Editing Warsaw

{{Bdm}}{{For||Warsaw (disambiguation)|Warszawa (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox settlement
|name               = Warsaw
|official_name      = Capital City of Warsaw<br /> ''Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa'' |native_name        = ''Warszawa''
|motto              = ''Semper invicta''{{spaces|2}}<small>([[Latin]] "Always undefeated")</small>
|image_skyline      = Collage of views of Warsaw.png
|image_caption      = '''Top:''' [[Financial centre]], '''Middle left:''' [[Royal Castle, Warsaw|Royal Castle]], '''Middle right:''' [[Old Town Market Place, Warsaw|Old Town Market Place]], '''Bottom left:''' [[Presidential Palace, Warsaw|Presidential Palace]], '''Bottom right:''' [[Wilanów Palace]].
|imagesize          = 250px
|image_flag         = Flag of Warsaw.svg
|image_shield       = Warsaw emblem.png
|pushpin_map        = Poland
|pushpin_label_position = bottom
|coordinates_region   = PL
|subdivision_type   = Country
|subdivision_name   = {{flag|Poland}}
|subdivision_type1  = [[Voivodeships of Poland|Voivodeship]]
|subdivision_name1  = [[Masovian Voivodeship|Masovian]]
|subdivision_type2  = [[Powiat|County]]
|subdivision_name2  = ''city county''
|parts              = 18 [[dzielnica]]s
|p1=[[Bemowo]] |p2=[[Białołęka]] |p3=[[Bielany]] |p4=[[Mokotów]] |p5=[[Ochota]] |p6=[[Praga Północ|Praga North]] |p7=[[Praga Południe|Praga South]] |p8=[[Rembertów]] |p9=[[Śródmieście, Warsaw|Śródmieście]] |p10=[[Targówek]] |p11=[[Ursus, Warsaw|Ursus]] |p12=[[Ursynów]] |p13=[[Wawer]] |p14=[[Wesoła]] |p15=[[Wilanów]] |p16=[[Włochy]] |p17=[[Wola]] |p18=[[Żoliborz]]
|leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Warsaw|President]]
|leader_name        = [[Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz]]
|leader_party       = [[Civic Platform|PO]]
|established_title  = City rights
|established_date   = turn of the 13th century
|area_total_km2     = 516.9
|area_metro_km2     = 6100.43
|population_as_of   = 2009
|population_total   = 1,716,855
|population_density_km2 = 3311.02
|population_metro   = 2,631,902
|population_density_metro_km2 = 549.19
|population_demonym = Varsovian
|timezone           = [[Central European Time|CET]]
|utc_offset         = +1
|timezone_DST       = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
|utc_offset_DST     = +2
|latd=52 |latm=13 |lats=56.28 |latNS=N
|longd=21 |longm=00 |longs=30.36 |longEW=E
|elevation_m        = 78–116
|elevation_ft       = 328
|postal_code_type   = Postal code
|postal_code        = 00-001 to 04–999
|area_code          = +48 22
|website            = {{Plain link|http://www.um.warszawa.pl|warszawa.pl}}
|blank_name         = [[Vehicle registration plates of Poland|Car plates]]
|blank_info         = WA, WB, WD, WE, WF, WH, WI, WJ, WK, WN, WT, WU, WW, WX, WY
}}

'''Warsaw''' ({{lang-pl|Warszawa}} {{IPAc-pl|AUD|Pl-Warszawa.ogg|w|a|r|'|sz|a|w|a}}; see also [[#Etymology and names|other names]]) is the [[Capital city|capital]] and [[List of cities and towns in Poland|largest city]] of [[Poland]]. It is located on the [[Vistula|Vistula River]] roughly {{convert|260|km|mi}} from the [[Baltic Sea]] and {{convert|300|km|mi}} from the [[Carpathian Mountains]]. Its population as of June 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855, and the [[Warsaw metropolitan area]] at approximately 2,631,902.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emta.com/article.php3?id_article=43 |title=European Metropolitan Transport Authorities |publisher=EMTA |date= |accessdate=2011-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.urbanaudit.org/CityProfiles.aspx?CityCode=PL001C&CountryCode=PL |title=CityProfiles |publisher=Urban Audit |date= |accessdate=2011-06-03}}</ref> The [[Urban area|area of the city]] covers {{convert|516.9|km2|sqmi}}, while the city's agglomeration covers {{convert|6100.43|km2|sqmi}} (Warsaw Metro Area{{ndash}} ''Obszar Metropolitalny Warszawy'').<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author= |url=http://www.goeuro2012.com/html/warsaw.html |title=Warsaw |work=www.goeuro2012.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=15 July 2008 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080603015458/http://www.goeuro2012.com/html/warsaw.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 3 June 2008}}</ref> Warsaw is the [[Largest cities of the European Union by population within city limits|9th largest city]] in the [[European Union]] by population.

"[[Warszawianka (1831)|Warszawianka]]" is widely considered the unofficial [[anthem]] of Warsaw.<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author=Piotr Olechno |url=http://www.polskatimes.pl/warszawa/40061,sen-zamiast-warszawianki,id,t.html |title=Sen zamiast Warszawianki |work= www.polskatimes.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date=28 August 2008 |accessdate=3 March 2009}}</ref> On 9 November 1940 the City of Warsaw was awarded the Silver Cross of Poland's supreme [[military awards and decorations|military decoration]] for courage in the face of the enemy, the [[Virtuti Militari|Order Virtuti Militari]] for the [[Siege of Warsaw (1939)|heroic defence in 1939]].<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://bip.warszawa.pl/English/Main_Menu/capital_city_of_warsaw/coat_of_arms_colours.htm |title=Coat of Arms and Colours of the Capital City of Warsaw  |work=bip.warszawa.pl |publisher= |date= |accessdate=14 January 2009}}</ref>

Warsaw is also known as the "[[phoenix (mythology)|phoenix]] city", as it recovered from extensive damage during World War II (during which 80% of its buildings were destroyed), being rebuilt with the effort of Polish citizens.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.setac.eu/warsaw/city.html |title=The SETAC Europe 18th Annual Meeting |work= www.setac.eu |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=22 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url= http://miastofeniksa.pl/ |title= The city of phoenix – War*saw everything |work= |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=22 January 2009}}</ref> Warsaw has given its name to the [[Warsaw Confederation]], [[Warsaw Pact]], the [[Duchy of Warsaw]], [[Warsaw Convention]], [[Treaty of Warsaw (1970)|Treaty of Warsaw]], [[Warsaw Uprising]] and the [[Warsaw Ghetto Uprising]].

==Etymology and names==
Warsaw's name in the Polish language, ''Warszawa'' (also formerly spelled ''Warszewa'' and ''Warszowa''), means "belonging to Warsz", ''Warsz'' being a shortened form of the masculine [[Slavic names|name of Slavic origin]] Warcisław; see also etymology of [[Wrocław]].<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite book |author=Kazimierz Rymut |coauthors= |title=Nazwy miast Polski |year=1987 |editor= |pages= |chapter= | chapterurl= |publisher=Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich |location= |isbn=83-04-02436-5|url= |accessdate= |authorlink= Kazimierz Rymut}}</ref> [[False etymology|Folk etymology]] attributes the city name to a fisherman Wars and his wife Sawa. According to legend, Sawa was a [[mermaid]] living in the Vistula River who Wars fell in love with.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.warsaw-life.com/poland/warsaw-legend |title=The Warsaw Mermaid |accessdate=11 February 2008}}</ref> Actually, Warsz was a 12th/13th century nobleman who owned a village located at the site of today's [[Mariensztat]] neighbourhood.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/miasto/historia.htm |title=Historia Warszawy |accessdate=11 February 2008
|language=Polish}}</ref> The official city name in full is {{lang|pl|''miasto stołeczne Warszawa''}} ({{lang-en|"The Capital City of Warsaw"}}).<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.prawo.lex.pl/bap/samorzad/Dz.U.2002.41.361.html |title=Ustawa o ustroju miasta stołecznego Warszawy |work=www.prawo.lex.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=15 July 2008}}</ref> A native or resident of Warsaw is known as a ''Varsovian''.

Other names for Warsaw include {{lang|de|''Warschau''}} (German and Dutch), {{lang|es|''Varsovia''}} (Spanish and Latin), {{lang|fr|''Varsovie''}} (French), {{lang|it|''Varsavia''}} (Italian), {{lang|yi|וואַרשע}}/''Varshe'' (Yiddish), {{lang|he|''ורשה''}}/''Varsha'' (Hebrew), {{lang|ru|''Варшава''}}/''Varshava'' (Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian and Serbian), {{lang|lv|''Varšava''}} (Slovak, Czech, Latvian, Slovenian, Serbian and Croatian), {{lang|lt|''Varšuva''}} (Lithuanian), {{lang|hu|''Varsó''}} (Hungarian), {{lang|tw|''華沙''}} (Huáshā, "flower sand") (Traditional Chinese) and {{lang|ar|''فرصوفيا''}}/''fersofia'' (Arabic).

{{For|the name of Warsaw in various languages|wikt:Warsaw}}

==History==
{{Main|History of Warsaw}}
{| style="float:left;"
| {{hidden
  | headercss  = width: 325px; background: #B5B5B5;
  | contentcss =
  | header     = Warsaw Timeline<ref name="timeline" />
  | content    =
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Year'''&nbsp;&nbsp; '''Event'''
*1300 Warsaw is founded
*1413 Capital of [[Masovia|Mazovia]]
*1573 [[Warsaw Confederation]] and the first [[Royal elections in Poland|free election]]
*1596 Capital of Poland
*1641 [[Prussia]]n [[Homage (medieval)|Homage]]
*1655 [[Deluge (history)|Deluge]]
*1700 [[Great Northern War]]
*1747 Foundation of [[Załuski Library]]
*1791 [[Constitution of May 3, 1791|Constitution]] is passed by the Sejm
*1794 [[Warsaw Uprising (1794)|Warsaw Uprising]] and [[Battle of Praga|Massacre of Praga]]
*1795 [[Partitions of Poland|Third partition of Poland]]
*1807 [[Duchy of Warsaw|Warsaw Duchy]] established
*1815 [[Congress Poland]] established
*1830 [[November Uprising]]
*1863 [[January Uprising]]
*1918 Capital of the [[Second Polish Republic]]
*1920 [[Battle of Warsaw (1920)|Miracle at the Vistula]]
*1939 [[Siege of Warsaw (1939)|Siege of Warsaw]]
*1943 [[Warsaw Ghetto Uprising]]
*1944 [[Warsaw Uprising]]
*1945 Rebuilding of Warsaw begins
*1952 Warsaw is recognized as the capital of the [[People's Republic of Poland|PRL]]
*1955 Signature of the [[Warsaw Pact]]
*1968 [[1968 Polish political crisis|March events]]
*1989 [[Polish Round Table Agreement]]
  }}
|}

===Early history===

[[File:Kosciol NMP Warszawa Nowe Miasto.jpg|thumb|1411 [[St. Mary's Church, Warsaw|St. Mary's Church]] in [[Warsaw New Town]]]]

The first fortified settlements on the site of today's Warsaw were [[Bródno]] (9th/10th century) and [[Ujazdów Castle|Jazdów]] (12th/13th century).<ref name="history">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.e-warsaw.pl/miasto/historia.htm |title=Warsaw's history |work=www.e-warsaw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=24 July 2008}}</ref> After Jazdów was raided, a new similar settlement was established on the site of a small fishing village called Warszowa. The [[Płock]] prince Bolesław II of Masovia, established this settlement, the modern Warsaw, about 1300. In the beginning of the 14th century it became one of the seats of the [[Duke of Masovia|Dukes of Masovia]], becoming the capital of Masovia in 1413.<ref name="history" /> Fourteenth-century Warsaw's economy rested on crafts and trade. Upon the extinction of the local ducal line, the duchy was reincorporated into the Polish Crown in 1526.<ref name="history" />

===16th to 18th century===

In 1529 Warsaw for the first time became the seat of the [[Sejm of the Republic of Poland|General Sejm]], permanent from 1569.<ref name="history" /> In 1573 the city gave its name to the [[Warsaw Confederation]], formally establishing [[freedom of religion|religious freedom]] in the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]]. Due to its central location between the Commonwealth's capitals of [[Kraków]] and [[Vilnius]], Warsaw became the capital of the Commonwealth, and of the Polish Crown, in 1596, when King [[Sigismund III Vasa]] moved the court from [[Kraków]] to Warsaw.<ref name="history" />

[[File:Dahlbergh Bitwa Warszawa 1656.jpg|thumb|right|[[Battle of Warsaw (1656)|Battle of Warsaw in 1656]]]]
In the following years the town expanded towards the suburbs. Several private independent districts were established, the property of aristocrats and the gentry, which were ruled by their own laws. Three times between 1655–1658 the city was under siege and three times it was taken and pillaged by the Swedish, [[Brandenburg]]ian and [[Transylvania]]n forces.<ref name="history" /><ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author=Neal Ascheron |url=http://www.halat.pl/poland2.html |title=The Struggles for Poland |work=www.halat.pl|publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=24 July 2008}}</ref>

In 1700, the [[Great Northern War]] broke out. The city was besieged several times and was obliged to pay heavy contributions.<ref name="timeline">{{pl icon}} {{cite book |author= |coauthors=Marian Marek Drozdowski, Andrzej Zahorski |title=Historia Warszawy (History of Warsaw) |year=2004 |editor= |pages= |chapter= | chapterurl = |publisher= |location=Warsaw |isbn=83-89632-04-7 |url= |accessdate=}}</ref> Warsaw turned into an early-[[capitalism|capitalistic]] principal city.

