| The city is split by the Vistula River. The western bank houses the business district, central shopping streets and the Old Town. Most attractions and tourist facilities, are located here. The East Bank part of Warsaw is hardly ever visited by tourists.
The Old Town was rebuilt completely from ruins between 1949 and 1963. The reconstruction was intended to restore the area to its former glory in it's peak years in the 17th and 18th centuries. Every fragment found among the ruins was incorporated in the restoration. In 1945, the Old Town Square consisted of a few walls rising out of the rubble, today it is a blend of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. It is atmospheric and alive with activity and character, and does not give any clue to it's history. A visit to the Historical Museum of Warsaw in the Old Town Square is definitely recommended. It documents Warsaw's history through the earliest days and charts the period very well through the War and the construction during the communist years.
Lovers of culture and art, those looking for entertainment, will find much to enjoy in Warsaw.
The capital houses great collections of Polish and foreign art. Historic works can be admired at the National Museum, at the Royal Castle, in Wilanów, and at the Palace on the Water in Lazienki, while contemporary art is exhibited in the Zacheta Gallery and the Centre of Contemporary Art in Ujazdów Castle.
Warsaw is renowned as a centre of cultural tourism thanks to numerous theatrical and musical venues, including the prestigious National Opera, the Chamber Opera, the National Philharmonic Hall and the National Theatre, as well as the music theatres Roma and Buffo, the Jewish Theatre, characterised by its unique atmosphere, and puppet theatres, such as Baj, Guliwer and Lalka.
Warsaw is also host to many events and festivals famous world-wide. The following seasonal events are worth particular attention: The F. Chopin International Piano Competition, the International Contemporary Music Festival "Warszawska Jesien", the Jazz Jamboree, Warsaw Summer Jazz Days, the Stanislaw Moniuszko International Vocal Competition, the Mozart Festival, the Festival of Old Music, the International Theatrical Meetings, and the International Poster Biennial.
When you visit the capital of Poland, you will find yourself in the largest city in the area, which is Warsaw. On a map, you can find the city located on the Vistula river, close to the Baltic Sea coast and the Carpathian Mountains. Warsaw is home to about 2,500,000 residents, offering a glimpse into many industries, such as manufacturing, steel and electrical engineering.
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Founded at the beginning of the 14th century, Warsaw became Poland's capital in 1611. It was one of central Europe's most beautiful and sophisticated cities until world war II when the Nazis razed it to the ground. Warsaw's few historic areas have been carefully reconstructed, but most buildings are either glass towers built post 1989 or prefabricated concrete monstrosities built in the communist era.