Early 1300s - The city of Warsaw is established when the dukes of Mazovia built a stronghold on the site where the Royal Castle now stands.1569 - Poland and Lithuania are unified, and the Sejm makes Warsaw the seat of their debates1573 - Warsaw becomes the seat of royal elections, but the kings continue to reside in Kraków1596 - Warsaw becomes the official capital1791 - The first contitution in Europe was signed in Warsaw1939 - World War Two breaks out and Warsaw is occupied by the Nazists regime for five years

Warsaw in 1944Szpitalna Street

1944 - The Warsaw Uprising lasts for 63 days. It begins on 1st August1945 - On 17th January, the Red Army invades Warsaw to liberate the city from the German rule.1945-1989 Poland is a communist country.1981 Beginnings of Solidarity movement which contributed to the fall of communism.1989 Free, democratic elections marked the end of the communist regime.

Warsaw in 1944

Warsaw in 1939

Warsaw is the capital of Poland and the capital of Masovian region, too. Warsaw has been our capitol since 1952. It’s located in the middle-east of Poland. This is the biggest Polish city. Here live about 1 702 717 people. Warsaw is the 8th largest city in the European Union. The city’s area is 517 kilometres ². The biggest river in our country-Vistula River floats through Warsaw. It’s 1047 kilometres long and it ends in the Baltic Sea. The city is divided into 18 districts and it has 8 bridges. Warsaw's climate is continental humid. Summers are usually hot and sunny. Unfortunately, winters are cold, windy and snowy.

If you want to read more information you can visit our city’s web page

http://www.um.warszawa.pl http://e-warsaw.pl/2/index.php

A long time ago, two sisters swam into the Baltic Sea. Those beautiful women were sirens, so they had fish tails. One of them preferred sitting on a rock in Danish strait. Up to now, we can see her sitting on the rock near the

Port in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Second girl swam to the big port in Gdansk and later up the stream of Vistula River.

Supposedly, she went out of the water on the Old Street. She wanted to rest. She liked this place very much,

so she decided to stay there.

One day some fishermen noticed that somebody was disturbing their nets. This person let out a lot of fish.

But she was such a beautiful girl and her song was so beautiful that they didn’t kill her.

Then one day a very rich merchant saw her and heard her lovely voice. He wanted to catch her and show her on a fair. He thought, that he’ll

earn some money. He kept her in a wooden shed.

She couldn’t drink water. One night a fisherman’s young son heard her

voice. He freed the girl with the help of his friends.

She was so grateful that she promised, that she will always protect the city and its people.

That is why our Warsaw siren has a sword and a shield.

We love travelling in our city! We have a lot of alternatives to move on the streets and… tracks.

Lots of people, from different places in Poland visit Warsaw and go to ‘Warsaw Metro’ – our pretty tuuube! It has only one line but anyway – we love it very much (:*:*:*)! It’s so fast and we have the most beautiful station in the world (Wilson’s Square)! We are proud of our ‘Warsaw Metro’! Yeaaah!

But we have very cute buses too. Every bus has his own number and lots of people have their favorite numbers of buses. One of our lovely buses is 521 (‘five-two-one’ like it’s called in the groups of teenagers). Usually everybody loves buses, which drive them home or to another nice places. (This is a five-two-one in the rain! Isn’t it a beautiful sight?)

Yes, on these photos there are some old, good trams. Trams are really practical, when we have only one line of tube. You don’t have to stay in traffic jams, but in the peak hours trams (and all city) are very crowded – so it’s a private choice of every person how to get home. Trams are all the time getting new, better and more comfortable and if they disappear from our city, we’ll miss them. But it’ll take a long time before it happens, so we shouldn’t cry now !