[[Stanisław August Poniatowski]], who remodelled the interior of the [[Royal Castle in Warsaw]], also made Warsaw a centre of culture and the arts.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book |author=Michał Rożek, Doris Ronowicz|coauthors=|title=Cracow: a treasury of Polish culture and art|year=1988|editor= |page=74|pages= |chapter=|chapterurl= |publisher=Interpress Publishers|location= |isbn=83-22322-45-3|url=|accessdate=}}</ref><ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author=John Stanley |url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3763/is_200403/ai_n9363971/?tag=content;col1 |title= Literary Activities and Attitudes in the Stanislavian Age in Poland (1764–1795): A Social System?|work= findarticles.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date=March–June 2004 |accessdate=2009-04-23}}</ref> This earned Warsaw the name of ''the Paris of the east''.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book |author=Cornelia Golna|coauthors=|title=City of man's desire: a novel of Constantinople|year=2004|editor= |page=318|pages= |chapter=|chapterurl= |publisher=Go-Bos Press|location= |isbn=90-80411-44-2|url=http://books.google.pl/books?id=xHXGa8HSQIQC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=}}</ref>

===19th and 20th centuries===

Warsaw remained the capital of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] until 1795, when it was annexed by the [[Kingdom of Prussia]] to become the capital of the province of [[South Prussia]]. Liberated by [[Napoleon I|Napoleon]]'s army in 1806, Warsaw was made the capital of the newly created [[Duchy of Warsaw]].<ref name="history" /> Following the [[Congress of Vienna]] of 1815, Warsaw became the centre of the [[Congress Poland]], a [[constitutional monarchy]] under a [[personal union]] with [[Russian Empire|Imperial Russia]].<ref name="history" /> The Royal University of Warsaw was established in 1816.

[[File:German airship bombing Warsaw.JPG|thumb|left|German [[airship]] [[List of Schütte-Lanz airships#SL2|Schütte Lanz SL2]] [[Aerial bombing of cities|bombing]] Warsaw in 1914]]

Following the repeated violations of the [[Constitution of the Republic of Poland|Polish constitution]] by the Russians, the 1830 [[November Uprising]] broke out. However, the Polish-Russian war of 1831 ended in the uprising's defeat and in the curtailment of the Kingdom's autonomy.<ref name="history" /> On 27 February 1861 a Warsaw crowd protesting against the Russian rule over Poland was fired upon by the Russian troops.<ref>{{fr}} Zbigniew Naliwajek. [http://www.cairn.info/article.php?ID_REVUE=RLC&ID_NUMPUBLIE=RLC_307&ID_ARTICLE=RLC_307_0325 Romain Rolland et la littérature polonaise]. Revue de littérature comparée 3/2003 (n°307), p. 325-338.</ref><ref name="obrien">{{en icon}} {{cite book |author= Augustin P. O'Brien |coauthors= |title=Petersburg and Warsaw: Scenes Witnessed During a Residence in Poland and Russia in 1863–64 |year=1864 |editor= |pages= |chapter= | chapterurl = |publisher= R. Bentley |location= |isbn= |url= http://books.google.com/?id=WlYBAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Petersburg+and+Warsaw:+scenes+witnessed#PPR1,M1|accessdate=28 January 2009}}</ref> Five people were killed. The Underground [[Polish National Government (January Uprising)|Polish National Government]] resided in Warsaw during [[January Uprising]] in 1863–64.<ref name="obrien" />

Warsaw flourished in the late 19th century under Mayor [[Sokrates Starynkiewicz]] (1875–92), a Russian-born general appointed by [[Alexander III of Russia|Tsar Alexander III]]. Under Starynkiewicz Warsaw saw its first water and sewer systems designed and built by the English engineer [[William Lindley]] and his son, [[William Heerlein Lindley]], as well as the expansion and modernisation of [[tram]]s, [[street light]]ing and [[Gasworks|gas works]].<ref name="history" />

{{Rquote|right|''The history of contemporary civilisation knows no event of greater importance than the Battle of Warsaw, 1920, and none of which the significance is less appreciated.''|[[Edgar Vincent, 1st Viscount D'Abernon|Sir Edgar Vincent d'Abernon]]<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author= |url=http://www.electronicmuseum.ca/Soviet-Polish-War/spw_3.html |title=Vistula River Victory |work=www.electronicmuseum.ca |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=14 July 2008}}</ref>}} The [[Russian Empire Census]] of 1897 recorded 626,000 people living in Warsaw, making it the third-largest city of the Empire after [[St. Petersburg]] and Moscow.

Warsaw became the capital of the newly independent [[Second Polish Republic|Poland]] in 1918. In the course of the [[Polish–Soviet War|Polish-Bolshevik War]] of 1920, the huge [[Battle of Warsaw (1920)|Battle of Warsaw]] was fought on the eastern outskirts of the city in which the capital was successfully defended and the [[Red Army]] defeated.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/466681/Poland/28213/From-the-Treaty-of-Versailles-to-the-Treaty-of-Riga#ref=ref397007&tab=active~checked%2Citems~checked&title=Poland%20%3A%3A%20From%20the%20Treaty%20of%20Versailles%20to%20the%20Treaty%20of%20Riga%20--%20Britannica%20Online%20Encyclopedia |title=Poland, History " Poland in the 20th century " From the Treaty of Versailles to the Treaty of Riga |work=www.britannica.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=14 July 2008}}</ref> Poland stopped by itself the full brunt of the Red Army and defeated an idea of the "[[export of revolution|export of the revolution]]".<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author=Witold Lawrynowicz |url=http://www.hetmanusa.org/engarticle1.html |title=Battle Of Warsaw 1920 |work=www.scrapbookpages.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=14 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author=Zdzisław G. Kowalski |url=http://www.archiwa.gov.pl/memory/sub_listakrajowa/index.php?va_lang=en&fileid=019 |title=Documents of the Battle of Warsaw 1920 |work=Memory of the World |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=14 July 2008}}</ref>

===World War II===

[[File:Destroyed Warsaw, capital of Poland, January 1945.jpg|thumb|left|''Sea of rubble''<ref name="last_glimpse">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author=M.M. |url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/11932/ |title=Warsaw: A Last Glimpse |work=www.warsawvoice.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date=2 August 2006 |accessdate=29 July 2008}}</ref> – over eight out of every ten buildings in Warsaw [[Aftermath of the Warsaw Uprising|were destroyed]] by the end of [[World War II]]. In left centre can be seen ruins of [[Old Town Market Place, Warsaw|Old Town Market Square]].]]

During  [[World War II]], central Poland, including Warsaw, came under the rule of the [[General Government]], a German [[Nazism|Nazi]] colonial administration. All [[higher education]] institutions were immediately closed and Warsaw's entire Jewish population{{ndash}} several hundred thousand, some 30% of the city{{ndash}} herded into the [[Warsaw Ghetto]].<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005069 |title=Warsaw |work=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum|publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=29 July 2008}}</ref> When the order came to annihilate the ghetto as part of [[Adolf Hitler|Hitler]]'s "[[Final Solution]]" on 19 April 1943, Jewish fighters launched the [[Warsaw Ghetto Uprising]].<ref name="ghettouprising">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/wgupris.htm |title=The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising |work=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=29 July 2008 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080517043736/http://www.ushmm.org/outreach/wgupris.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 17 May 2008}}</ref> Despite being heavily outgunned and outnumbered, the Ghetto held out for almost a month.<ref name="ghettouprising" /> When the fighting ended, almost all survivors were massacred, only few managed to escape or hide.<ref name="ghettouprising" /><ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.aish.com/holocaust/overview/he05n27.htm |title=The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising |work=www.aish.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=29 July 2008 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080623220055/http://www.aish.com/holocaust/overview/he05n27.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 23 June 2008}}</ref>

{| style="float:right;"
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  | header     = Warsaw'44
  | content    =
[[File:Warsaw Uprising'44.gif|center|thumb|270px|[[File:Warsaw Uprising broadcast.ogg|center|250px|]] [[Warsaw Uprising]] was a struggle by the [[Armia Krajowa|Polish Home Army]] to liberate Warsaw from German occupation before the [[Red Army]] could "liberate" it.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/636161/Warsaw-Uprising |title=Warsaw Uprising |work=ww.britannica.com |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Online |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=5 February 2009}} ''Hoping to gain control of Warsaw before the Red Army could "liberate" it, the Home Army followed the Soviet suggestion to revolt''.</ref>]]
  }}
|}

By July 1944, the [[Red Army]] was deep into Polish territory and pursuing the Germans toward Warsaw.<ref name="uprising">{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author= |url=http://www.warsawuprising.com/timeline.htm |title=Warsaw Uprising of 1944 |work=www.warsawuprising.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=14 July 2008}}</ref> Knowing that [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]] was hostile to the idea of an independent Poland, the [[Polish government-in-exile]] in London gave orders to the underground [[Armia Krajowa|Home Army (AK)]] to try to seize control of Warsaw from the Germans before the Red Army arrived. Thus, on 1 August 1944, as the Red Army was nearing the city, the [[Warsaw Uprising]] began.<ref name="uprising" /> The armed struggle, planned to last 48 hours, went on for 63 days. Stalin gave orders to his troops to wait outside of Warsaw.<ref>''The Soviet troops, ordered by Stalin to wait until the Germans had destroyed the remnants of Polish resistance, then moved into what was left of Warsaw, flushed out the remaining Germans, and proclaimed themselves liberators of the city''.<br> {{en icon}} {{cite book |author=Wesley Adamczyk|coauthors=|title=When God looked the other way: an odyssey of war, exile, and redemption|year=2004 |editor= |page=170|pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |publisher=University of Chicago Press|location= |isbn=02-26004-43-0 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=77sneNTXojQC&pg=PA170&dq=The+Soviet+troops,+ordered+by+Stalin+to+wait+until#v=onepage&q=The%20Soviet%20troops%2C%20ordered%20by%20Stalin%20to%20wait%20until&f=false|format= |accessdate=}}</ref> Eventually the Home Army fighters and civilians assisting them were forced to capitulate.<ref name="uprising" /> They were transported to [[Prisoner of war|PoW]] camps in Germany, while the entire civilian population was expelled.<ref name="uprising" /> Polish civilian deaths are estimated at between 150,000 and 200,000.<ref>{{cite book|first=Adam|last=Borkiewicz|title=Powstanie warszawskie 1944: zarys działań natury wojskowej|year=1957|publisher=PAX|location=Warsaw}}</ref>

The Germans then [[Planned destruction of Warsaw|razed Warsaw to the ground]]. Hitler, ignoring the agreed terms of the capitulation, ordered the entire city to be razed to the ground and the library and [[collection (museum)|museum collections]] taken to Germany or burned.<ref name="uprising" /> Monuments and government buildings were blown up by special German troops known as ''Verbrennungs- und Vernichtungskommando'' ("Burning and Destruction Detachments").<ref name="uprising" /> About 85% of the city had been destroyed, including the historic Old Town and the Royal Castle.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.warsawuprising.com/faq.htm#Warsaw%20Ghetto%20Uprising |title=Warsaw Uprising of 1944 |work=www.warsawuprising.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=14 July 2008}}</ref>

On 17 January 1945 – after the beginning of the [[Vistula–Oder Offensive]] of the [[Red Army]] – Soviet troops entered the ruins of Warsaw, and liberated Warsaw's [[suburb]]s from German occupation. The city was swiftly taken by the Soviet Army, which rapidly advanced towards [[Łódź]], as German forces regrouped at a more westward position.

===Modern times===
->
[[File:Msza św na Pl Zwycięstwa.jpg|thumb|[[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II's]] Mass in [[Piłsudski Square|Victory Square]], 1979]]

In 1945, after the bombing, the revolts, the fighting, and the demolition had ended, most of Warsaw lay in ruins.

