This small museum preserves Warsaw’s neon signs from communism era – giving its nightlife an electric hue during communism. Perfect place to get some history and nostalgia at a reasonable cost!
Visit this incredible museum! You will absolutely adore it. Designed mainly for students, but adults may enter for 20pln as well.
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw is Poland’s leading contemporary art gallery and an important cultural institution, located at 3 Malachowskiego Street near Saxon Garden in its central city location. Exhibits at this gallery showcase Poland’s postwar art collections while educational and integration programs, meeting with artists, cinema screenings, studio cinema shows, lectures, book promotions and workshops are also regularly scheduled at this gallery.
MSN had long been a nomadic enterprise, relocating every few years. Their permanent home now lies right in the center of Warsaw on Plac Defilad square near the Palace of Culture and Science from communist times – designed by Thomas Phifer and Partners out of New York with Warsaw studio APA Wojciechowski’s help, it boasts 215,000 square feet and features a long rectangular white building featuring large glazing openings to the surrounding city square.
Its interior, filled with natural light, is divided into six floors and two basements which house library, auditorium, theater, shop/cafe/storage facilities/educational spaces as well as storage facilities/educational spaces. Furthermore, exhibition levels offer “rooms with views” with wide windows overlooking Ul. Marszalkowska or southern portions of Plac Defilad that enable visitors to appreciate Warsaw from an altogether new viewpoint.
MSN will present the largest exhibition ever of its collections ever, showcasing early masterpieces like Jerzy Nowosielski as well as works by younger critical artists ranging from popular culture, advertising and design influences, vernacular artistic practices originating beyond urban centers as well as works aligned with political engagement and hopes of building a better world. The museum will begin their journey through their collections by featuring artwork relating to political engagement or dreams of creating a better world in their first chapter of exploration of this vast archive.
MSN’s move to its new space presents an opportunity to shape its surroundings as well. It will open to an extensive calendar of accompanying events this autumn, including Warsaw Under Construction festival which explores MSN’s construction on Plac Defilad and poses questions such as who may regain this public square or how it might be transformed for public good.
The Palace of Culture and Science
The Palace of Culture and Science stands as an iconic building in Warsaw. Rising over 800 feet (237m), with 42 floors that house museums, theatres, cinemas, swimming pool and congress hall. In 2007 it was added to the national register of monuments; its central tower can be seen from many spots throughout Warsaw.
Building this building was completed in record-setting 1,175 days – roughly three weeks per floor – under Lev Rudniev’s design, drawing inspiration from numerous Soviet high-rises he saw while travelling, such as Moscow’s Lomonosov University with its “seven sisters”.
But the Palace was more than an aesthetic gesture: its purpose was to cement Poland’s new political status after WWII as part of the Soviet bloc in Eastern Europe, establishing Poland as a satellite state within this Eastern bloc region. Being visible from almost everywhere around town further demonstrated its power and prestige.
Today, this building serves as a multipurpose complex which houses offices, four theaters, two museums, a congress hall for 3,000 people, and a library – but its 30-floor observation deck with its panoramic view of the city is what most draws people in.
Architecture inside this building is of equal interest; especially on its exterior where there are sculptural niches known as horseshoes by locals that contain different symbols representing science or culture, including classical literature books, members of Komsomol (Communist Party of Soviet Russia), archers and women from Central Asia.
Congress Hall was often used as the site of concerts during communist Poland. Polish audiences seldom had an opportunity to see Western artists perform live on stage; therefore concerts held here provided Polish audiences with a rare treat – in 1967 The Rolling Stones made history when they performed there for the first time, becoming the first large Western rock band ever. Other noteworthy performers were Marlene Dietrich, Luciano Pavarotti, and Tori Amos among many others.
Nowe Miasto (New Town)
Warsaw’s charming New Town offers visitors an intriguing peek into its past while also showing its distinct personality. Its serene streets lead to hidden courtyards and well-preserved buildings that reflect Warsaw’s strong resilience spirit. Additionally, Market Square in this area is less congested than in Old Town; here you can explore historical landmarks that tell tales from earlier eras.
Beginning as New Warsaw in 1490, this charming neighborhood began taking shape near the end of that century along a road connecting Old Town with Zakroczym on the Vistula. Duke Janusz the Elder granted this exciting area an independent status; creating its own council, Market Square and numerous churches and monasteries – unlike Old Town with its Barbican. By 1791 however, New Town had lost its independent status and become part of Warsaw itself.
If you prefer guided tours over meandering through unfamiliar streets on your own, consider GPSmyCity: it turns your smartphone into a personal tour guide while sharing local stories and sights along the way.
Although its name might suggest otherwise, New Town is actually quite charming. While Srodmiescie may boast wide avenues and skyscrapers that surround it, this area features small streets lined with charming houses that make for ideal strolls or lunch breaks. Plus, it is one of the city’s best examples of Socialist Realist architecture to admire!
Be sure to visit the Church of the Nuns of the Holy Sacrament (Kostelnia Wonych witokrzych), an ornate Baroque structure with a green Coppar roof built in 1787 on behalf of King Stanislaw August Poniatowksi for Redemptorist monks running two orphanages here, but due to unfounded accusations that they were spying for Austria, they were expelled in 1808 due to unproven claims. It remained closed until after World War II when reconstruction began and its Neoclassical interior features original sculptures that signify Warsaw’s resurrection after its devastation during. It remains one of Warsaw’s most iconic churches as an iconic symbol representing Warsaw’s resurrection after war devastation and it remains an icon symbolizing Warsaw’s post war renewal after devastation after war devastation – truly one of Warsaw’s iconic churches!
The Old Town
Warsaw has experienced tremendous reconstruction following World War II, and today its Old Town is listed on UNESCO’s list as a World Heritage site. Here locals come together for coffee and gossip at one of many restaurants or cafes found here.
History can be seen reflected in the city’s unique architectural style. Medieval structures from Old Town can still be seen today and several 15th-century buildings that had been damaged or destroyed during World War I have been rebuilt to their original splendour. Furthermore, numerous palaces and mansions that were destroyed or damaged during the conflict were rebuilt following its conclusion.
Visits to Poland’s Old Town provide a glimpse into its rich and complex past. Once it was the center of public life, hosting political speeches and executions. Today it remains home to an active merchant class and intelligentsia whose roots reach back before WWII.
Warsaw played an active role in efforts to achieve national independence during Poland’s Congress Kingdom (1815-30), as it sought to dislodge foreign influence.
Today’s streets and squares are alive with street art, souvenir shops, restaurants and cafe gardens; while during the summertime the Old Town becomes the site for cultural festivals.
Discover Poland’s musical legacy at these venues, from the grand St John’s Cathedral (Katedra sw. Jana) to the haunting melodies of Kociol Krolewski Church of Holy Cross (Kociol Krolewski).
Originally built with lavish decorations during an era of high culture, after its destruction during World War II it was rebuilt using more modest and dark Masovian Gothic styling to resemble its presumed original appearance.
Museum of Neon Signs (Muzeum Narodowej Neona). Situated in Praga District, this fascinating museum displays over 100 signs that once proclaiming the city’s prosperity and success. A tour will leave you feeling grateful for what’s going on here today.
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