the Polish nation its long-desired independence. The only thing that persevered was the Polish spirit. Warsaw has four seasons, although, it may, at times, seem like it has two seasons – winter and summer. The summers are cool to warm with temperatures varying from the low-50's (Fahrenheit) to mid-70's (Fahrenheit). Temperatures in the fall can vary wildly. One day, you may experience sub-freezing temperatures and the next day you could experience temperatures in the 60's (Fahrenheit). Winter in Warsaw can be incredibly cold. Be sure to bring warm clothing, coats, scarves, and gloves. The average high in January is 32 degrees Fahrenheit. GENERAL INFORMATION Country Poland Voivodeship Masovian County city county Area 517 km˛ Density 3,297.3/km˛ Postal code 00-001 to 04-999 Area code(s) +48 22 PLACE TO VISIT Warsaw's Old Town - is the oldest historic district of the city. It is bounded by Wybrzeze Gdanskie, along the bank of the Vistula, and by Grodzka, Mostowa and Podwale Streets. It is one of Warsaw's most prominent tourist attractions. The heart of the area is the Old Town Market Place, with its restaurants, cafés and shops. Surrounding streets feature medieval architecture such as the city walls, barbican and St. John's Cathedral. St. John's Cathedral - located in Warsaw's Old Town, is one of two cathedrals in the Polish capital. St. John's stands immediately adjacent to Warsaw's Jesuit Church, and is one of the oldest churches in the city and the main church of the Warsaw arch- diocese. St. John's Cathedral is one of Poland's national pantheons. The Royal Castle - in Warsaw is the royal palace and official residence of the Polish monarchs , located at the Plac Zamkowy, at the entrance to the Old Town. The personal offices of the king and the administrative offices of the Royal Court of Poland were located there from the 16th century until the Partitions of Poland. In the 19th century, after the collapse of the November Uprising, it was used as an administrative center by the czar. During the First World War it was the residence of the German military governor, and from 1920 to 1922, the residence of head of state. Zygmunt's Column or Sigismund's Column - erected in 1644, is one of Warsaw's most famous landmarks and one of the oldest secular monuments in northern Europe. The column and statue commemorate King Zygmunt III Waza, who in 1596 had moved Poland's capital from Kraków to Warsaw. Erected between 1643 and 1644, the column was constructed on the orders of Zygmunt's son and successor, King Wladyslaw IV. It was designed by the Italian-born architect Constantino Tencalla and the sculptor Clemente Molli, and cast by Daniel Tym. Presidential Palace - in Warsaw, Poland, is the elegant classicist latest version of a building that has stood on the Krakowskie Przedmiescie site since 1643. Over the years, it has been rebuilt and remodeled many times. For its first 175 years, the palace was the private property of several aristocratic families. In 1791 it hosted the authors and advocates of Poland's May 3rd Constitution, Europe's first modern codified national constitution, and the world's second after the U.S. Constitution. University of Warsaw - is the largest university in Poland, ranked by the Times Higher Education Supplement as the second best Polish university among the world top 500 in 2006. Ulica Nowy Swiat - is one of the main historic thoroughfares of Warsaw. It comprises part of the Royal Route (Trakt królewski) that runs from Warsaw's Royal Castle and Old Town south to King Jan III Sobieski's 17th-century royal residence at Wilanów. The Saxon Garden - is a 15.5 hectare public garden in Warsaw's Downtown (Sródmiescie), facing the Pilsudski Square and also the oldest public park in Warsaw. Founded in the late 17th century, it was opened to the public in 1727 as one of the first publicly accessible parks in the world. Lazienki Park - is the largest park in Warsaw, occupying 76 hectares of the city center. The park lies in Warsaw's Downtown (Sródmiescie), on Ujazdów Avenue (Aleje Ujazdowskie), on the "Royal Route" linking the Royal Castle with Wilanów to the south. Just to its north, on the other side of Agrykola Street, Lazienki Park borders on Ujazdów Castle. Powazki Cemetery - is the oldest and most famous cemetery in Warsaw, Poland, and is situated in the western part of the city. It contains a mausoleum with memorials to many of the greats in Polish history, including many interred since 1925 along the "Avenue of the Meritorious" (Aleja Zasluzonych, est. 1925). It has also a very large military section for the graves of those who fought and died for their country since the early 19th century, including the large number of those involved in the ill-fated Warsaw Uprising against the Nazis during World War II, the Battle of Warsaw, and the September Campaign. Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery - is one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Europe. Located on Warsaw's Okopowa street and abutting the Powazki Cemetery at 52°14'51?N, 20°58'29?E, the Jewish Cemetery was established in 1806 and occupies 33 hectares (83 acres) of land. The cemetery contains over 200,000 marked graves, as well as mass graves of victims of the Warsaw Ghetto. Many of these graves and crypts are overgrown, having been abandoned after the Nazi invasion of Poland and subsequent Holocaust. Although the cemetery was closed down during World War II, after the war it was reopened and a small portion of it remains active, serving Warsaw's small remaining Jewish population. Warsaw Ghetto - was the largest of the Jewish ghettos established by Nazi Germany in Warsaw, capital of Poland in the General Government during the German Occupation in World War II. Between 1941 and 1943, starvation, disease and deportations to concentration camps and extermination camps dropped the population of the ghetto from an estimated 450,000 to approximately 71,000. In 1943 the Warsaw Ghetto was the scene of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the first urban mass rebellion against the Nazi occupation of Europe. Zoliborz - is one of the northern boroughs of the city of Warsaw. It is located