After the war, under a [[Communism|Communist]] regime set up by the conquering Soviets, large [[prefabrication|prefabricated]] [[Public housing|housing project]]s were erected in Warsaw to address the housing shortage, along with other typical buildings of an Eastern Bloc city, such as the [[Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw|Palace of Culture and Science]]. The city resumed its role as the capital of Poland and the country's centre of political and economic life. Many of the historic streets, buildings, and churches were restored to their original form. In 1980, Warsaw's historic Old Town was inscribed onto [[UNESCO]]'s [[World Heritage Site|World Heritage]] list.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author= |url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/30 |title=Historic Centre of Warsaw |work=whc.unesco.org|publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=24 July 2008}}</ref>

[[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]]'s visits to his native country in 1979 and 1983 brought support to the budding [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|solidarity movement]] and encouraged the growing [[Anti-communism|anti-communist]] fervor there.<ref name="destination">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.destinationwarsaw.com/site.php5/Show/135.html |title=Pope in Warsaw |work=www.destinationwarsaw.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=5 February 2009}}</ref> In 1979, less than a year after becoming pope, John Paul celebrated Mass in [[Piłsudski Square|Victory Square]] in Warsaw and ended his sermon with a call to "renew the face" of Poland: ''Let Thy Spirit descend! Let Thy Spirit descend and renew the face of the land! This land!''<ref name="destination" /> These words were very meaningful for the Polish citizens who understood them as the incentive for the democratic changes.<ref name="destination" />

In 1995, the [[Warsaw Metro]] opened. With the entry of Poland into the [[European Union]] in 2004, Warsaw is currently experiencing the biggest [[boom and bust|economic boom]] of its history.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.polandtrade.com.hk/new/eng/news_september2004.htm |title=Attracting foreign investments |work=www.polandtrade.com.hk |publisher=The Warsaw Voice |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=24 July 2008}}</ref> The opening match of [[UEFA Euro 2012]] is scheduled to take place in Warsaw.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.poland2012.net/stadiums-in-poland/|title=The National Stadium in Warsaw|work=www.poland2012.net|publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=24 July 2008}}</ref>

==Geography==
===Location and topography===
[[File:Varsaw SPOT 1066.jpg|thumb|left|Warsaw seen from [[SPOT (satellites)|SPOT satellite]]]]

Warsaw lies in east-central Poland about {{convert|300|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the [[Carpathian Mountains]] and about {{convert|260|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the [[Baltic Sea]], {{convert|523|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Berlin, Germany.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://geography.howstuffworks.com/europe/geography-of-warsaw.htm |title=Geography of Warsaw |work=geography.howstuffworks.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=27 February 2009}}</ref> The city straddles the [[Vistula|Vistula River]]. It is located in the heartland of the [[Masovian Plain]], and its average [[elevation]] is {{convert|100|m|ft|-1}} above [[sea level]]. The highest point on the left side of the city lies at a height of {{convert|115.7|m|ft|1}} (“Redutowa” bus depot, district of Wola), on the right side – {{convert|122.1|m|ft|1}} (“Groszówka” estate, district of Wesoła, by the eastern border). The lowest point lies at a height {{convert|75.6|m|ft|1}} (at the right bank of the Vistula, by the eastern border of Warsaw). There are some hills (mostly artificial) located within the confines of the city – e.g. Warsaw Uprising Hill ({{convert|121|m|ft|1}}), Szczęśliwice hill ({{convert|138|m|ft|1}} – the highest point of Warsaw in general).

Warsaw is located on two main geomorphologic forms: the plain moraine plateau and the Vistula Valley with its asymmetrical pattern of different terraces. The Vistula River is the specific axis of Warsaw, which divides the city into two parts, left and right. The left one is situated both on the [[moraine]] [[plateau]] ({{convert|10|to|25|m|2|abbr=on|lk=out}} above Vistula level) and on the Vistula terraces (max. {{convert|6.5|m|2|abbr=on}} above Vistula level). The significant element of the relief, in this part of Warsaw, is the edge of moraine plateau called Warsaw Escarpment. It is {{convert|20|to|25|m|2|abbr=on|lk=out}} high in the Old Town and Central district and about {{convert|10|m|2|abbr=on}} in the north and south of Warsaw. It goes through the city and plays an important role as a landmark.

The plain moraine plateau has only a few natural and artificial [[pond]]s and also groups of [[clay pit]]s. The pattern of the Vistula terraces is asymmetrical. The left side consist mainly of two levels: the highest one contains former flooded terraces and the lowest one the flood plain terrace. The contemporary flooded terrace still has visible [[valley]]s and ground [[depression (geology)|depressions]] with water systems coming from the Vistula old – [[Stream bed|riverbed]]. They consist of still quite natural streams and [[lake]]s as well as the pattern of [[drainage]] [[ditch]]es. The right side of Warsaw has a different pattern of geomorfological forms. There are several levels of the plain Vistula terraces (flooded as well as former flooded once) and only small part and not so visible moraine escarpment. [[Aeolian processes|Aeolian]] sand with a number of [[dune]]s parted by [[peat]] swamps or small ponds cover the highest terrace. These are mainly forested areas ([[Temperate coniferous forest|pine forest]]).

===Climate===
Warsaw's climate is [[humid continental climate|humid continental]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Koppen]] ''Dfb'') with cold  winters and mild summers. The average temperature is {{convert|-3.0|°C|°F|0}} in January and {{convert|19.3|°C|1|abbr=on}} in July. Temperatures may often reach {{convert|30|°C|0|abbr=on}} in the summer. Yearly rainfall averages {{convert|495|mm|in}}, wettest  month being July. Spring and Autumn are usually beautiful seasons, the former crisp and sunny and full of blooms and the latter alternately sunny and misty, and cool but not cold.
{{Weather box
|location = Warsaw
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 12.5
|Feb record high C = 15.9
|Mar record high C = 23.3
|Apr record high C = 29.1
|May record high C = 32.7
|Jun record high C = 34.8
|Jul record high C = 36.0
|Aug record high C = 36.4
|Sep record high C = 33.0
|Oct record high C = 26.1
|Nov record high C = 19.3
|Dec record high C = 16.1
|year record high C = 36.4
|Jan high C =  0.1
|Feb high C =  0.9
|Mar high C =  4.7
|Apr high C = 12.2
|May high C = 19.4
|Jun high C = 21.7
|Jul high C = 23.8
|Aug high C = 23.0
|Sep high C = 18.3
|Oct high C = 12.9
|Nov high C =  5.0
|Dec high C =  2.1
|year high C = 12.0
|Jan mean C = −3.0
|Feb mean C = −2.3
|Mar mean C =  1.7
|Apr mean C =  8.2
|May mean C = 14.0
|Jun mean C = 17.6
|Jul mean C = 19.3
|Aug mean C = 18.3
|Sep mean C = 14.0
|Oct mean C =  8.2
|Nov mean C =  2.9
|Dec mean C = −0.5
|year mean C = 8.2
|Jan low C = −6.1
|Feb low C = −5.5
|Mar low C = −1.3
|Apr low C =  4.2
|May low C =  8.6
|Jun low C = 13.5
|Jul low C = 14.8
|Aug low C = 13.6
|Sep low C =  9.7
|Oct low C =  3.5
|Nov low C =  0.8
|Dec low C = −3.1
|year low C = 4.4
|Jan record low C = −30.7
|Feb record low C = −30.4
|Mar record low C = −23.5
|Apr record low C = −10.1
|May record low C =  −3.6
|Jun record low C =   0.3
|Jul record low C =   4.2
|Aug record low C =   2.0
|Sep record low C =  −4.7
|Oct record low C =  −9.0
|Nov record low C = −18.2
|Dec record low C = −27.4
|year record low C = −30.7
|Jan record low F = −23.3
|Feb record low F = −22.7
|Mar record low F = −10.3
|Nov record low F =  −0.8
|Dec record low F = −17.3
|year record low F = −23.3
|Jan precipitation mm = 21
|Feb precipitation mm = 25
|Mar precipitation mm = 24
|Apr precipitation mm = 33
|May precipitation mm = 44
|Jun precipitation mm = 62
|Jul precipitation mm = 73
|Aug precipitation mm = 63
|Sep precipitation mm = 42
|Oct precipitation mm = 37
|Nov precipitation mm = 38
|Dec precipitation mm = 33
|year precipitation mm = 495
|Jan humidity = 81
|Feb humidity = 82
|Mar humidity = 78
|Apr humidity = 71
|May humidity = 67
|Jun humidity = 68
|Jul humidity = 72
|Aug humidity = 74
|Sep humidity = 75
|Oct humidity = 77
|Nov humidity = 80
|Dec humidity = 86
|year humidity = 76
|Jan precipitation days = 15
|Feb precipitation days = 14
|Mar precipitation days = 13
|Apr precipitation days = 12
|May precipitation days = 12
|Jun precipitation days = 13
|Jul precipitation days = 13
|Aug precipitation days = 12
|Sep precipitation days = 12
|Oct precipitation days = 13
|Nov precipitation days = 14
|Dec precipitation days = 16
|year precipitation days = 159
|Jan sun = 43
|Feb sun = 59
|Mar sun = 115
|Apr sun = 150
|May sun = 211
|Jun sun = 237
|Jul sun = 226
|Aug sun = 214
|Sep sun = 153
|Oct sun = 99
|Nov sun = 39
|Dec sun = 25
|year sun = 1571
|source 1 = <ref>{{en icon|date=June 2011}} {{cite web|author=  |url=http://www.imgw.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=147&Itemid=180 |title=Institute of Meteorology and Water Management |work=www.imgw.pl|publisher= }}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

===Districts===
Until 1994, there were 7 districts in Warsaw: Śródmieście, Praga Północ, Praga Południe, Żoliborz, Wola, Ochota, Mokotów. Between 1994 and 2002, there were 11 districts: Centrum, Białołęka, Targówek, Rembertów, Wawer, Wilanów, Ursynów, Włochy, Ursus, Bemowo, Bielany. In 2002, the town Wesoła was incorporated and the territorial division of Warsaw was established as follows:
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|-
!District || Population || Area
|-
|[[Mokotów]] ||align=right| 225,571  || {{convert|35.4|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Praga Południe]] ||align=right| 182,588 || {{convert|22.4|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Ursynów]] ||align=right| 148,876 || {{convert|48.6|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Wola]] ||align=right| 137,692 || {{convert|19.26|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Bielany]] ||align=right| 133,778 || {{convert|32.3|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Śródmieście, Warsaw|Śródmieście]] ||align=right| 126,143 || {{convert|15.57|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Targówek]] ||align=right| 123,214 || {{convert|24.37|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Bemowo]] ||align=right| 113,066 || {{convert|24.95|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Ochota]] ||align=right| 89,383 || {{convert|9.7|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Białołęka]] ||align=right| 89,234 || {{convert|73.04|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Praga Północ]] ||align=right| 71,675 || {{convert|11.4|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Wawer]] ||align=right| 69,898 || {{convert|79.71|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Ursus, Warsaw|Ursus]] ||align=right| 50,355 || {{convert|9.35|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Żoliborz]] ||align=right| 48,060 || {{convert|8.5|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Włochy]] ||align=right| 39,690 || {{convert|28.63|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Rembertów]] ||align=right| 23,320 || {{convert|19.30|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Wesoła]] ||align=right| 22,757 || {{convert|22.6|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|[[Wilanów]] ||align=right| 19,146 || {{convert|36.73|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|-
|'''Total''' ||align=right|1,714,446|| {{convert|521.81|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}
|}

Warsaw is a ''[[powiat]]'' (''county''), and is further divided into 18 boroughs, each one known as a ''dzielnica'' (''districts'' – see [http://www.e-warsaw.pl/images/mapa_dzielnice.gif map]), each one with its own administrative body.<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/miasto/dzielnice.htm |title=Dzielnice |work=www.um.warszawa.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=11 July 2008}}</ref> Each of the boroughs includes several neighbourhoods which have no legal or administrative status. Warsaw has two historic districts, called [[Warsaw Old Town|Old Town]] (''Stare Miasto'') and [[Warsaw New Town|New Town]] (''Nowe Miasto'') in the borough of [[Śródmieście, Warsaw|Śródmieście]].<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.scrapbookpages.com/poland/Warsaw/Warsaw02.html |title=Old Town Warsaw |work=www.scrapbookpages.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=11 July 2008}}</ref>

{{Warsaw districts}}

===Cityscape===
====Overview====

Warsaw's mixture of [[architectural style]]s reflects the turbulent [[History of Warsaw|history of the city]] and country. During WWII, Warsaw was razed to the ground by [[Bombing of Warsaw in World War II|bombing raids]] and [[Planned destruction of Warsaw|planned destruction]].<ref name="uprising" /> After liberation, rebuilding began as in other cities of the communist-ruled [[People's Republic of Poland|PRL]]. Most of the historical buildings were thoroughly reconstructed. However, some of the buildings from the 19th century that had been preserved in reasonably reconstructible form were nonetheless eradicated in the 1950s and 1960s (e.g. [[Leopold Kronenberg]] Palace).<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.warszawa1939.pl/index.php?r1=malachowskiego_4&r3=0 |title=Pałac Leopolda Kronenberga |work=www.warszawa1939.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=29 July 2008}}</ref> Mass residential blocks were erected, with basic design typical of [[Eastern Bloc|Eastern bloc]] countries.

