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Historical Sites You Can't Miss in Warsaw

8/13/2019

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Warsaw, like any other European city, is steeped in history. Most people think of Warsaw's history rooting to World War II and communism, but often forget about its medieval roots and intelligent minds like Copernicus, that made Warsaw what it is. Sadly, Warsaw got destroyed during the war, so in Old Town many of the facades you see were actually rebuilt post war, but in its original form. 

If wanting to understand Warsaw's past, be sure to explore these historical sites and landmarks.
 
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Old Town
Old Town Warsaw is where it all began, and sadly nine-tents of Warsaw was destroyed during the war.
This sea of rubble became one of the most destroyed cities in Europe, and was rebuilt through 1962. 
This is the area where you'll see the majority of historical sites in town. Warsaw became an official city in 1323, and today there is no shortage of streetside cafes and shops waiting to be explored. 

In the summer time, the streets are alive with musicians, street artists and locals enjoying life at the many outdoor cafes. In Old Town, some of the old ways of living and enjoying life in Europe are experienced throughout town. 
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Royal Castle
What you see today is the result of years worth of though constructed into genius architecture. The origins date back to the 14th Century where a tower and some wooden buildings once stood. The current structure's construction began at the end of the 16th Century and former rulers demanded several expansions throughout the centuries. A large portion of the castle was damaged in 1939 and later other areas destroyed in 1944. The castle is available for viewing, and visitors meander through many large and small rooms depicting life from the noble perspective. There are a collection of paintings inside the castle from masters like Rembrandt, van Dyck, Joos van Cleve and Gainsborough.

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Royal Route & Castle Square
The Royal Route is a is a former communication route that led southward from the origins in Castle Square. Today, some of the most historic landmarks and sites exist on the route to Wilanów (King Jan III Sobieski's personal residence). The route links three of city's royal residences: the Royal Castle, tazienki Park's Palace on the Island and Wilanow Palace. The 11 kilometer route passes through some of the most prominent parks, churches, monuments, historic buildings and architectural wonders in town. Click here for the list of sites along the Royal Route. 


In the middle of the castle square is a statue of the man, Zygmunt III Waza, the person responsible for Warsaw becoming Poland's capital city. In 1596, Poland's capital switched from Krakow to Warsaw, which became the center of Renaissance Europe's largest empire. The 22-meter high monument erected in 1664. 
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Nicholas Copernicus Monument
The founder of modern astronomy comes from the Polish town, Toruń. The large statue stands before the Staszic Palace, the seat of the Polish Academy of Sciences and surrounded by the bronze Copernicus solar system underneath. This statue has quit the historic past. Erected in 1830, during the second world war, the Nazis placed a plaque on the statue, claiming Copernicus was German. On February 11, 1942, a boy scout called Alek Dawidowski snuck around the guards and removed the plaque. Obviously, the Nazis were not happy and decided to hide the statue. 

According to Wiki, "In response, on 21 February, the Germans moved Warsaw's statue of Jan Kiliński to the National Museum in Warsaw. Dawidowski and his comrades retaliated by placing a large graffito on the Museum ("People of Warsaw—I am here. Jan Kiliński") and on 13 March adding a new plaque to the Copernicus monument: "For removal of the Kiliński statue, I am extending the winter by two months. Kopernik."
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The Mermaid Statue
The mermaid is the symbol and protector of Warsaw. In fact the name Warsaw relates to the mermaid and it's story is quit a unique story. In Polish Warsaw is Warszawa. Wikipedia states, "Folk etymology attributes the city name to a fisherman, Wars, and his wife, Sawa. According to legend, Sawa was a mermaid living in the Vistula River with whom Wars fell in love."

According to Atlas Obscura, "The legend of the Warsaw mermaid, or “syrenka” in Polish, is a relatively simple one. She originated from the Baltic Sea, where (according to some versions of the story) she had a twin sister, the famous Little Mermaid of Copenhagen. The syrenka swam up the Vistula River until she was at what is now Warsaw’s old town. There, she saw some fishermen catching fish and decided to meddle with their nets and free the catch. 

The fishermen were angry at the meddlesome creature and tried to catch it, but once they saw the mermaid and heard her siren song they could not harbor any hate for her any longer. Later, the mermaid was captured by a rich merchant who wanted to haul her off as some kind of prize. But the fishermen would not have it and freed her from the greedy man’s clutches. The mermaid was thankful and promised to protect the fishermen and their homes from then on. From that moment, she became the city’s guardian and protector in times of need."

A copy of the statue resides in Old Town Market Place. The original statue was removed due to vandalism. 

Old Town Market Square
This square was once the epicenter of commercial life in Warsaw. This square is the most historic area in Old Town, and surrounded by Baroque and Renaissance facades that were once merchant's homes. Although post war replicas of what once stood, this square was rebuilt to it's original form. It is not uncommon to find artists in the square selling paintings and drawings. 

St. Anne's Church
This is one of the oldest landmarks in Warsaw. Founded in 1454, the church was rebuilt several times, with its final construction in 1788 displaying a Neoclassical facade. The exterior displays four evangelists and the interior features a baroque design. The church features a stand alone bell tower, where many visit to admire the lookout spot over castle square, old town and Krakowskie Przedmieście. The only drawback is that visitors must climb 147 stairs to get to the viewpoint. 

Nowy Świat Street
This street is part of the walk along the Royal Route. Often used by the wealthy and the aristocrats, the street originates from the 16th Century when the upper crust traveled this road from the city to the country side. Once Warsaw's population grew, so did the aristocrat homes along this street. And during the Napoleonic times, the wooden structures were rebuilt into Neoclassical villas and mansions. 