In the suburbs you can take a train or a private bus. (Of course, you can go by private line around Warsaw too, but more people use ZTM – you can translate it like ‘the central of city transport’- it includes things I described above). In some places communication is better, but in others the buses or trains arrive only once an hour, so it’s too seldom. It’s not good for the people who live there :(

Warsaw zoo was opened in 1928. At the beginning it was 12 hectares big and almost 500 animals lived there. Most of them were local fauna, but also monkeys, a tiger, a lion and a bear lived in the pre-war ZOO. Due to Jan Żabiński playgrounds for lions and tigers were built in 30s. The ZOO has increased area in that time to 32 hectares. The beginning of the war was the end of the existence of pre-war form ZOO. First bombs have already fallen in September 1939. Part of the animals were shot. Germans took some to their country. In 1948 the repairs started. The animals arrived from private people and foreign zoos. Warsaw ZOO was officially opened on July 22nd 1949! Warsaw ZOO has become an active member of many international organizations; it participated in European programs of saving endangered species.

Near 80s Panda foundation helping with ZOO development was established. Good period began for Warsaw ZOO. In 1997 a modern

house for reptiles was opened. End of the year has brought an opening of a bird’s house. The ZOO is opened whole year. In the winter it is possible to observe 80% animals on playgrounds or in

their houses.

It's the tallest building in Poland and the 17th tallest building in the European Union. It’s 237 meters high. It is in the center of Warsaw. It was built in 1955. It was built in 3 years. Its architect, Lew Rudniew, was inspireted by Moscow buildings. Now in the palace there are many social institutions such as a cinema, a theater and a bookshop.

Łazienki Park in Warsaw- This is a palace and park complex. It was established in the XVII century by Tylman van Gameren for Stanisław Lubomirski in the baraque style. Later the Park was acquired by Stanisław August Poniatowski. Łazienki Park is a place of culture and amusement. It’s a place for walks of whole families, friends and children. In the park you mustn’t ride bicycles and skateboards. Łazienki Park pborders with Botanical Gardens whicha are under care of University of Warsaw. Location: The Park is situated in Warsaw’s Downtown.

Interesting places in Łazienki Park:

*Fryderics Chopin monument situated by the main entrance to the park. * Pomarańczarnia (garden building) and White House, where Louis XVIII lived. * Łazienki Palace ( Palace on the Water) situated in the centre of Łazienki Park. It was a residence of Polish nobleman Lubomirski and Poniatowski. * The Theatre on the Island situated opposite the Łazienki Palace and built in 1790. * Agrykola Street (near the exit of Łazienki Park) with its historical Officers’s School.

* In the vicinity of southern exit of the Park there is the most famous restaurant in Warsaw - Belvedere.

Łazienki Palace

Łazienki Palace was built in the XVII century by Tylman von Gameren for Stanisław Lubomirski in the baroque style. Later (in 1772-1793) the Palace was owned by Polish king Stanisław August Poniatowski, who introduced some changes. The new Palace became a summer residence.

In autumn (1944) Hitler’s brigade burned the residence down. 1945-1965 Jan Dąbrowski reconstructed the Palace. It has been an independent institution since 1995.

Łazienki Palace lies on an artificial island on the lake. It’s a very beautiful place and a popular place of visits and walks for tourists and Warsaw citizens.

Belweder in Warsaw is a classical palace in the capitol of Poland. It was built in the XVII century. Belweder is situated in the Łazienki Park in Belwederska 54-56 Street. It was a seat of Polish presidents: Józef Piłsudski ( 1926-1935), Ludwig Fischer (1939-1945) and Bolesław Bierut. Today Belweder is a property of President’s Chancellery and it is used for representational purposes.

BELWEDER

• The Royal Castle in Warsaw is the royal palace and the official residence of the Polish monarchs, located at the Plac Zamkowy, at the entrance to the Old Town. It was built in the 13th century and it was rebuilt many times.

• During the Second World War the Royal Castle was destroyed and reconstructed in 1964 – 1974. It on the UNESCO list together with Old Town.

• Now in the Royal Castle there is a museum of its history. You can see there paintings of Bacciarelli and Canaletto, as well as antique furniture.