[[Public space]]s attract heavy investment, so that the city has gained entirely new squares, parks and monuments. Warsaw's current urban landscape is one of modern and contemporary architecture.{{citation}}

{{wide image|Warszawa-skyline-pole mokotowskie.jpg|1000px|<div class="center">''A panorama of today's Warsaw, taken from [[Mokotów Field|Pole Mokotowskie]]''</div>}}

====Architecture====

Warsaw's [[palace]]s, [[church (building)|church]]es and mansions display a richness of color and architectural details. Buildings are representatives of nearly every European architectural style and [[List of time periods|historical period]]. The city has wonderful examples of architecture from the [[gothic architecture|gothic]], [[renaissance]], [[baroque]] and [[neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] periods, all of which are located within easy walking distance of the town centre.

[[File:Poland Warsaw Łazienki Palace.jpg|thumb|left|[[Łazienki Palace]], also called the ''Palace on the Water'']]

Gothic architecture is represented in the majestic churches but also at the [[Middle class|burgher]] houses and [[fortification]]s. The most significant buildings are [[St. John's Cathedral, Warsaw|St. John's Cathedral]] (14th century), the temple is a typical example of the so-called [[Masovia]]n gothic style, [[St. Mary's Church, Warsaw|St. Mary's Church]] (1411), a [[Townhouse|town house]] of Burbach family (14th century),<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/perelki/index_en.php?mi_id=43&dz_id=2|title=A town house of Burbach family |work=eGuide / Treasures of Warsaw on-line |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=23 February 2009}}</ref> Gunpowder Tower (after 1379) and the [[Royal Castle, Warsaw|Royal Castle]] ''Curia Maior'' (1407–1410). The most notable examples of [[Renaissance architecture]] in the city are the house of Baryczko merchant family (1562), building called "The Negro" (early 17th century) and Salwator tenement (1632). The most interesting examples of [[mannerism|mannerist]] architecture are the [[Royal Castle, Warsaw|Royal Castle]] (1596–1619) and the [[Jesuit Church, Warsaw|Jesuit Church]] (1609–1626) at Old Town. Among the first structures of the early baroque the most important are [[St. Hyacinth's Church, Warsaw|St. Hyacinth's Church]] (1603–1639) and [[Zygmunt's Column]] (1644).

[[File:6 Warszawa 149.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Warsaw University of Technology]] building courtyard]]

Building activity occurred in numerous noble palaces and churches during the later decades of the 17th century. One of the best examples of this architecture are [[Krasiński Palace]] (1677–1683), [[Wilanów Palace]] (1677–1696) and [[St. Kazimierz Church]] (1688–1692). The most impressive examples of [[rococo]] architecture are [[Czapski Palace]] (1712–1721), [[Palace of the Four Winds]] (1730s) and [[Visitationist Church]] (façade 1728–1761). The neoclassical architecture in Warsaw can be described by the simplicity of the geometrical forms teamed with a great inspiration from the Roman period. Some of the best examples of the neoclassical style are the [[Łazienki Palace|Palace on the Water]] (rebuilt 1775–1795), [[Królikarnia]] (1782–1786), [[Carmelite Church, Warsaw|Carmelite Church]] (façade 1761–1783) and Evangelical [[Holy Trinity Church, Warsaw|Holy Trinity Church]] (1777–1782). The [[economic growth]] during the first years of [[Congress Poland]] caused a rapid rise architecture. The Neoclassical revival affected all aspects of architecture, the most notable are the [[Great Theatre, Warsaw|Great Theater]] (1825–1833) and buildings located at [[Plac Bankowy, Warsaw|Bank Square]] (1825–1828).

[[File:Socreal decoration in Warsaw.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Relief|Bas-relief]] of an iron forger at MDM neighbourhood, one of prime examples of [[Socialist realism in Poland|socialist realism]] in Polish architecture.]]

Exceptional examples of the [[bourgeoisie|bourgeois]] architecture of the later periods were not restored by the [[communism|communist]] authorities after the war (like mentioned Kronenberg Palace and [[Insurance|Insurance Company]] Rosja building) or they were rebuilt in socialist realism style (like [[Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra|Warsaw Philharmony]] edifice originally inspired by [[Palais Garnier]] in Paris). Despite that the [[Warsaw University of Technology]] building (1899–1902)<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.warszawa1939.pl/index.php?r1=politechnika&r3=0 |title=Politechnika Warszawska |work=www.warszawa1939.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=27 February 2009}}</ref> is the most interesting of the late 19th century architecture. Lot of the 19th century buildings is restored in Praga (Vistula’s right bank), though they are in a pretty bad condition. Warsaw’s [[Local government|municipal government]] authorities have decided to rebuild the [[Saxon Palace]] and the [[Brühl Palace, Warsaw|Brühl Palace]], the most distinctive buildings in prewar Warsaw.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.e-warsaw.pl/new/index.php?dzial=aktualnosci&ak_id=551&kat=3 |title=As good as new |work=www.e-warsaw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref>

Notable examples of contemporary architecture include the [[Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw|Palace of Culture and Science]] (1952–1955), a [[Socialist realism|Soc-realist]] skyscraper located in the city centre, and the Constitution Square with its monumental [[Socialist realism]] architecture (MDM estate).<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book |author=Sampo Ruoppila|coauthors=|title=Processes of Residential Differentiation in Socialist Cities|year=2004|editor= |pages=9–10|chapter= |chapterurl= |publisher=European Journal of Spatial Development|location= |isbn=|url=http://www.nordregio.se/ejsd/refereed9.pdf |accessdate=10 October 2010}}</ref> The central part of the right-bank (east) [[Praga]] borough it is a place where very run-down houses stand right next to modern [[apartment|apartment building]]s and shopping malls.

[[Modern architecture]] in Warsaw is represented by the Metropolitan [[Office|Office Building]] at [[Piłsudski Square|Pilsudski Square]] by [[Norman Foster (architect)|Lord Foster]],<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/4682/ |title=Metropolitan Life |work=www.warsawvoice.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date=4 February 2004 |accessdate=23 February 2009}}</ref> Warsaw University Library (BUW) by Marek Budzyński and Zbigniew Badowski, featuring a garden on its roof and view of the [[Vistula|Vistula River]], Rondo 1 office building by [[Skidmore, Owings and Merrill]] and [[Złote Tarasy|Golden Terraces]], consisting of seven overlapping domes retail and business centre.

It has been said that Warsaw, together with [[Frankfurt am Main|Frankfurt]], London, Paris, Moscow, [[Istanbul]] and [[Rotterdam]] is one of the tallest cities in Europe.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.skyscrapernews.com/britains.htm |title=Europes Top Skyscraper Cities |work=www.skyscrapernews.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=29 April 2009}}</ref> Of the 21 tallest skyscrapers in Poland, 18 are situated in Warsaw (the first of the list which is not in Warsaw, is the 9th – the Sea Tower in [[Gdynia]]).

====Flora and Fauna====

Greenspace covers 40% of the surface area of Warsaw,<ref name="warsaw_tour">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author = Warsaw Tourist Office |url = http://www.warsawtour.pl/en/warsaw-for-everyone/parks-gardens-2075.html |title = Parks & Gardens |work = www.warsawtour.pl |publisher = |pages = |page = |date = |accessdate = 23 February 2009}} "Warsaw is a green city. Almost 1/4 of its area is {{sic|hide=y|comprised| of}} fields, parks, green squares and lush gardens, making Warsaw a European metropolis that truly offers its visitors a breath of fresh air."</ref> including a broad range of greenstructures, from small neighborhood parks, green spaces along streets and in courtyards, trees and avenues to large historic parks, [[conservation (ethic)|nature conservation]] areas and the urban forests at the fringe of the city.

[[File:5 Warszawa 071.jpg|thumb|right|none|[[Peafowl|Peacock]]s – one of a number of animal species in the [[Royal Baths Park]].]]

There are as many as 82 parks in the city which cover 8 % of its area.<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/miasto/parki-5.php |title=Parki i lasy Warszawy  |work=www.um.warszawa.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=25 February 2009}}</ref> The oldest ones, once parts of representative palaces, are [[Saxon Garden]], the [[Krasiński Palace]] Garden, the [[Royal Baths Park]], the [[Wilanów Palace]] Park and the [[Królikarnia]] Palace Park (''See also: [[#Varieties|Greenery in the city]]'').

The Saxon Garden, covering the area of 15.5 ha, was formally a royal garden. There are over 100 different species of trees and the avenues are a place to sit and relax. At the east end of the park, the [[Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Warsaw|Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]] is situated. In the 19th century the Krasiński Palace Garden was remodelled by Franciszek Szanior. Within the central area of the park one can still find old trees dating from that period: [[Ginkgo biloba|maidenhair tree]], [[Juglans nigra|black walnut]], [[Corylus colurna|Turkish hazel]] and [[Pterocarya fraxinifolia|Caucasian wingnut]] trees. With its benches, flower carpets, a pond with ducks on and a playground for kids, the Krasiński Palace Garden is a popular strolling destination for the Varsovians. The Monument of the [[Warsaw Ghetto Uprising]] is also situated here. The Royal Baths Park covers the area of 76 ha. The unique character and history of the park is reflected in its [[landscape architecture]] ([[pavilion (structure)|pavilion]]s, [[sculpture]]s, [[bridge]]s, [[Waterfall|cascades]], [[pond]]s) and vegetation (domestic and foreign species of trees and bushes). What makes this park different from other green spaces in Warsaw is the presence of [[Peafowl|peacocks]] and [[pheasant]]s, which can be seen here walking around freely, and royal [[carp]]s in the pond. The Wilanów Palace Park, dates back to the second half of the 17th century. It covers the area of 43 ha. Its central [[Garden à la française|French-styled area]] corresponds to the ancient, baroque forms of the palace. The eastern section of the park, closest to the Palace, is the two-level garden with a terrace facing the pond. The park around the Królikarnia Palace is situated on the old [[escarpment]] of the Vistula. The park has lanes running on a few levels deep into the ravines on both sides of the palace.

[[File:Warszawa Lazienki3.jpg|thumb|left|none|19th century New Orangery houses a [[palm house]].]]
Other green spaces in the city include the [[Botanical garden|Botanic Garden]] and the University Library garden. They have extensive botanical collection of rare domestic and foreign plants, while a [[palm house]] in the New Orangery displays plants of subtropics from all over the world.<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/perelki/?mi_id=148&dz_id=14 |title=Nowa Pomarańczarnia |work=ePrzewodnik / Perełki Warszawy on-line |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=24 February 2009}}</ref> Besides, within the city borders, there are also: ''Pole Mokotowskie'' (a big park in the northern Mokotów, where was the first horse racetrack and then the airport), ''Park Ujazdowski'' (close to the Sejm and John Lennon street), Park of Culture and Rest in Powsin, by the southern city border, ''Park Skaryszewski'' by the right Vistula bank, in Praga. The oldest park in Praga, the [[Praga Park]], was established in 1865–1871 and designed by Jan Dobrowolski.<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite news |author = |url = http://zielona.um.warszawa.pl/tereny-zielone/park-praski |title = Park Praski |work = zielona.um.warszawa.pl |publisher = |pages = |page = |date = |accessdate = 2011-04-19}} ''Powstał w latach 1865–1871, według projektu Jana Dobrowolskiego, na prawym brzegu Wisły.''</ref> In 1927 a [[zoological garden]] (''Ogród Zoologiczny'') was established on the park grounds,<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web  |author =  |url = http://warszawa.naszemiasto.pl/rekreacja_i_wypoczynek/58717_63.html |title = Park Praski |work = naszemiasto.pl |publisher =  |pages =  |page =  |date = |accessdate = 2008-02-18 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080314235541/http://warszawa.naszemiasto.pl/rekreacja_i_wypoczynek/58717_63.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2008-03-14}}</ref> and in 1952 a [[bear]] run, still open today.

The flora of the city may be considered very rich in species. The [[species richness]] is mainly due to the location of Warsaw within the border region of several big floral regions comprising substantial proportions of close-to-wilderness areas (natural forests, [[wetland]]s along the Vistula) as well as [[arable land]], [[meadow]]s and forests. Bielany Forest, located within the borders of Warsaw, is the remaining part of the Masovian [[Old-growth forest|Primeval Forest]]. Bielany Forest [[nature reserve]] is connected with [[Kampinos Forest]].<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://bpn.com.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=230&Itemid=170 |title=Nature reserves as a refuge of Grifola frondosa (DICKS.: FR.) GRAY in central Poland |work=bpn.com.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=24 February 2009}}</ref> It is home to rich fauna and flora. Within the forest there are three cycling and walking trails. Other big forest area is Kabaty Forest by the southern city border. Warsaw has also two botanic gardens: by the Łazienki park (a didactic-research unit of the University of Warsaw) as well as by the Park of Culture and Rest in Powsin (a unit of the Polish Academy of Science).

There is 13 nature reserves in Warsaw – among others, Bielany Forest, Kabaty Woods, Czerniaków Lake. About 15&nbsp;km from Warsaw, the [[Vistula|Vistula river]]'s environment changes strikingly and features a perfectly preserved [[ecosystem]], with a habitat of animals that includes the [[otter]], [[beaver]] and hundreds of bird species.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/12179/ |title=Kayaking on the Vistula |work=www.warsawvoice.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date=30 August 2006 |accessdate=24 February 2009}}</ref> There is also several lakes in Warsaw – mainly the [[oxbow lake]]s, like Czerniaków Lake, the lakes in the Łazienki or Wilanów Parks, Kamionek Lake. There are lot of small lakes in the parks, but only part of them is permanent – the most of them is being emptied before winter to clean them of plants and sediments. 