This Lemon Tree article is now featured on GPSmyCity.  To download this article for offline reading or travel directions to the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Historical Sites You Can't Miss in Warsaw.

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A Guide to Berlin's Neighborhoods

8/6/2019

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It's very rare to hear people say, "I don't like Berlin." The rich cultural flair has changed throughout the decades. Steeped in history from World War II to communism, Berlin has transformed like any other major city into a major cultural city. Some like the changes. Other do not. Regardless of what you like, there is plenty to do and see in Berlin. 

If you have limited time in Berlin, this guide is here to inform you of the best areas to see and explore based on your interest. The sprawl of Berlin is so large that sometimes it takes 30-40 minutes just to reach the other side of town (or the wall) on the U-bahn or S-bahn. Strategy is necessary if limited on time. 

Mitte
Mitte translates to "middle," and this is the prime location for much of historic Berlin. Central Mitte was once the heart of East Berlin and still holds that traditional feel as its free from gawky skyscrapers.  There are plenty of tourist shops along Unten Den Linden. 
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Unter Den Linden is the most popular spot in Mitte. Translating to, "Under the lime tree," some of the most prominent World War II sites and museums are here. The walk stretches from the Berliner Dome (Cathedral) to the Brandenburg Gate. One can easily spend an entire day exploring the museums, landmarks and cafes.
​Discover more to do on my other blog post: A Walking Tour of Unter den Linden: Berlin's Most Prominent & Historical Street.
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Alexanderplatz
Alexanderplatz is Berlin's largest square and home to the famous TV tower. This tower marks the spot of where Berlin Old Town once stood, which ws destroyed in the war. Settlers first put roots in this area in the 13th Century, and built cottages, which are now replaced by post war buildings. 
The square earned it's title from Tsar Alexander I, who visited the Prussian capital in 1805. Visitors will find plenty of corporate shops, cafes and cinemas, and although modern, the square is home to many historical events such as the March Revolution of 1848, which also happened in November 1989. Hollywood appearances have also been here like quick shots being filmed in the Bourne movies. 

Discover more on my 
In Search of Communism in Berlin – Best Historical Sites.
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Potsdamerplatz
Some claim this neighborhood has an identity crisis. A former wasteland, today Potsdamerplatz is littered with glass high rises and modern shops and restaurants. Enjoy a birds eye view of the city from 
Panoramapunkt in the Kollhof Tower. Here visitors will notice metal plaques and bricks on the ground, indicating where the former Berlin Wall once stood.  Plenty of excellent museums reside here, some of the better ones outside of Unter den Linden. 

If you don't have much time in Berlin, this is one area to skip. 
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Friedrichstadt
This upscale shopping neighborhood is home to the popular Checkpoint Charlie, a border crossing between east and west Germany during the Communist era. Nearby is a DDR museum, Gendarmenmarkt and the Topography of Terror, which are all famous historical sites and museums.  Also nearby is 
Anhalter Bahnhof, is a former railway terminal station turned bunker in WW2. Opened in 1880, it was considered the most-grand train station in the world. 

Discover more area sites and museums on my 
10 Significant WW2 Sites to Visit in Berlin, Germany.

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Prenzlauer Berg
In the early 2000's, this was once the grunge and hip neighborhood. Thanks to gentrification, the yuppies moved in, upsetting the neighborhood's vibe. Like an identity crisis, remains of the graffiti landscape still exist amidst a prim and proper neighborhood. Part hipster, part cultured, this is one area to discover many independent bars, shops and cafes. It certainly is "geil," or cool.
 
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 Friedrichshain + Kreuzberg

Located in the former West Berlin these two neighborhoods are split by the River Spree, but connected with the Oberbaumbrücke. My first memory of Friedrichshain was watching local hipsters and punks "make a party" underneath the bridge and a girl who looked exactly like the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo exit the U-bahn station.  It didn't matter if it was 3pm or 11pm, partying was a part of this neighborhood. The neighborhood was a ghost town at 8am with the exception of late night parties still dancing to techno from the local warehouse party. 
This is definitely the place to find plenty of exotic and vegan cuisine. The East Side Gallery, or the former Berlin Wall, still exists today with plenty of graffiti.  

Kreuzberg is another neighborhood filled with cheap eats, squatters and buildings tagged with graffiti. Many Turks live here so finding a doner stand is relatively easy. This certainly is the "multikulti" (multi-cultural) neighborhood where Bohemian artists live in their dream "shithole" apartment for a couple hundred euros. 

Tiergarten - Zoo Area
During the Prussian era, Tiergarten used to the be the  hunting grounds for the local kings. Informally known today as the "green heart" of Berlin, the zoo region is bordered by Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag on the east, the zoo on the west, Potsdamer Platz and the Memorial of the Murdered Jews on the southeast and the Bellevue Castle (the residency of the German President) on the northern tip. It is not uncommon to find unclothed Germans in some of the area's parks, which allows for FKK (nude) sunbathing. The 600 acres of greenspace is one of the largest parks and spaces in the city. On Sundays look for the antique / flea market, 
Berliner Trödelmarkt. 

​What's your favorite neighborhood in Berlin?

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    Elizabeth Rae Kovar is a Fitness Trainer, Author of Finding Om, Presenter, Yogi, Vegan & lover of the World. View her portfolio at www.elizabethkovar.comor health-based blog at mindbodysoul-food.com

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