For a country that has constantly been caught between superpowers and receiving the brunt of damages in World Wars, Poland has bounced back remarkably to draw tourists yearly.
Its capital, Warsaw, plays host to many historical monuments whilst embracing new cultures and art performances at the very same landmarks. To see this strange complementary nature of Warsaw, you can get cheap flights to Poland using Cleartrip Coupons.
Old Town or Stare Miasto
As the cultural heartbeat of Warsaw, Old Town’s quiet idyllic streets help one rest from the hustle and bustle of city life. Founded in the 13th century as the prince’s castle, 90% of Old Town’s walls were destroyed in World War II. Since then, a great part of the walls were recovered, and the town made UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1980.
Its alleys, squares and cafes offer visitors a cosy feel around the old quarter of historical buildings. However, don’t be fooled as these same places come alive in the summer, setting the stage for musicals, theatrical performances and open-air galleries.
Wilanów Palace
This palace is s testament to the longevity of the Polish Baroque style, and also of Warsaw’s ability to match so many different cultures and styles together. It was built at the end of the 17th century, growing larger as successive owners took charge and put their individual stamps on it. The palace seamlessly combines the architecture of a traditional Polish court with that of an Italian rural villa and a French chateau. Its interiors span three style eras – Baroque in the royal apartments, 18th century in the South wing and 19th century north wing rooms.
As a museum, it exhibits the Polish Portrait Gallery of Works from the 16th-19th centuries, with portraits of kings, great nobles, distinguished Poles and cultural names. It also displays characteristic Polish coffin portraits and Sarmatian Counterfeit. Again, its garden amalgamates several park styles: Baroque, English-Chinese, English landscape, and neo-Renaissance garden; its eastern grounds are surrounded by a lake and a water feature. Sculptures, fountains and miniature architectural works are dotted throughout the garden.
Warsaw Rising Museum
The museum is testament to Poles’ resilience in the face of continued adversity in World War II, a tribute to those who fought and died for a free Poland. The jarring exhibit tracks life before and during the Warsaw Uprising, occupation, post-war communism and the fate of insurgents in the People’s Republic of Poland, using real images and sounds.It also plays 3D movie ‘The City of Ruins’, which simulates Liberator planes flying over a bombarded Warsaw in 1945.
Spanning over 3,000 meters, there are nearly 1,000 exhibits and 1,500 photographs and films in the Museum, and the sound of a heartbeat from within its walls symbolises Warsaw life in 1944. From the tower, there is a beautiful view of the Freedom Park with Memorial Wall, where more than 10,000 dead insurgents’ names are printed.