The [[Warsaw Zoo]] covers an area of 40 hectares (100 acres).<ref name="zoo">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.zoo.waw.pl/ |title=Warsaw Zoo |work=www.zoo.waw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=24 February 2009}}</ref> There are about 5,000 animals representing nearly 500 species.<ref name="zoo" /> Although officially created in 1928,<ref name="zoo" /> it traces back its roots to 17th century private [[menagerie]]s, often open to the public.<ref>Warsaw Zoo opened 11 March 1928, on Ratuszowa Street. It was not the first [[zoo|zoological garden]] in Warsaw; King [[John III Sobieski|Jan Sobieski III]] kept a court menagerie in [[Wilanów]]. Several private zoos were also established in Warsaw in the 19th century. {{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/2044/ |title=New Zoo Revue|work=www.warsawvoice.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date=24 April 2003 |accessdate=9 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book |author= |coauthors= |title=Zoo and aquarium history: ancient animal collections to zoological gardens |year=2000 |editor=Vernon N. Kisling |pages=118–119 |chapter= | chapterurl = |publisher=CRC Press |location= |isbn=08-49321-00-X |url=http://books.google.pl/books?id=dxTrR5nOE0UC&printsec=frontcover |accessdate=}}</ref>

==Demographics==

{{Historical populations
|type =
|footnote =
|1700 | 30000
|1792 | 120000
|1800 | 63400  
|1830 | 139700 
|1850 | 163600  
|1882 | 383000 
|1901 | 711988 
|1909 | 764054  
|1925 | 1003000 
|1933 | 1178914  
|1939 | 1300000  
|1945 | 422000  
|1950 | 803800  
|1960 | 1136000  
|1970 | 1315600 
|1980 | 1596100  
|1990 | 1655700  
|2000 | 1672400  
|2002 | 1688200
|2006 | 1702100
|2009 | 1714466
|footnote=Note: 2006<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author= |url=http://www.stat.gov.pl/gus/index_ENG_HTML.htm |title=Demographic Yearbooks of Poland 1939–1979, 1980–1994 |work=www.stat.gov.pl |publisher=Central Statistical Office of Poland |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=29 August 2008}}</ref>
}}

Historically, Warsaw has been a destination for internal and foreign immigration, especially from [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Eastern Europe]]. For nearly 300 years it was known as the "Old Paris" or "Second Paris".<ref name="last_glimpse" /> It was always a centre of [[Culture of Europe|European culture]], existed as a major European city, and was a destination for many Europeans. [[Demographics|Demographic]]ally it was the most diverse city in Poland, with a significant numbers of foreign-born inhabitants. In addition to the [[Poles|Polish majority]], there was a significant Jewish minority in Warsaw. According to [[Russian Empire Census|Russian census of 1897]], out of the total population of 638,000, [[Jews]] constituted 219,000 (around 34% percent).<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book |author=Joshua D. Zimmerman |coauthors= |title=Poles, Jews and the politics of nationality |year=2004 |editor= |page=16 |chapter= |chapterurl = |publisher=University of Wisconsin Press |location= |isbn=0-299-19464-7 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=6sbr9cZyw_4C&pg=PA16&dq=population+Brest+Poles+Jews |accessdate=}}</ref> Warsaw's prewar [[Jewish population]] of more than 350,000 constituted about 30 percent of the city's total population.<ref name="ushmm">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/article.php?lang=en&ModuleId=10005069 |title=Warsaw |work=www.ushmm.org |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=29 August 2008}}</ref> In 1933 out of 1,178,914 inhabitants 833,500 were of Polish mother tongue.<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite book |author=F.A. Brockhaus Verlag Leipzig |coauthors= |title=Der Grosse Brockhaus: Handbuch des Wissens|year=1935 |editor= |page=25 |chapter= |chapterurl = |publisher=Brockhaus |edition=15 |volume=20 |location= |isbn= |url=|accessdate=}}</ref> World War II changed all of this, and to this day there is much less ethnic diversity than in the previous 300 years of the city's history.<ref name="ushmm" /> Most of the modern day population growth is based on internal migration and urbanisation.

[[File:Poland Warsaw boundaries 1939 and 2005.svg|thumb|left|Comparison of Warsaw's city boundaries today and in 1939]]

In 1939, ca. 1,300,000 people lived in Warsaw,<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book | author = Dānishgāh-i Tihrān. Faculty of Fine Arts| coauthors = | title = International Conference on Reconstruction of War-Damaged Areas: 6–16 March 1986 : Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran| year = 1990 | editor = | page =148 | pages = | chapter = | chapterurl = | publisher =University of Tehran Press| location = | isbn =| url = | accessdate = }}</ref> but in 1945 – only 420,000. During the first years after the war, the population growth was ca. 6%, so shortly the city started to suffer from the lack of flats and of areas for new houses. The first remedial measure was the Warsaw area enlargement (1951) – but the city authorities were still forced to introduce registration limitations: only the spouses and children of permanent residents as well as some exceptional persons (like good and famous specialists) were allowed to get registration. These limitations caused that the population growth decreased ca. twofold, but aroused among other Poles some kind of belief that the Varsovians feel themselves as somebody better than others only because they live in the capital. This belief unfortunately still lives in Poland (in much lower intensity) – even though there are not registration limitations anymore (since 1990).<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author=Michał Kopiński |url=http://poznan.gazeta.pl/poznan/1,36001,6000225.html|title=Warszawa da się lubić? Nie w Poznaniu |work= poznan.gazeta.pl/poznan |date=28 November 2008| accessdate=29 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author=Joanna Blewąska |url=http://wyborcza.pl/1,76842,5999966,Warszawa_da_sie_lubic_.html |title=Warszawa da się lubić?|work= wyborcza.pl |date=28 November 2008 |accessdate=29 September 2010}}</ref>

==Municipal government==

The municipal government existed in Warsaw until World War II and was restored in 1990 (during the communist times, the National City Council – ''Miejska Rada Narodowa'' – governed in Warsaw). Since 1990, the system of city administration has been changed several times – also as the result of the reform which restored ''[[powiat]]''s, cancelled in 1975. Finally, according the ''Warsaw Act'', the city is divided into 18 districts and forms one ''city [[powiat]]'' with a unified municipal government.<ref name="admin">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://e-warsaw.pl/2/index.php?id=568 |title=Administration |work=e-warsaw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=31 January 2009}}</ref>

[[File:7 Warszawa 163.jpg|thumb|left|Commission Palace, a [[Neoclassical architecture in Poland|neoclassical palace]] at the [[Bank Square, Warsaw|Bank Square]], the house of the city's government.]]

The basic unit of territorial division in Poland is a commune (''gmina'').<ref name="altrock">{{en icon}} {{cite book | author = Uwe Altrock| coauthors = | title =Spatial planning and urban development in the new EU member states: from adjustment to reinvention| year = 2006 | editor = | page =262 | pages = | chapter = | chapterurl = | publisher =Ashgate Publishing, Ltd| location = | isbn =07-54646-84-X | url = | accessdate =}}</ref> A city is also a commune – but with the city charter.<ref name="altrock" /> Both cities and communes are being governed by a mayor – but in the communes the mayor is [[vogt]] (''wójt'' in Polish), however in the cities – ''burmistrz''. Some bigger cities obtain the entitlements, i.e. tasks and privileges, which are possessed by the units of the second level of the territorial division – counties or ''powiat''s. An example of such entitlement is a car registration: a ''gmina'' cannot register cars, this is a ''powiat's'' task (i.e. a registration number depends on what ''powiat'' a car had been registered, not ''gmina''). In this case we say about city county or ''powiat grodzki''. Such cities are for example [[Kraków]], [[Gdańsk]], [[Poznań]]. In Warsaw, its districts additionally have some of ''powiat's'' entitlements – like already mentioned car registration. For example, the district Wola has its own evidence and the district Ursynów – its own (and the cars from Wola have another type of registration number than these from Ursynów). But for instance the districts in Kraków do not have entitlements of ''powiat'', so the registration numbers in Kraków are of the same type for all districts.

[[Legislature|Legislative power]] in Warsaw is vested in a [[unicameralism|unicameral]] [[Warsaw City Council]] (''Rada Miasta''), which comprises 60 members.<ref name="admin" /> Council members are elected directly every four years. Like most legislative bodies, the [[City council|City Council]] divides itself into committees which have the oversight of various functions of the city government.<ref name="admin" /> Bills passed by a [[Plurality (voting)|simple majority]] are sent to the mayor (the President of Warsaw), who may sign them into law. If the mayor vetoes a bill, the Council has 30 days to override the veto by a [[Supermajority|two-thirds majority]] vote.

Each of the 18 separate city districts has its own council (''Rada dzielnicy'').<ref name="admin" /> Their duties are focused on aiding the President and the City Council, as well as supervising various municipal companies, city-owned property and schools. The head of each of the District Councils is named the Mayor (''Burmistrz'') and is elected by the local council from the candidates proposed by the President of Warsaw.

[[File:Warszawa pałac Branickich (Miodowa).jpg|thumb|left|The [[rococo]] [[Branicki Palace, Warsaw|Branicki Palace]] houses the city's council.]]

The mayor of Warsaw is called President. Generally, in Poland, the mayors of bigger cities are called ''presidents'' – i.e. such cities, which have over 100,000 people or these, where already was president before 1990. The first Warsaw President was Jan Andrzej Menich (1695–1696).<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite book | author = Barbara Petrozolin-Skowrońska| coauthors = | title =Warsaw Encyclopedia| year = 1994| editor = | page =94 | pages = | chapter =Encyklopedia Warszawy | chapterurl = | publisher =[[Polish Scientific Publishers PWN]]| location = | isbn =83-01088-36-2| url =http://books.google.com/?id=BjjjAAAAMAAJ | accessdate =}}</ref> Between 1975 and 1990 the Warsaw Presidents was simultaneously the [[Warsaw Voivodeship|Warsaw Voivode]]. Since 1990 the President of Warsaw had been elected by the [[City council]].<ref name="djordjevic">{{en icon}} {{cite book | author = Masa Djordjevic| coauthors = | title =Politics of Urban Development Planning: Building Urban Governance in Post-Socialist Warsaw?| year = 2006 | editor = | page =8 | pages = | chapter = | chapterurl = | publisher =Ashgate Publishing, Ltd| location = | isbn = | url =web.ceu.hu/polsci/ADC/2006/papers/Djordjevic%20Masa%20paper.doc | accessdate =10 October 2010}}</ref> In the years of 1994–1999 the mayor of the district Centrum automatically was designed as the President of Warsaw: the mayor of Centrum was elected by the district council of Centrum and the council was elected only by the Centrum residents. Since 2002 the President of Warsaw is elected by all of the citizens of Warsaw.<ref name="djordjevic" />

The current [[List of mayors of Warsaw|President of Warsaw]] is [[Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz]] (since 2006-12-02) – the former president of the National Bank of Poland.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.e-warsaw.pl/2/index.php?id=566|title=Mayor of Warsaw |work=e-warsaw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=10 October 2010}}</ref> The first president elected according these rules was Lech Kaczyński. When he was elected on the President of Polish Republic (December 2005), there was not an additional election in Warsaw, hence formally he was simultaneously the President of Poland and the President of Warsaw.

==Politics==

[[File:Sejm RP.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Sejm of the Republic of Poland|Sejm]] building.]]

As the capital of Poland, Warsaw is the [[Centralisation|political centre]] of the country. All state agencies are located there, including the [[Sejm of the Republic of Poland|Polish Parliament]], the [[President of Poland|Presidential Office]] and [[Supreme court|the Supreme Court]]. In the [[Sejm of the Republic of Poland|Polish parliament]] the city and the area are represented by 31 [[Member of Parliament|MP]]s (out of 460). Additionally, Warsaw elects two [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]]s.

The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish (literally 'Envoy'). It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm (Marszałek Sejmu).

