I made such a video almost two years ago when I was starting my professional life on YT but today I’d like to extend what I said then and explain few things. If you wanna learn more about my city and find out what places are the most worth visiting here, then read this post.

You can watch the video at first and then I will tell you more!

So, the first written information about Warsaw appeared on 23rd April 1313. But there were many burghs before that like Slavic Bródno (9th/10th century). And it was a Mazovian town with the Mazovian medieval castle that became later the Royal Caste we know today. Mazovia was a separate country until 16th century.

Let me tell you more about medieval legends now. Why in Polish the city is called Warszawa? Because that’s the fisherman and the mermaid’s names! Wars and Sawa. That’s why the symbol of the city is a mermaid.

The most important history for this city started happening in 16th century. After the fire of the Wawel Castle in Kraków, the court needed a place that could be a royal home. And that’s it! This symbolic move is why we can say that Warsaw became a capital city. But honestly, nobody saw things like we do now back then. The idea of naming a city a capital city is a 18th century idea.

So, the Wawel castle needed a renewal and that’s why Warsaw became an unspoken capital city. Also, the fact that king decided to live here made the city grow. Also, it was the place where noble people were choosing kings during elections on grounds called Wola that were underneath Warsaw then – today that’s one of the oldest districts.

I was born in Praga North which is pretty old too. The second side of the river is a little town with 15th century origin but the 16th-17th century made the city out of it. At first it was a three-city just like Gdańsk, Sopot and Gdynia by the Baltic Sea nowadays. I mean you go one road and suddenly you’re in another city! It was so surprising to me when I went there for the first time (it was a school trip that took place when I was 18). It became the part of the Warsaw in 18th century.

Well, let’s go back to the Warsaw now, I mean to the second side of the river Vistula (Wisła). In 17th century there was a war with Sweden that destroyed Warsaw badly. More people died than during the WWII and yes, there were less habitats than three centuries later but almost everybody who stayed here were killed. And Swedish army was attempting robbery like… Not a long ago there was a very low river’s water level and archaeologists found pieces of the castle stones and marbles… So yeah…

In 18th century came three partitions of Poland and the country disappeared from maps. It was a though time again and there was a Praga Massacre. It’s a pity to talk!

In 19th century is was no easier because Warsaw was no longer a capital city or even a Polish city. Poles were forbidden from speaking Polish, talking about history or keeping traditions. Even religion! I mean, people very often had to keep such things in a secret. I speak Polish in an independent country now so it’s a proof that it survived anyways, you know. And that’s because there were two national uprisings.

20th century brought an independence and two world wars. The current city was build on ruins of the old Warsaw. I lived for ten years in a pre-war building and I had dreams about war days very often like I was going to the street and very soon I was just killed there. And honestly, my old street was full of walls with holes form bullets but it will change soon because all those the oldest buildings started receiving the lost shine.

And that’s what I hate and love about this city – this ground is full of blood and bones on which we walk everyday not knowing about it, walls scream their secrets quietly but what was destroyed (not) once, has always found a way to rise again. I’ve started to notice this reborn light and beauty of my city not a long ago and I think I’m grateful for being a real Varsovian. And well, it’s the most modern city of Poland now. So yeah, I started to feel proud about it.

Well, at the end let me tell you about few places that need to be seen if you’re planning a trip to Warsaw. Consider it as a 3-day trip.

1. Royal Castle – that’s a very beautiful reconstruction that can make you feel like a king from days when it was new. And those gardens! Also, you need to see the reconstruction of the Old Town as well. Materials that were originally used were taken again and that’s way it’s looks older than it is in fact.
2. Royal Łazienki – that’s a splendid Palace on Isle and many other buildings that you can visit. The park is probably one of the biggest in Warsaw and it’s special in many ways. I recommend going to Chinese Garden the most.
3. Baroque Palace in Wilanów – I love baroque and if it’s not overwhelming to you, then I’m sure you’re gonna love it as much as I do. It’s so decorative, you know! So rich and so colorful! And the garden is one of the prettiest in Warsaw. And that’s another district of Warsaw. The name come from Latin villa nova and yes, it used to be far from Warsaw. I mean in 17th century!

These are my favorites but there are absolutely more! If you’re interested in hearing more, just let me know commenting and I’ll write another post about more interesting places in Warsaw.

So, that’s it! The next post will appear on Thursday and it will be about Riverdale.

Greetings!

A.A.