Warsaw, Poland
- adamkoniuszewski
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
Warsaw became my base to plan next steps - namely the #EV13 Iron Curtain Trail in the Baltic States and on the Polish Baltic Coast. More on that later. Of the many Cold War sites here I discovered a few gems including the Neon Museum, Museum of Communism and Royal Castle that are "Must-See" sites for anyone visiting the Polish Capital.
When David Hill and Ilona Karwinska saw the Cold War era neons were being taken down and destroyed they launched a major effort to recover this heritage and preserve this colourful facade of communism for all to see. Thanks to them we can discover the fascinating and somewhat disturbing stories behind the "neonisation" propaganda campaigns across the former Eastern Bloc. "The Guardian: One of the best city museums in Europe!"
It is difficult to imagine what life was like under communism and visiting this museum I was trying to imagine what my life would have been like if my parents had not deffected to Canada in the early seventies. This is an important place for all to visit and especially the younger generation, accompanied by their parents and grand-parents for whom this was once a reality.
Two thumbs up one of the most iconic places in town where you can watch cold era films and relax at Café Stolica and its outdoor terrasse that stays open until late. A favorite of locals but also where the international crowd feels at home. Notice the neon...
The Palace of Culture
Like it or not... it is here, right in the center of Warsaw. The gift from Staline for Poles to always remember this sad chapter in history.
The Royal Castle in the Old Town
The Royal Castle that was completely destroyed by the Nazi Germans during World War II and the Warsaw Uprising offers a fascinating story of solidarity and resilience. Communists wanted for this treasure of Polish history to disappear forever but Poles rebuild it from scratch between 1971 and 84. It hosts a rich museum where a guided tour needed to truly appreciate what it has to offer. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Warsaw, where to go and what to see....
Planning the Baltic section at DobroCzynna Café
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