==Transportation==

Warsaw has seen major infrastructural changes over the past few years amidst increased [[foreign direct investment|foreign investment]] and economic growth. The city has a much improved infrastructure with new [[road]]s, [[Overpass|flyovers]], [[bridge]]s, etc.<ref name="warsawvoice.pl">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author=Michal Jeziorski |url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/14144|title=Improving Infrastructure |work=www.warsawvoice.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date=7 March 2007 |accessdate=28 May 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Warsaw-centrum.jpg|thumb|left|none|The city centre – view on Dmowski [[Roundabout]]]]

Warsaw lacks a good circular road system and most traffic goes directly through the city centre. Warsaw ring road has been planned consisting of three [[Expressways of Poland|express roads]]: [[Expressway S2 (Poland)|S2]], [[Expressway S8 (Poland)|S8]] and [[Expressway S17 (Poland)|S17]]. Currently parts of S2 and S8 are under construction and to be completed up to 2012. The city has one [[international airport]], [[Warsaw Frédéric Chopin Airport]], located just {{convert|10|km|mi}} from the city centre.<ref name="airport">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/fredericchipin/ |title=Frederick Chopin International Airport |work=www.airport-technology.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=24 July 2008}}</ref> With around 100 international and domestic flights a day and with over 9,268,551 passengers served in 2007, it is by far the biggest airport in Poland.<ref name="airport" />

[[Public transport]] in Warsaw includes [[bus]]es, [[tram]]s ([[Tram|streetcars]]), [[Warsaw Metro|Metro]], [[light rail]] [[Warszawska Kolej Dojazdowa]] line, urban railway [[Szybka Kolej Miejska (Warsaw)|Szybka Kolej Miejska]] and [[regional rail]] [[Koleje Mazowieckie]] (Mazovian Railroads).<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.e-warsaw.pl/miasto/transport.htm |title=Public transport |work=www.e-warsaw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=22 August 2008}}</ref> The buses, trams, urban railway and Metro are managed by [[Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego]] (''ZTM'', the Warsaw Transport Authority). [[File:Warsaw Metro Plac Wilsona 2.jpg|thumb|[[Plac Wilsona (Warsaw Metro)|Plac Wilsona]] metro station]]The regional rail and light rail is operated by [[Polish State Railways]] (PKP). There are also some suburban bus lines run by private operators.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTTRANSPORT/Resources/336291-1119275973157/td-ut5.pdf |title=From monopoly towards market |work=siteresources.worldbank.org |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=22 August 2008}}</ref> [[Bus]] service covers the entire city, with approximately 170 routes totalling about {{convert|2603|km|mi}} long, and with some 1,600 vehicles.

Currently, the ''Tramwaje Warszawskie'' (Warsaw Trams) company runs 863 cars on over {{convert|240|km|mi}} of tracks. Twenty-odd lines run across the city with additional lines opened on special occasions (such as [[All Saints|All Saints' Day]]).

The first section of the [[Warsaw Metro]] was opened in 1995 initially with a total of 11 stations.<ref name="metro">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.metro.waw.pl/page.php?id=111 |title=A History of Subway Construction |work=www.metro.waw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> It now has 21 stations running a distance of approximately 23 kilometres.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.metro.waw.pl/page.php?id=56 |title=Technical and Operating Data of the Existing Subway Section |work=www.metro.waw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Initially, all of the trains were Russian built. In 1998, 108 new carriages were ordered from [[Alstom]].<ref name="metro" /> The second line running east-west will be about 31 kilometres. The central section is now in the bidding stage and will be 6&nbsp;km. long with seven stations.<ref name="metro" /> The main railway station is [[Warsaw Centralna station|Warszawa Centralna]] serving both domestic traffic to almost every major city in Poland, and international connections. There are also five other major [[Train station|railway stations]] and a number of smaller suburban stations.

==Infrastructure==

[[File:Widok1 cob.jpg|thumb|Visualization of the [[National Temple of Divine Providence]] (under construction).]]
Warsaw has seen major infrastructural changes over the past few years amidst increased [[foreign direct investment|foreign investment]] and economic growth. The city has a much improved infrastructure with new [[health care|healthcare]] facilities, [[sanitation]], etc.<ref name="warsawvoice.pl"/>

Warsaw ranks among the best in medical facilities in Poland. The city is home to the Children's Memorial Health Institute (CMHI), the highest-reference hospital for all of Poland, as well as an active research and education center.<ref name="cmhi">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author=Ewa Pronicka and coordinators |url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/5508/ |title=Perfect for Children |work=www.warsawvoice.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date=27 April 2004 |accessdate=2 March 2009}}</ref> While the [[Curie Institute (Warsaw)|Maria Skłodowska-Curie Institute of Oncology]] it is one of the largest and most modern oncological institutions in Europe.<ref name="apta">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= Denise Wise, PT, PhD, with Kristin Wodzinski, PT |url=http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=28705 |title=People to People: Russia and Poland |work=www.apta.org |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=2 March 2009}}</ref> The clinical section is located in a 10-floor building with 700 beds, 10 operating theatres, an [[Intensive-care unit|intensive care unit]], several diagnostic departments, and an [[clinic|outpatient clinic]].<ref name="apta" />

==Religion==
{{main|Religion in Warsaw}}
Throughout its existence, Warsaw has been a multi-cultural city.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book |author=Geert Mak|coauthors=|title=In Europe: travels through the twentieth century|year=2008|editor= |page=427|pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |publisher=Pantheon Books|location= |isbn=03-07280-57-8|url= |accessdate=}} ''Today Warsaw is a monocultural city, which is some people's ideal. But before 1939 it was a typically multicultural society. Those were the city's most productive years. We lost that multicultural character during the war''.</ref> According to a census of 1901, out of 711,988 inhabitants there were 56,2% [[Roman Catholic Church|Catholics]], 35,7% [[Jews]], 5% [[Greek Orthodox Church|Greek orthodox Christians]] and 2,8% Protestants.<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite book |author=Hermann Julius Meyer |coauthors= |title=Meyers Konversations-Lexikon|year=1909 |editor= |page=388 |chapter= |chapterurl = |publisher=Leipzig and Vienna |edition=6 |volume=20 |location= |isbn= |url=|accessdate=}}</ref> Eight years later, in 1909, there were 281,754 Jews (36,9%), 18,189 Protestants (2,4%) and 2,818 [[Mariavite Church|Mariavites]] (0,4%).<ref>{{de icon}} {{cite book |author=Erich Zechlin |coauthors= |title=Die Bevölkerungs- und Grundbesitzverteilung im Zartum Polen (The distribution of population and property in tsaristic Poland) |year=1916 |editor= |pages=82–83 |chapter= |chapterurl = |publisher= Reimer, Berlin |location= |isbn= |url=|accessdate=}}</ref> This led to construction of hundreds of places of religious worship in all parts of the town. Most of them were destroyed in the aftermath of the [[Warsaw Uprising]] of [[1944]]. After the war the new communist authorities of Poland discouraged church construction and only a small part of them were rebuilt.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book |author=Marian S. Mazgaj|coauthors=|title=Church and State in Communist Poland: A History, 1944–1989|year=2010|editor= |page=67|pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |publisher=McFarland|location= |isbn=07-86459-04-2|url= |accessdate=}}</ref>

==Leisure activities==
===Events===

[[File:Tress-Jazz-in-Tygmont-AB.jpg|thumb|right|[[Jazz]] concert in Tygmont Club.]]
Several commemorative events take place every year. Gatherings of thousands of people on the banks of the [[Vistula]] on Midsummer’s Night for a festival called [[Wianki]] (Polish for ''Wreaths'') have become a tradition and a yearly event in the programme of cultural events in Warsaw.<ref name="sobotka">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author=Staś Kmieć|url=http://www.polamjournal.com/Library/Holidays/Sobotka/sobotka.html |title=Midsummer’s Eve |work=www.polamjournal.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=2 February 2009}}</ref><ref name="wreath">{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author=Staś Kmieć  |url=http://www.aktivist.pl/wydarzenie/eventId,393787,wianki-2008-wydarzenie.html |title=Wianki 2008 |work=www.aktivist.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=2 February 2009}}</ref> The festival traces its roots to a peaceful [[paganism|pagan]] ritual where maidens would float their [[wreath]]s of herbs on the water to predict when they would be married, and to whom.<ref name="sobotka" /> By the 19th century this tradition had become a festive event, and it continues today.<ref name="sobotka" /> The city council organize concerts and other events.<ref name="wreath" /> Each Midsummer’s Eve, apart from the official floating of wreaths, jumping over fires, looking for the [[fern flower]], there are musical performances, dignitaries' speeches, fairs and fireworks by the river bank.<ref name="wreath" />

The Warsaw [[Film festival|Film Festival]], an annual festival that takes place every October.<ref name="wff">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.wff.pl/en/o-festiwalu/ |title=Warsaw Film Festival |work=www.wff.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=16 February 2009}}</ref> Films are usually screened in their original language with Polish subtitles and participating cinemas include Kinoteka (Palace of Science and Culture), [[Multikino]] at [[Złote Tarasy|Golden Terraces]] and Kultura. Over 100 films are shown throughout the festival, and awards are given to the best and most popular films.<ref name="wff" />

===Sports===
On 9 April 2008 the President of Warsaw, [[Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz]], obtained from the mayor of [[Stuttgart]] [[Wolfgang Schuster]] a challenge award – a [[commemorative plaque]] awarded to Warsaw as the European capital of Sport in 2008.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.aces-europa.eu/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=i8gr5Zb1M8I%3D&tabid=55&mid=379 |title=European Capitals of Sport |work=www.aces-europa.eu |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref>

The [[National Stadium (Warsaw)|National Stadium]], a planned 56,000 seat [[Association football|football (soccer)]] [[stadium]], is currently under construction on the site of Warsaw's recently demolished [[10th-Anniversary Stadium]].<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite news |author= Ryan Lucas |url=http://sports.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/euro/story.asp?i=20080630175055520000101&ref=hea&tm= |title=UEFA turns attention to Euro 2012 |work=sports.sportsillustrated.cnn.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=31 January 2009}}</ref> The national stadium is due to host the opening match (a group match), remaining 2 group matches, a quarterfinal, and a semifinal of the [[UEFA Euro 2012]] hosted jointly by Poland and [[Ukraine]].<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www1.e2012.org/en/4_51.html |title=Warsaw |work=www1.e2012.org |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=31 January 2009 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080803222406/http://www.e2012.org/en/4_51.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 3 August 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Moderne wolkenkrabber Warschau 0865.png|thumb|The Olympic Center in Warsaw]]

There are many sports centres in the city as well. Most of these facilities are [[swimming pool]]s and sports halls, many of them built by the municipality in the past several years. The main indoor venue is [[Torwar Hall|Hala Torwar]], used for all kinds of indoor sports (mainly, indoor skating rink). There is also open-air skating rink (Stegny) and the horse racetrack (Służewiec).

The best of the city's swimming centres is at Wodny Park Warszawianka, 4&nbsp;km south of the centre at Merliniego Street, where there's an Olympic-sized pool as well as water slides and children's areas.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.wodnypark.com.pl/index.php?lang=en |title=Wodny Park |work=www.wodnypark.com.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=31 January 2009}}</ref>

From the Warsovian football teams, the most famous is [[Legia Warszawa]] – the army club with a nationwide following play at [[Polish Army Stadium]], just southeast of the centre at Łazienkowska Street. Established in 1916, they have won the country’s championship 8 times (most recently in 2006) and won the Polish Cup 14 times.  They have never been relegated divisions.  In the Champions League season 1995/96 they reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to Panathinaikos Athens.

Their local rivals, [[Polonia Warsaw]], have significantly fewer supporters, yet they managed to win [[Ekstraklasa]] Championship in 2000. They also won the country’s championship in 1946, and won the cup twice as well. Polonia's home venue is located at Konwiktorska Street, a ten-minute walk north from the [[Warsaw Old Town|Old Town]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background: #B5B5B5;" |Club
! style="background: #B5B5B5;" |Sport
! style="background: #B5B5B5;" |Founded
! style="background: #B5B5B5;" |League
! style="background: #B5B5B5;" |Venue
! style="background: #B5B5B5;" |Head Coach
|-
|[[Legia Warszawa]]<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://legia.com/www/index.php
|title=KP Legia Warszawa |work=legia.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=5 November 2008}}</ref>
|[[Association football|Football]]
|1916
|[[Ekstraklasa]]
|[[Polish Army Stadium]]
|[[Maciej Skorża]]
|-
|[[Polonia Warszawa]]<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.ksppolonia.pl/
|title=KSP Polonia Warszawa |work=www.ksppolonia.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=5 November 2008}}</ref>
|Football
|1911
|[[Ekstraklasa]]
|[[Stadion Polonii Warszawa|Stadion Polonii]]
|[[Jacek Zieliński (footballer born 1961)|Jacek Zieliński]]
|-
|Legia Warszawa<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.legialive.pl/kosz/|title=Legia LIVE! |work=www.legialive.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=5 November 2008}}</ref>
|[[Basketball]]
|1947
|Second League
|OSiR Bemowo
|Wojciech Kiełbasiewicz
|-
|[[Polonia Warbud Warszawa|Polonia Gaz Ziemny Warszawa]]<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.polonia.waw.pl/
|title=Polonia |work=www.polonia.waw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=5 November 2008}}</ref>
|Basketball
|1911
|[[Dominet Bank Ekstraliga|Polska Liga Koszykówki]]
|Hala Sportowa "Koło"
|Wojciech Kamiński
|-
|[[AZS Politechnika Warszawa]]
|Volleyball
|1918
|[[Polish Volleyball League|Polska Liga Siatkówki]]
|Hala UCSiR
|Radosław Panas
|-
|[[Warsaw GAA|Cumann Warszawa]] (Warsaw [[Gaelic Athletic Association|GAA]])
|[[Gaelic football|Gaelic Football]] and [[Hurling]]
|2009
|[[European Gaelic Football Championship 2010|European Gaelic Football Championship]]
|[[Rugby Ekstraliga|Stadion Skra]], [[Mokotów Field|Pole Mokotowskie]]
|Eoin Sheedy
|}

==Culture==
===European Capital of Culture 2016 Candidate===
Warsaw is a shortlisted candidate for the [[European Capital of Culture]] 2016 title.<ref name="warszawa2016">{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author = |url = http://www.warszawa2016.pl/index.php/eng/Warsaw-ECC-2016/Why-Warsaw |title = Why is Warsaw interested in the title of ECC 2016? |work = www.warszawa2016.pl |publisher = |pages =  |page =  |date = |accessdate = 2011-06-19}}</ref> With the title of European Capital of Culture 2016, Warsaw has the chance to become a city known for how it managed the transition from improvisation, chaos and unpredictable processes into a truly contemporary [[metropolis]], which found innovative solutions to its problems.<ref name="warszawa2016" />

The Core Themes of Warsaw's application include: The Vistula: River of Possibilities, City of Talents and Warsaw under Construction.

