Guide: all countries » Poland » Warsaw » Architecture

Excursion tour in Warsaw. Top architecture - monuments, castles, temples and palaces

«« BEGINNING - PART I

Video of flights over top monuments of Warsaw in HD format.
Use 'Full Screen' mode.
We continue on the collection of the most important architecture monuments of Warsaw: Palace of Culture and Science, Holy Cross Church, Grand Theatre, St. John Archcathedral, and St. Alexander Church. Perhaps, all of them also define the look of Poland in general. The 3D models of landmarks, presented in our Warsaw flyover video, will help you to get a grasp on the true architectural and historical heritage of this place. We hope that photographs and historical facts will give you a better impression on each of these monuments. This information is also useful when making up your own excursion tour through Warsaw.

Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Palace of Culture and Science is the tallest building in Poland.
» 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.

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.
» 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.

Grand Theatre, Warsaw

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Grand Theatre is the theater complex located on the historic Theatre Square of the Polish capital.
» The Grand Theatre in Warsaw is officially one of the largest theaters in Europe.
» Operas, ballets, concerts, as well as celebrations and other events are held in the halls of the theater.
» The theatre has two rooms, a large hall of 1,841 seats and small of 200 seats, where performances are held too.
» During World War II, the theater was completely destroyed by the Germans, but by 1965 the building was restored.

St. John Archcathedral, Warsaw

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The St. John Archcathedral is the main Catholic church in Poland and the oldest church in the capital.
» The St. John Archcathedral was built in 12-14th centuries; during World War II it was blown up and razed to the ground. Now the building is fully restored.
» The temple was built in the style of brick Gothic; its unusual silhouette is clearly visible from the Castle Square. Interior of the cathedral attracts attention with the vaulted ceiling, the altar of sophisticated work and the chapel of the Immaculate Conception in Rococo style.
» The St. John Archcathedral has always served as a spiritual and national center of Poland. This is where the most important contracts were signed, monarchs were crowned and the most famous people in the country found repose.
» In the temple you can see tombstones and sarcophagi of princes Mazowiecki, the last Polish king Stanislaw Poniatowski, writer Henryk Sienkiewicz and others. Tombstones decorated with sculptures and fine workmanship are of considerable artistic value.

St. Alexander Church, Warsaw

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Building of the St. Alexander Church became an architectural dominant of Three Crosses Square in the Polish capital.
» The church was erected in 1818 - 1825 to commemorate the visit of the Russian Emperor Alexander I.
» The Church is a building in classical style based on the image of the Roman Pantheon.
» During the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, the building of the church was largely destroyed. The lower surviving part of the temple was given to the congregation in winter of 1945.
» In 50-ies of 20th century it was decided to restore the church in miniature, similar to the original form.
Warsaw - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Plan your own tour over Warsaw on the monuments map

More to see in Warsaw
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. Many interesting attractions can be found near Pilsudski Square. In the beginning of 20th century the square was the location of stunningly beautiful Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The height of the cathedral was 70 meters. For a long time the cathedral remained the tallest building in Warsaw. However, the cathedral was completely destroyed by the order of the city’s government. Today travelers can only enjoy photographs depicting it. A collection of old photos can be found in one of the city's museums. Prague district is also home to many interesting religious monuments. For example, guests will be amazed by the history of Mary Magdalene Church. It is very interesting and full of memorable events. Currently, the walls of the church exhibit several important religious shrines, which keep attracting pilgrims from different countries. Inner premises of the church are decorated with artful painting, which was created by best … Read further

Tours through neighbours of Warsaw

Krakow
Wawel is the architectural complex on a hill in Krakow. The complex consists of numerous buildings and structures, but the biggest and most famous of them are the Royal Castle and the Cathedral of St. Stanislaw and Waclaw. Wawel is a very important place for the Polish, which was originally the center of political power and the seat of Polish kings. During the 20th century Wawel has being the residence of Poland governors. After the invasion ... Open »
Gdansk
St. Mary’s Church, also known as the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, had been built for 160 years (1343-1502). The church building is huge. The inside area is 190,000 square metres. It can fit 25,000 people. The temple is the second-largest by area, the first being the cathedral in Cologne. Although the strict, dark-brick building has rather a gloomy appearance, it’s bright and spacious inside. Tall, slender ... Open »
Lviv
The theatre was designed by a European architect. He managed the construction that started in 1897. The architectural complex is located on the avenue along the river. For the first time, concrete blocks were used as the basis for a future building. The construction lasted 36 months. Money was allocated from the city budget, but citizens donated some amount as well. The building was ventilated, heated, and electrified. ... Open »
Vilnius
The temple of God was built at the site of the Pagan temple, which is reflected in the masonry of the 13th century. The nobles were crowned in the old Vilnius Cathedral. The eminent nobles are buried in underground tombs (there are over 20 tombs). Nowadays, public ceremonies are held here. Over the years of its existence, the building was repeatedly destroyed in a fire and rebuilt. The cathedral has gained the highest status, a small basilica. ... Open »
Berlin
Brandenburg Gate is the only surviving city gate in Berlin. Decoration of Brandenburg Gate was designed by Johann Gottfried Schadow. He also designed six-meter quadriga controlled by the goddess Victory. After winning Berlin, Napoleon ordered the chariot to dismantle and carry him to Paris. After the victory over Napoleon, goddess Victoria returned to Berlin and got the Iron Cross. During World War II, the Brandenburg Gate was badly damaged ... Open »
Secure Connection
Main Office
Weegschaalstraat 3, Eindhoven
5632 CW, The Netherlands
+31 40 40 150 44


Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | About us
Copyright © 2002 - OrangeSmile Tours B.V. | Incorporated by IVRA Holding B.V. - Registered in The Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel KvK, The Netherlands) No. 17237018