Warsaw's Old Town is the oldest historic district of Warsaw. It is bounded by Wybrzeże Gdańskie, 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.

There are buildings from XVII and XVIII century.

During the Second World War the Old Town was destroyed. In 1952 – 1955 it was reconstructed. Now it’s like in the past.

The Tomb of Unknown Soldier is a symbol of all unknown soldiers, who had died in World War I and II defending their homeland. In 1923 a stone tablet commemorating all the unknown soldiers was placed in Warsaw the capital of Poland. This tomb was designed by the Polish sculptor Stanisław Ostrowski. The central part of the Tomb is decorated with eternal flames. Besides those flames there are four stone tablets giving the names of the soldiers who died in the battles. During the Second World War the monument was destroyed. After the war it was reconstructed. On May 8th, 1946 it was opened to the public.

The Saxon Garden was built in 1666 for the aristocrat Jan Morsztyn. During the reign of Augustus II it was extended by a line of parks and palaces linking the suburbs of Warsaw. The Garden is the typical example of baroque style. The park is famous for its long alley decorated by many sculptures.

The Palace in Wilanów is one of the best known monuments of Polish national culture.

It survived times of Poland’s wars and has true historical meaning.

It was built for Polish king Jan III Sobieski in 17th century.

The Palace was built in the characteristical baroque style and is very original and impressive.

After the death of Jan III Sobieski in 1696, the Palace belonged to his sons, and later on to aristocratic families like: Sieniawscy, Czartoryscy, Potoccy, Braniccy and Lubomirscy.

In 1805, Stanisław Kostka Potocki changed a part of the Palace into a museum. JAN III SOBIESKI

The Palace and Park in Wilanów are also famous for concerts and cultural events, that are held there e.g. Summer Royal Concerts.The Park that is near the Palace is a great place for a walk for a whole family. You can spend there a great time.Wilanów is one of those places, which you should see in Warsaw.

If you think that there is nothing to do in Warsaw, you are wrong! There are many different kinds of entertainment. If you want to have fun with your friends, you can go to the cinema, a pub or a disco. On the other hand, if you want to read a book or study, you can go to a cafe, a library or a reading room. In simple words– everybody will find something special here.

CLUBES, PUBS, DISKOS

In a pub you can meet your friends and watch matches on TV. In a club you can meet interesting people. In a disco you can dance the whole night!

RESTAURANTS, CAFES, FAST FOODS

In the restaurant you can have a romantic supper or delicious dinner. In a fast-food restaurant you can eat a quick dish. In a cafe you can drink a cup of tea of coffee and eat a piece of delicious pie.

OPERAS & PHILHARMONIES

In the opera you can listen to beautiful music and watch wonderful plays. In the philharmony you can only listen to music. (In Warsaw there are many theatres like Buffo, Roma, The National Theater etc.)

CINEMAS & THEATRES

In the cinema you can watch comedies, documents, horrors, cartoons and a lot of different movies. In the theatres you can watch plays. They can be funny, scary or touching.

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS

In the museum and on a display you can see and admire interesting exhibits (in museums - often very old) and learn something about them. (In Warsaw there are about 500 muzeums. The most important ones are The Warsaw Uprising Museum nad The National Museum)

National Museum

LIBRARIES & RIDDING ROOMS

In libraries you can borrow interesting books or read newspapers. In the reading rooms you can find a quiet and nice place where you can read and have a rest.

As you know we are teenagers so we do not sit at home and be bored ;p We have many places where we like to spend a lot of time. We decided to show them to you :D First place is the Old town. Some of us play there on their instruments. It is great fun! But then we get hungry so we go to Nowy Swiat or Chmielna street. We buy there yummy teacakes with blancmange or we go to fast-foods. We also sometimes go to the cinema, park or something like that. But there is a one place that we really like. These are our houses of course! :p After school we go to our friends houses and make in them a huge mess :D Of course we don’t clean it. At the end we laugh for few hours.