===Theatre in the past===
<!-- DO NOT ADD MORE PICTURES TO THIS SECTION -->
[[File:Warszawa Teatr Wielki rzut prostoliniowy.jpg|thumb|270px|[[Great Theatre, Warsaw|Great Theater]], home of Poland's National Theatre and Opera.]]

From 1833 to the outbreak of World War II, Plac Teatralny ''([[Theatre Square (Warsaw)|Theatre Square]])'' was the country's cultural hub and home to the various theatres.<ref name="teatrwielki">{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author = |url = http://www.teatrwielki.pl/show_book.php?book=historia&nlang=en |title = The Theatre's history |work = www.teatrwielki.pl |publisher =  |pages =  |page =  |year = 1998 |accessdate = 21 February 2008 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080418103152/http://www.teatrwielki.pl/show_book.php?book=historia&nlang=en <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 18 April 2008}}</ref>

The main building housed the [[Great Theatre, Warsaw|Great Theatre]] from 1833 to 1834, the Rozmaitości Theatre from 1836 to 1924 and then the National Theatre, the Reduta Theatre from 1919 to 1924, and from 1928 to 1939{{ndash}} the Nowy Theatre, which staged productions of contemporary poetical drama, including those directed by [[Leon Schiller]].<ref name="teatrwielki" />

Nearby, in Ogród Saski (the [[Saxon Garden]]), the Summer Theatre was in operation from 1870 to 1939,<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author = |url = http://www.warszawa1939.pl/index.php?r1=letni&r3=0 |title = Teatr Letni |work = warszawa1939.pl |publisher = |pages = |page = |date = |accessdate = 14 February 2008}}</ref> and in the [[interwar period|inter-war period]], the theatre complex also included Momus, Warsaw's first literary cabaret, and [[Leon Schiller]]'s [[musical theatre]] Melodram. The [[Wojciech Bogusławski]] Theatre (1922–26), was the best example of "Polish monumental theatre". From the mid-1930s, the Great Theatre building housed the Upati Institute of Dramatic Arts{{ndash}} the first state-run academy of dramatic art, with an acting department and a stage directing department.<ref name="teatrwielki" />

Plac Teatralny and its environs was the venue for numerous parades, celebrations of state holidays, carnival balls and concerts.

===Theatre===

Warsaw is home to over 30 major theatres spread throughout the city, including the [[National Theatre, Warsaw|National Theatre]] (founded in 1765) and the [[Great Theatre, Warsaw|Grand Theatre]] (established 1778).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.teatrwielki.pl/show_book.php?book=historia |title=Teatr Wielki-Polish National Opera |accessdate=11 February 2008 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080208223208/http://www.teatrwielki.pl/show_book.php?book=historia <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 8 February 2008}}</ref>

[[File:074 Palace of Culture.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw|Palace of Culture and Science]].]]

Warsaw also attracts many young and off-stream directors and [[Performance|performers]] who add to the city's theatrical culture. Their productions may be viewed mostly in smaller theatres and ''Houses of Culture'' (''Domy Kultury''), mostly outside ''[[Śródmieście, Warsaw|Śródmieście]]'' (Central Warsaw). Warsaw hosts the International Theatrical Meetings.

===Music===

Thanks to numerous musical venues, including the [[Great Theatre, Warsaw|Teatr Wielki, the Polish National Opera]], the [[Chamber opera|Chamber Opera]], the [[Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra|National Philharmonic Hall]] and the [[National Theatre, Warsaw|National Theatre]], as well as the Roma and Buffo music theatres and the [[Congress Hall (Warsaw)|Congress Hall]] in the [[Palace of Culture and Science, Warsaw|Palace of Culture and Science]], Warsaw hosts many events and festivals. Among the events worth particular attention are: the [[International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition|International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition]], the International Contemporary Music Festival [[Warsaw Autumn]], the Jazz Jamboree, Warsaw Summer Jazz Days, the International [[Stanisław Moniuszko]] Vocal Competition, the Mozart Festival, and the Festival of Old Music.<ref name="salter">{{en icon}} {{cite book |author= |coauthors=Mark Salter, Jonathan Bousfield |title=Poland |year=2002 |editor= |pages= |chapter= | chapterurl = |publisher=Rough Guides |location= |isbn=18-58288-49-5 |url= http://books.google.com/?id=YgQ0B1CNYfQC&pg=PA70&dq=guide+warsaw#PPA128,M1 |accessdate=}}</ref>

===Museums and art galleries===

{| style="float:right;"
| {{hidden
  | headercss  = width: 325px; background: #B5B5B5;
  | contentcss =
  | header     = Museums in Warsaw
  | content    =
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Name and official website'''
*[[National Museum, Warsaw|National Museum]] ([http://www.mnw.art.pl/ site])
*[[Zachęta|Zachęta National Gallery of Art]] ([http://www.zacheta.art.pl/ site])
*Centre for Contemporary Art ([http://www.csw.art.pl/ site])
*Museum of Modern Art ([http://www.artmuseum.waw.pl/ site])
*[[Polish Army Museum|Museum of the Polish Army]] ([http://www.muzeumwp.pl/ site])
*[[Royal Castle, Warsaw|Royal Castle]] ([http://www.zamek-krolewski.pl/ site])
*[[Warsaw Uprising Museum]] ([http://www.1944.pl/ site])
*[[Fryderyk Chopin Museum]] ([http://www.nifc.pl/chopin/nifc/museum site])
*Historical Museum of Warsaw ([http://www.mhw.pl/mhw/intro.jsp?place=Menu01&news_cat_id=-1&layout=0 site])
*Polish History Museum ([http://www.muzhp.pl/index.php?lang=2 site])
*Museum of Independence ([http://www.muzeumniepodleglosci.art.pl/index.php?lang=en site])
*Museum of the History of Polish Jews ([http://www.jewishmuseum.org.pl/index.php?miId=2&lang=en site])
*Museum of Sports and Tourism ([http://www.muzeumsportu.waw.pl/en site])
*[[Museum of Communism, Poland|Museum of Communism]] ([http://www.socland.pl/ site])
*Museum of Caricature ([http://www.muzeumkarykatury.pl/BBBmuzeum/framesets/o_nas_frameset.html site])
*Motorisation Museum ([http://www.muzeum-motoryzacji.com.pl/ site])
*Erotic Museum ([http://muzeumerotyki.com/ site])
<!-- DO NOT ADD MORE POSITIONS HERE -->
  }}
|}

The levelling of Warsaw during the war has left gaping holes in the city's historic collections.
<ref name="kalicki">{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author=Włodzimierz Kalicki |url=http://www.poloniacal.org/sztuka/sztuka1.htm |title=Sztuka zagrabiona |work= |publisher= Polish American Congress of Southern California |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> And although a considerable amount of treasures were spirited away to safety as the storm clouds gathered in 1939, it is also true that a great number of collections from palaces and museums in the countryside were brought to Warsaw at that time as the capital was considered a safer place than some remote castle in the borderlands.<ref name="kalicki" /> Thus losses were heavy.<ref name="kalicki" />

[[File:Warszawa-MPW.jpg|thumb|[[Warsaw Uprising Museum]].]]

Yet in spite of this, Warsaw still boasts some wonderful museums. As interesting examples of expositions the most notable are: the world’s first Museum of Posters boasting one of the largest collections of art [[poster]]s in the world,<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.postermuseum.pl/en/page/show/history |title=The Poster Museum at Wilanów |work= www.postermuseum.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=10 February 2009}}</ref> Museum of Hunting and Riding and the Railway Museum. From among Warsaw’s 60 museums, the most prestigious ones are [[National Museum, Warsaw|National Museum]] with a wide collection of works whose origin ranges in time from antiquity till the present epoch as well as one of the best collections of paintings in the country and [[Polish Army Museum|Museum of the Polish Army]] whose set portrays the history of arms.

The collections of [[Łazienki Palace|Łazienki]] and [[Wilanów Palace|Wilanów]] palaces (both buildings came through the war in good shape) are a delight, as are those of the Royal Castle. The Palace in [[Natolin]] – a former rural residence of Duke [[Czartoryski family|Czartoryski]]. Its interiors and park are accessible to tourists.

Holding Poland's largest private collection of art, the Carroll Porczyński Collection Museum<ref>Official name: ''Museum of John Paul II Collection''</ref> displays works from such varied artists as [[Peter Paul Rubens|Rubens]], [[Francisco Goya|Goya]], [[John Constable|Constable]], [[Pierre-Auguste Renoir|Renoir]], [[Vincent van Gogh|van Gogh]] and [[Salvador Dalí|Dalí]], and countless others.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.muzeummalarstwa.pl/collection.htm |title=Museum of John Paul II Collection |work= www.muzeummalarstwa.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=24 February 2009}}</ref>

A fine tribute to the fall of Warsaw and [[history of Poland]] can be found in the [[Warsaw Uprising Museum]] and in the [[Katyn massacre|Katyń]] Museum which preserves the memory of the crime.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book |author=Mark Baker, Kit F. Chung|coauthors=|title=Frommer's Poland|year=2009|editor= |page=79|pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |publisher=Frommer's|location= |isbn=04-70158-19-0|url=http://books.google.pl/books?id=ypJ5fzK_uSkC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=}}</ref> Museum of Independence host of sentimental and patriotic paraphernalia connected with these fateful epochs, as well as some invaluable art collections. Dating back to 1936 Warsaw Historical Museum contains 60 rooms which host a permanent exhibition of the history of Warsaw from its origins until today.

[[File:Ostrogski Palace Chopin Museum June 2010 b.jpg|thumb|left|17th century [[Ostrogski Palace|Ostrogski Castle]] houses the [[Fryderyk Chopin Museum|Chopin Museum]].]]

The 17th century Royal [[Ujazdów Castle]] currently houses Centre for Contemporary Art, with some permanent and temporary exhibitions, concerts, shows and creative workshops. The centre also develops unique art programs that correlated with the reconstruction and organization of the Ujazdów Castle architectural spaces. The Centre of Contemporary Art currently realizes about 500 projects a year.

[[Zachęta|Zachęta National Gallery of Art]] is the oldest exhibition site in Warsaw, with a tradition stretching back to the mid 19th century. The gallery organises exhibitions of [[modern art]] by Polish and [[International Artists|international artists]] and promotes art in many other ways.

The city also possesses some marvellous oddities such as the Museum of Caricature (the only one of its kind in the world)<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.warsaw.com/v/exhibitions/ |title=Exhibitions |work=www.warsaw.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> and a magnificent Motorisation Museum, which has everything from 1930s classics to cars that were owned by [[Elvis Presley]] and [[Marilyn Monroe]].<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.muzeum-motoryzacji.com.pl/podstrony/hist_muzeum_ang.html|title=Museum history |work=www.muzeum-motoryzacji.com.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref>

The newly established in 2011 Erotic Museum in Warsaw is the only such museum in Poland and one of the few of a kind in Europe.<ref name="muzeumerotyki">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://muzeumerotyki.com/index.php?lang=en |title=Museum history |work=muzeumerotyki.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=2011-08-27 |quote=The Erotic Museum in Warsaw is a unique place in Poland and one of a few in Europe where you can see pieces of art hidden bashfully from visitors in order museums. (...) Over 2000 exhibits displayed in the Erotic Museum in Warsaw let you explore erotic fantasies of artists from all over the world.}}</ref> Over 2,000 exhibits collected by the Erotic Museum, reveals the erotic fascinations of artists from all continents.<ref name="muzeumerotyki" /> Museum collections include the 14th century German [[chastity belt]]s, erotic [[Moche|Peruvian pottery]], [[Persian miniature]]s, Tibetan votive paintings, Indian carvings, [[Chinese ceramics|Chinese porcelain]], African folk art, Japanese [[Shunga]] paintings, Thai votive penises and many other exhibits.<ref name="muzeumerotyki" />

===Media and film===
[[File:Moderne wolkenkrabber Warschau 0875.png|thumb|Main [[Telewizja Polska|TVP]] headquarters at Woronicza street.]]

