Sightseeing in Warsaw

Overview

Given that so much of the city was razed to the ground during the War, quite a bit of what you'll see in Warsaw during your medical tourism trip is relatively new.  This city was the scene of some of the most tremendous destruction, including mass killings and systematic bombing during the Second World War.  Everywhere you go, you'll find museums, monuments, and even the ruins of a ghetto that remind the medical tourism visitor not only of the city's horrific suffering, but also of its uncanny ability to rise from the ashes.

Old Town

When the survivors began to return to their destroyed city, they began a slow process of rebuilding.  It was an attempt to reclaim their heritage.  Buildings were reconstructed brick by brick, and because all city archives had been destroyed, Varsovians relied on family photographs and their own memories to rebuild the structures.  The result is a beautiful town square that is lined with renaissance style buildings, churches, and in the post-Communist era, trendy little cafes, book shops, and restaurants.

Historical Museum of Warsaw

This museum does an excellent job of documenting the city's history, from the splendid pre-war era up to modern Warsaw.  The difference between the lavishness of the city before the War and the often desolate picture after is particularly striking.

Royal Castle

The castle was built in the 14^th century as the seat for Polish monarchs, and it was completely destroyed in the War.  Inside is a museum that displays splendid tapestries and furniture in reconstructed apartments that were rebuilt in the style of the personal quarters of the Polish kings and queens.  Don't forget to check out the fabulous art collection comprising the works of the Italian artist, Bernardo Bellotto, on your medical tourism visit to the Castle.

Museum of Warsaw Uprising

The Historical Museum has a section that’s devoted to the uprising, but that exhibit pales in significance to the one that’s presented at the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising.  Tracing the history of the revolt from the events that led up to it to the retreat of the Nazis, the museum uses photographs, video footage, as well as other displays to tell the story of one of the most painful but proudest moments in the city's history.

Pawiak Prison

The prison still stands as another grim reminder of the struggles of the Polish people.  During the war, it housed a total of nearly 100,000 prisoners, including political detainees, clergymen, and others.  Few made it out alive.  The prison was eventually integrated into the Warsaw concentration camp.  Remains of those times include a dead tree that serves as a place to post obituaries.