directly to the north of the City Centre, on the left bank of the Vistula river. It has approximately 50,000 inhabitants and is one of the smallest boroughs of Warsaw. It is also considered one of the most prestigious of Warsaw's neighborhoods. Cytadela - is a 19th-century fortress in Warsaw, Poland. It was built by order of Tsar Nicholas I after the suppression of the 1830 November Uprising in order to bolster imperial Russian control of the city. It served as a prison into the late 1930s. Wilanów Palace - Wilanów in Warsaw is, together with its park and other buildings, one of the most precious monuments of Polish national culture. Palace of Culture and Science - in Warsaw is the tallest building in Poland, the seventh tallest building in the European Union, and the world's 187th tallest building at 237 metres (778 ft). The building was originally known as the Joseph Stalin Palace of Culture and Science (Palac Kultury i Nauki imienia Józefa Stalina), but in the wake of destalinization the dedication was revoked; Stalin's name was removed from the interior lobby and one of the building's sculptures. Stadion Dziesieciolecia - which used to be the biggest open-air market in Europe and the Plac Konstytucji with its monumental Social realism architecture. Saxon Palace - had originally been a private palace of the Morsztyn family (Palac Morsztynów), then had been purchased and enlarged by the first of Poland's two Saxon kings, August II (reigned in Poland 1697-1706 and 1709-1733). In the early 19th century, the Saxon Palace housed a school in which Frederick Chopin's father taught French, living with his family on the palace grounds. The Palace was remodeled in 1842. Brühl Palace - otherwise known as Sandomierski Palace standing at Pilsudski Square. It was a large palace and one of the most beautiful rococo buildings in pre-World War II Warsaw. Ulica Kubusia Puchatka - probably the only street in the world named after Winnie-the-Pooh and located in the very centre of a metropolis. HOW TO REACH By plane - Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport is located in the area of Okecie in Wlochy, some 10 km south of the center point of the city. For many years the airport used to be called just Okecie, but this reportedly caused confusion and it was renamed. There are three terminals: Terminal 1 is the "default" terminal; Terminal 2 is the newly- built terminal which handles all arrivals and some departures jointly with Terminal 1; the Etiuda Terminal (check-in counters E1-E8) is used by budget airlines and for charters. Although they are only some 500m apart, it's best to know from which terminal you will be departing. As all arrivals are handled in Terminal 2, Etiuda Terminal only deals with departing passengers and has a few basic facilities. For those traveling on international flights, you’ll need to pass through a passport control station before going through security. As of the end of March 2008, you do not need a passport for countries that are part of the Schengen Agreement, though you do need some proof of ID. Getting through security isn’t much of hassle, but the queues, while they may be small, will likely take a fair amount of time, because there are only a few screening points. Before passing through security in Terminal 1, buy your duty free items, newspapers, and food/drinks because there are no shops or restaurants in the boarding area. The Etiuda Terminal has two shops and a small snack stand for those waiting on their flights. By train - Warsaw has three stations for long-distance trains: Dworzec Centralny or Warszawa Centralna (Warsaw Central) ul. Emilii Plater Dworzec Wschodni or Warszawa Wschodnia (Warsaw East) between ul. Kijowska and ul. Lubelska (on the right bank) Dworzec Zachodni or Warszawa Zachodnia (Warsaw West) Al. Jerozolimskie near Rondo Zeslanców Syberyjskich Unless you really know what you're doing, the best option is Dworzec Centralny (Warszawa Centralna) station, as it has best connections with all the places in the city. All long-distance trains pass through this station and all stop there. It is the only long- distance station underground, so you will know when to get out. It isn't the last station on the route! Trains running eastwards start at Warszawa Zachodnia, stop at Warszawa Centralna and then at Warszawa Wschodnia, while trains heading westwards make the same trip in the opposite direction (except that they not always stop at Warszawa Zachodnia). The same is true for arriving trains and tourists often find it confusing that the main train station (Warszawa Centralna) is not the last station on the route. The Berlin-Warszawa Express runs from Berlin to Warsaw most days quite cheaply, and students get discounts as well. It's a 6 hour trip but fairly comfortable if you can avoid the bathrooms. Schedules and tickets are available on Intercity's website . If your train is without reservation, you may get a better seat (or any seat at all in certain trains during peak season only) if you enter the train on its initial station. By car - Unlike most European capitals, Warsaw has no real bypass, so all transit traffic is routed through the city streets. The following streets, which constitute a circle with the radius of some 10 km (6 mi) from the city centre, can be considered an ersatz ringroad: Trasa Torunska-Trasa Armii Krajowej-al. Prymasa Tysiaclecia-Al. Jerozolimskie- ul. Lopuszanska-ul. Hynka-ul. Sasanki-ul. Marynarska-ul. Rzymowskiego-ul. Dolinka Sluzewiecka-ul. Sikorskiego-al. Witosa-Trasa Siekierkowska-ul. Marsa-ul. Zolnierska. Four European "E-roads" lead to Warsaw: E30 (A2), E77 (7),??E67 (A8), and E372 (17). The E-numbers are usually displayed on signs but it is best to know the national road numbers too, which are the numbers in parentheses. By bus - Regional and long-distance bus connections in Poland are traditionally called PKS. Once it was a legitimate abbreviation for the state-owned monopoly. Now, however, bus routes are operated by a bunch of completely independent companies, some of which had simply chosen to retain the old PKS as a part of their name. In Warsaw, there's PKS Warszawa but PKSes from various other cities also operate. |