Royal Castle
per person
The Royal Castle was the residence of the Kings of Poland and the seat of Parliament from 1600 to 1795. The President of the Republic resided here from 1923 to 1939. After being completely destroyed in 1944, it was reconstructed from 1971 to 1984 and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. Today it is a museum.
Short description
A t the end of the 13th century, the Dukes of Mazovia built a wooden residence here. They founded the city of Warsaw in the immediate vicinity. The region of Mazovia was incorporated into the Kingdom of Poland in 1526. In the same century, Warsaw became the seat of the Sejm (parliament), which led to a rapid growth in the population and the city’s boundaries. At the same time, the princely court became the political centre of the Polish-Lithuanian Union. The royal castle took on its present form between 1589 and 1619, when King Sigismund III. Wasa moved the royal court from Krakow to Warsaw. The north-eastern exterior façade was built in the first half of the 18th century. The premises, on the other hand, date from the second half of the 18th century, during the reign of the last King of Poland Stanislaw August Poniatowski. Between 1923 and 1939, the Presidents of the Republic resided here. In November 1944, the Nazis blew up the Royal Castle.
It is almost a miracle that one can visit the Royal Castle in such splendour despite the numerous destructions and lootings between 1655 and 1944. Even more amazing is the enormous effort of reconstruction from 1971 – 1984. The royal gardens on the east side were completed in May 2019 and have been open to the public ever since.
The palace is now a museum.
Constructed
Architect of the first construction
Major conversions
Condition after World War II
Current function
In the touristic area?
Address
How to get
A gastronomic insider tip in the castle
This café is a real insider tip, so please don’t tell anyone. The entrance to the café is also the exit from the museum. It can be reached on the north side of the Castle Square.
The outdoor terrace in particular offers a beautiful view of the royal gardens and, in the distance, of the Old Town Bridge, which connects Warsaw Praga, the right side of Warsaw, with the city centre.
Prices here are no higher than elsewhere. A treat is the apple pie with vanilla ice cream, szarlotka in Polish.
Today there is a museum in the castle, for which we have prepared a separate overview.
No entry
Website of the museum in the palace
Accessibility
The Royal Castle is barrier-free and can also be visited by people on wheelchairs or other walking aids.
Dogs
Dogs are not allowed.
Main image © Walking Poland
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