Where We Be
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| Old Town Market Place (Rynek Starego Miasta) is a compact and altogether charming square |
| Warsaw, Poland |
Old Town Market Place is the photogenic heart
of Warsaw. The small square was reconstructed
after being systematically blown up by the Nazis
in retaliation for the 1944 Warsaw Uprising
(along with 90% of the rest of the city's historical
buildings). The eye-catching four- and five-story
buildings in different pastel colors, combined
with the flower-filled cafes ringing the square,
make it an ideal place to share a lunch or dinner.
Just a short walk away is Castle Square, a wide-
open plaza with its own appeal. Here you'll find
the Royal Castle and the beginning of the Royal
Route. A walk along this historic route leads you
eventually to "Palace on the Isle," the summer
residence of the last king of Poland. The palace
is beautifully situated on a lake in the midst of
Lazienki Park, an hour's walk south of Old Town.
A stroll along the carriage lanes of this park
makes for a pleasant outing. Enjoy the classical
buildings, monuments, gardens, and fountains
before returning home via public transport.
of Warsaw. The small square was reconstructed
after being systematically blown up by the Nazis
in retaliation for the 1944 Warsaw Uprising
(along with 90% of the rest of the city's historical
buildings). The eye-catching four- and five-story
buildings in different pastel colors, combined
with the flower-filled cafes ringing the square,
make it an ideal place to share a lunch or dinner.
Just a short walk away is Castle Square, a wide-
open plaza with its own appeal. Here you'll find
the Royal Castle and the beginning of the Royal
Route. A walk along this historic route leads you
eventually to "Palace on the Isle," the summer
residence of the last king of Poland. The palace
is beautifully situated on a lake in the midst of
Lazienki Park, an hour's walk south of Old Town.
A stroll along the carriage lanes of this park
makes for a pleasant outing. Enjoy the classical
buildings, monuments, gardens, and fountains
before returning home via public transport.
| Why a mermaid should be the symbol for noncoastal Warsaw is a bit of a mystery to us |
| Royal Castle tower as seen from an elegant side street |
| Narrow alleys near Castle Square make for some intriguing photo opportunities |
| Along the way you'll pass numerous classical statues and buildings |
| One of these is the Copernicus Monument. The circles on the pavement represent the orbiting planets of our solar system. |
| Copernicus placed the Sun rather than the Earth at the center of the universe |
| The Royal Route eventually leads you to Lazienki Park (Lazienki Królewskie), about an hour's walk south of Old Town |
| Elegant Myslewicki Palace is another neoclassical building in the same park |
| The park makes for a tranquil getaway and is one of Warsaw's top sights on TripAdvisor |
| It features a pleasant mix of historic buildings, gardens, fountains, lakes, and monuments |
| The park is home to the Palace on the Isle, the summer residence of King Stanislaw August, last monarch of Poland |
| Expect to spend some time here -- it's a big park with a number of carriage lanes leading to various monuments and attractions |
| The Orangery was built to house exotic trees in the winter season |
| This bigger-than-life sculpture of Chopin is a dramatic way to finish your visit to the park |
| Dominating Castle Square is the Royal Castle, former seat of Polish monarchs |
| The bell tower of St. Anne's and Sigismund's Column are two other prominent features of Castle Square |
| The square marks the beginning of the Royal Route heading south |
| Another worthwhile sight east of Old Town, time permitting, is the Warsaw Uprising Monument |
| The square keeps drawing us back over the coming days |
| Sunlight reflects in the square's windows at sunset |
| So why resist? We claim a table right on the square and order soup and salad for lunch |
| Old Town Warsaw is most easily explored from north to south, starting at the Barbican |
| Just steps away from the square is our home away from home in Warsaw, Ego Apartments |
| A stone's throw away is Old Town Market Place, a UNESCO World Heritage site despite having been reconstructed from scratch! |
| At the center of the square stands the Warsaw Mermaid, the symbol of Warsaw since 1855 |
| The mushroom soup is some of the best we've tasted |
| The bustling streets nearby host a dizzying array of shops and cafes (and statues) |
| Warsaw's other famous square is Castle Square (Plak Zamkowy), a historic and expansive square with its own kind of charm |
| Like nearly everything else in Warsaw, it was rebuilt after World War II |
| The Barbican is a remnant of the defensive fortifications that once encircled Warsaw |
| Outdoor cafes like this one are nearly impossible to resist on a pleasant day |
| St. John's Archcathedral on Świętojańska Street is the burial place of Polish monarchs and presidents |
| Unfinished statue by Rodin |
