The best things to see in Warsaw's Royal Route and Old Town

Before knowing warsaw I understood that it was a city that, from a tourist point of view, “had nothing to do with it.”

But I was really wrong.

In my most recent trip to poland I discovered a modern city but, at the same time, with a historic center of great beauty.

There you will find a succession of monuments, mansions, churches and corners whose vision will make you correct that misconception that, as was my case, you might have.

It is true that it has been in recent years that the most complete remodeling of the historic center has really been carried out.

Specifically, from the integration of Poland into the European Union and after overcoming the dark stage for the country of its membership in the disappeared communist bloc.

You also have to take into account that warsaw It was completely destroyed by the Germans at the end of the Second World War, specifically during the historical episode about which you will have extensive and very interesting information in the Warsaw Uprising Museum.

As a result, all historical monuments and buildings in Warsaw actually date back a few decades.

Thus, for example, Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace, where is the Patron Saint of Warsaw, is from 1957.

For its part, Warsaw Archcathedral Basilica, neo-Gothic style, is from the 50s; and the Royal Castle, from 1981, since they could not be rebuilt until the fall of the aforementioned Communist regime.

What to see on the Royal Warsaw Route

The historic center extends along the so-called Royal Route.

It is a very long street that, with different names, connects the areas of palaces and parks of Wilanow, Through the Lazienki park and palace complex with the areas called Old City y New city.

As was my case, you can start the walk through the historic center Charles de Gaulle square, which you will distinguish by its large palm tree in the center.

In this square they cross the great Jerozolimskie avenue and the street Nowy Swiat, which in a northerly direction will take you to the Old City.

In summer, as I could see it in my Warsaw visit, this street is pedestrian, which makes for a very pleasant walk between monuments and historical buildings, barely disturbed by the passage of bicycles and city buses.

This is how you will meet him Warsaw Presidential Palace, built in the 1989th century, and where the conversations that led to the change of political regime in Poland took place in XNUMX.

Now this building houses the residence of the president of the country.

It also highlights the Church of the Patronage of Saint Joseph, originally from the 18th century, and the church of Santa Ana, which in the 15th century when it was built was a Gothic building, and which now shows a classical style façade.

You will now be on the section of street called Krakowskie Przedmiescie (Krakow suburb), one of the most beautiful stretches of the Royal Route.

Here you should pay attention to the panels that are located on the sidewalk in which reproductions of paintings by someone who was a painter of the king of poland, Bernardo Bellotto.

Known as Canaletto, this artist made various paintings that showed corners of the city of Warsaw during the 17th century.

You will see the great fidelity of the reconstruction of the historic center based on these paintings that served as an invaluable documentary reference for it.

You will soon reach the Zamcowy Square, where the large reddish building of the Warsaw Royal Castle.

Originally from the 15th century, it became a royal residence when the king of poland and his court moved from Krakow to Warsaw in the mid-17th century.

Nowadays it is a museum where you can see outstanding works of Rembrandt and of the aforementioned Canaletto.

In that same square there is also the Column of King Sigismund III Vasa. At 22 meters high, it is the oldest and tallest secular monument in Warsaw.

Warsaw Old Town

From here you will enter the Warsaw Old Town, the true historic center of the city.

Due to the fidelity of its reconstruction, the Old City was declared Heritage awarded by the Unesco.

In fact, it is the only enclave that is on the famous world heritage list that has been rebuilt.

The true center of Old City is marketplace Founded in the 13th century, now a beautiful enclave with colorful facades and great entertainment on the terraces of bars and restaurants that surround it.

In a central place in the square is the Warsaw Mermaid Statue, considered a symbol of the Polish capital.

This statue is also a fountain where in summer you will not be surprised to see children soaking as if it were a pool.

On the way to this square you will have passed through the aforementioned Archcathedral Basilica y Sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace.

Of this last one, you should notice its curious entrance door, called Angelic Gate for its sculptural representations of angels.

To finish your insurance very pleasant walk, already heading towards the so-called New city you will pass through Barbican, a gate of the historic 16th century wall, of which you can see reconstructed sections.

 Warsaw New Town

The word New city to the area of ​​Warsaw that was founded in the 14th century, which extends outside the aforementioned wall and which functioned as an independent city until the 18th century.

Here you will also find interesting corners, such as the church of San Jacinto, built next to a Dominican monastery in the 17th century.

You also have the Maria Sklodowska-Curie Museum, better known as Maria Curie, where above all the personal clothes of someone who was twice Nobel Prize for his studies on radioactivity.

In the New city you will also be able to see your marketplaceAs well as monument to the Warsaw Uprising.

In short, a walk that will take you a good part of the day, but which I assure you is essential to discover the greatest tourist attraction in Warsaw.

Photos Warsaw Old Town

Here you have more photos of the historic center of Warsaw.