Warsaw is the [[mass media|media]] centre of Poland, and the location of the main headquarters of [[Telewizja Polska|TVP]] and other numerous local and national TV and [[radio broadcasting|radio station]]s, such as [[TVN (Poland)|TVN]], [[Polsat]], [[TV4 (Poland)|TV4]], [[TV Puls]], [[Canal+ Poland]], [[Cyfra+]] and [[MTV Poland]].<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author=Chris Dziadul |url=http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2007/10/05/a-decade-of-progress/ |title=A decade of progress |work=www.broadbandtvnews.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=14 February 2009}}</ref>

Since May 1661 the first Polish newspaper, [[Merkuriusz Polski Ordynaryjny|Polish Ordinary Mercury]], was printed in Warsaw. The city is also the printing capital of Poland with a wide variety of domestic and foreign periodicals expressing diverse views, and domestic newspapers are extremely competitive. ''[[Rzeczpospolita (newspaper)|Rzeczpospolita]]'', ''[[Gazeta Wyborcza]]'', ''[[Dziennik Polska-Europa-Świat]]'' Poland's large nationwide daily [[newspaper]]s<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.instytut.com.pl/IMM/o_firmie/Press_release_media_August2008.pdf |title=Press release |work=www.instytut.com.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date=6 October 2008 |accessdate=14 February 2009}}</ref> have their headquarters in Warsaw.

Warsaw also has a sizable movie and television industry. The city houses several movie companies and [[movie studio|studios]]. Among the movie campanies are TOR, Czołówka, Zebra and Kadr who is behind several international movie productions.<ref name="pisf">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.pisf.pl/pliki/47/ed/47ed315731f90c9/pg2008_i.pdf |title=Poland film production guide 2008 |work=www.pisf.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=14 February 2009}}</ref>

Over the next few years the new Film City in [[Nowe Miasto nad Pilicą|Nowe Miasto]], located a mere 80&nbsp;km from Warsaw, will become the centre of [[Cinema of Poland|Polish film]] production and international co-production.<ref name="pisf" /> It is to be the largest high-tech film studio in Europe.<ref name="pisf" /> The first projects filmed in the new Film City will be two films about the [[Warsaw Uprising]].<ref name="pisf" /> Two [[backlot]]s will be constructed for these projects – a lot of pre-WWII Warsaw and city ruins.<ref name="pisf" />

Since World War II, Warsaw has been the most important centre of [[Filmmaking|film production]] in Poland. It has also been featured in numerous movies, both Polish and foreign, for example: [[Kanał (film)|''Kanał'']] and ''[[Korczak (film)|Korczak]]'' by [[Andrzej Wajda]], ''[[The Decalogue]]'' by [[Krzysztof Kieślowski]], also including [[Academy Award|Oscar]] winner [[The Pianist (2002 film)|''The Pianist'']] by [[Roman Polanski|Roman Polański]].<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.thepianistmovie.com/index2.html |title=The Pianist |work=www.thepianistmovie.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=14 February 2009 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080822051023/http://www.thepianistmovie.com/index2.html |archivedate = 22 August 2008}}</ref>

==Education==

[[File:6 Warszawa 159.jpg|thumb|Rococo [[Czapski Palace]] houses the Academy of Fine Arts.]]

{| style="float:left;"
| {{hidden
  | headercss  = width: 325px; background: #B5B5B5;
  | contentcss =
  | header     = Higher education in Warsaw
  | content    =
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Name and year established'''
*[[University of Warsaw]] (1816)
*[[Warsaw University of Technology]] (1826)
*[[Warsaw School of Economics]] (1906)
*[[Warsaw University of Life Sciences]] (1818)
*[[Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw|Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University]] (1999)
*[[Medical University of Warsaw]] (1950)
*[[Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw|Academy of Fine Arts]] (1844)
*[[National Defence University in Warsaw|Academy of National Defence]] (1947)
*[[Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw|University of Physical Education in Warsaw]] (1929)
*[[Fryderyk Chopin Music Academy]] (1810)
*Aleksander Zelwerowicz State Theatre Academy (1946)
<!-- DO NOT ADD MORE POSITIONS HERE For a full list of institutions of higher education based in Warsaw, see Education in Warsaw -->
  }}
|}

Warsaw holds some of the finest institutions of higher education in Poland. It is home to four major [[university|universities]] and over 62 smaller schools of higher education.<ref name="gus">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/PUBL_as_statitical_yearbook_of_the_rep_of_poland_2008.pdf |title=Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Poland 2008 |work=www.stat.gov.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> The overall number of students of all grades of education in Warsaw is almost 500,000 (29.2% of the city population; 2002). The number of university students is over 280,000.<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://miasta.gazeta.pl/krakow/1,37650,5009717.html|title=Studia w liczbach: Warszawa bije Kraków |work=miasta.gazeta.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= 10 March 2008 |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> Most of the reputable universities are public, but in recent years there has also been an upsurge in the number of [[private university|private universities]].

The University of Warsaw was established in 1816, when the partitions of Poland separated Warsaw from the oldest and most influential Polish academic center, in [[Kraków]].<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.uw.edu.pl/en/page.php/about_uw/rese.html |title=University of Warsaw |work=www.uw.edu.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date=|accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> [[Warsaw University of Technology]] is the second academic school of technology in the country, and one of the largest in [[Central Europe]], employing 2,000 professors.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.onelab.eu/index.php/about/management/steering-committee/122-warsaw-university-of-technology-wut.html|title=Warsaw University of Technology (WUT)|work=www.onelab.eu |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}} ''With over 30,000 students served by over 2,000 professors and instructors, WUT is the largest and the highest-ranking engineering university in Poland.''</ref> Other institutions for higher education include the [[Medical University of Warsaw]], the largest [[medical school]] in Poland and one of the most prestigious, the [[Defense (military)|National Defence]] University, highest [[military]] [[academic institution]] in Poland, the [[Fryderyk Chopin Music Academy]] the oldest and largest music school in Poland, and one of the largest in Europe,<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.infochopin.pl/en/miejsca.php/99/|title=The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music |work=www.infochopin.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> the [[Warsaw School of Economics]], the oldest and most renowned [[economy|economic]] [[university]] in the country,<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.sgh.waw.pl/en/ogolne-en/|title=Warsaw School of Economics – Overview|work=www.sgh.waw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> and the [[Warsaw University of Life Sciences]] the largest agricultural university founded in 1818.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.sggw.pl/2009/10/12/warsaw-university-of-life-sciences/?lang=en|title=Warsaw University of Life Sciences |work=www.sggw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}} ''Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW (WULS – SGGW) is the oldest agricultural academic school in Poland, its history dates back to 1816.''</ref>

[[File:6 Warszawa 407.jpg|thumb|left|[[Warsaw University Library]]]]

Warsaw has numerous libraries, many of which contain vast collections of historic documents. The most important library in terms of historic document collections include the [[National Library of Poland]]. Library holds 8.2 million volumes in its collection.<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.bn.org.pl/index.php?id=4 |title=Historia zbiorów |work=www.bn.org.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> Formed in 1928<ref name="fyifrance">{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author = Maria Witt  |url = http://www.fyifrance.com/f102005c.htm |title = The Zaluski Collection in Warsaw |work = The Strange Life of One of the Greatest European Libraries of the Eighteenth Century |publisher = FYI France |pages =  |page =  |date = 15 September and 15 October 2005 |accessdate = 17 February 2008}}</ref> sees itself as a successor to the [[Załuski Library]], the biggest in Poland and one of the first and biggest libraries in the world.<ref name="fyifrance" /><ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author = S.D. Chrostowska |url = http://www.utoronto.ca/tsq/14/chrostowska14.shtml |title = Polish Literary Criticism Circa 1772: A Genre Perspective |work = utoronto.ca |publisher = |pages =  |page =  |date = |accessdate = 17 February 2008}}</ref>

Another important library – the University Library, founded in 1816,<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.buw.uw.edu.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=32&Itemid=76 |title=Historia |work=www.buw.uw.edu.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> is home to over two million items.<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.buw.uw.edu.pl/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=56&Itemid=121 |title=Zbiory główne |work=www.buw.uw.edu.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> The building was designed by architects Marek Budzyński and Zbigniew Badowski and opened on the 15 December 1999.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.buw.uw.edu.pl/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=285&Itemid=91 |title=Library building |work=www.buw.uw.edu.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> It is surrounded by green. The University Library garden, designed by Irena Bajerska, was opened on 12 June 2002. It is one of the largest and most beautiful roof gardens in Europe with an area of more than {{convert|10000|m²|2|abbr=on}}, and plants covering {{convert|5111|m²|2|abbr=on}}.<ref name="garden">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.buw.uw.edu.pl/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=286&Itemid=91 |title=Garden |work=www.buw.uw.edu.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=30 January 2009}}</ref> As the university garden it is open to the public every day.<ref name="garden" />

==Economy==

In 2008, Warsaw was ranked the world's 35th most expensive city to live in.<ref name=glob>{{cite news |url=http://economist.com/markets/indicators/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8860366 |title=Economist Intelligence Unit report |accessdate=15 June 2007 | work=The Economist |date=15 March 2007}}</ref> It was classified as an [[Global city|Alpha-]] world city (also known as a "major world city") by the Globalization and World Cities (GaWC) Study Group and Network from [[Loughborough University]], placing it on a par with cities such as [[Amsterdam]] or Rome.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2008t.html |title=The World According to GaWC 2008 |accessdate=6 September 2009}}</ref> The city also ranked 8th out of 65 cities on [[MasterCard|Mastercard]]'s Emerging Markets Index (2008).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mastercard.com/us/company/en/newsroom/pr_new_mastercard_research_ranks_65_Cities_in_emerging_markets.html |title=New MasterCard Research Ranks 65 Cities in Emerging Markets Poised to Drive Long-Term Global Economic Growth &#124; MasterCard |publisher=Mastercard.com |date=22 October 2008 |accessdate=7 July 2009}}</ref>

===Business and commerce===
[[File:Warsaw7ob.jpg|thumb|right|Warsaw city centre]]

Warsaw, especially its city centre ([[Śródmieście, Warsaw|''Śródmieście'']]), is home not only to many national institutions and government agencies, but also to many domestic and international companies. In 2006, 304,016 companies were registered in the city.<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/warsz/ASSETS_podmioty_war_2006.pdf |title=Podmioty gospodarki narodowej |work=www.stat.gov.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date=15 February 2007 |accessdate=28 July 2008}}</ref> Warsaw's ever-growing business community has been noticed globally, regionally, and nationally. Mastercard Emerging Market Index has noted Warsaw's economic strength and commercial center. Moreover, Warsaw was ranked as the 7th greatest emerging market. Foreign investors' financial participation in the city's development was estimated in 2002 at over 650 million [[euro]]. Warsaw produces 12% of Poland's national income,<ref name="cityreport">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.pbwfund.com/_php/get.php/Warsaw%20city%20report%20-%20March%202007.pdf?id=51&content=application%2Fpdf |title=Warsaw City Report – March 2007 |work=www.pbwfund.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=28 July 2008}}</ref> which in 2008 was 305.1% of the Polish average, per capita (or 160% of the European Union average). The [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] per capita in Warsaw amounted to PLN 94 000 in 2008 (ca. EUR 23 800, USD 33 000).<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/warsz/ASSETS_09_wwa_18_02.pdf |title=GDP Per Capita |work=www.stat.gov.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=27 October 2010}}</ref> Warsaw leads the region of [[Central Europe]] in foreign investment and in 2006, GDP growth met expectations with a level of 6.1%.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.pmrconsulting.com/Countries/Poland.html |title=Agriculture and industry |work=www.pmrconsulting.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=29 April 2009}}</ref> It also has one of the fastest growing economies, with GDP growth at 6.5 percent in 2007 and 6.1 percent in the first quarter of 2008.<ref name="warsawvoice">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.warsawvoice.pl/view/18028 |title=Big Chance for the Capital |work=Warsaw – CEE Financial Hub Conference |publisher=www.warsawvoice.pl |pages= |page= |date=11 June 2008 |accessdate=28 July 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Moderne wolkenkrabber Warschau 0883.png|thumb|left|[[Złote Tarasy|Golden Terraces]] shopping centre.]]

At the same time the [[unemployment|unemployment rate]] is one of the lowest in Poland, not exceeding 3%, according to the official figures. The city itself collects around 8,740,882,000 [[Polish złoty|złotys]] in taxes and direct government grants.

===Warsaw Stock Exchange===

[[File:169 2 a.jpg|thumb|right|[[Stock exchange|Exchange]] Building, home of the exchange from 1876 until [[World War II]].]]

Warsaw's first [[stock exchange]] was established in 1817 and continued trading until World War II. It was re-established in April 1991, following the end of the post-war communist control of the country and the reintroduction of a [[free market|free-market economy]].<ref name="stock">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.gpw.pl/gpw.asp?cel=e_ogieldzie&k=1&i=/historia/historia&sky=1 |title=History |work=www.gpw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=28 July 2008}}</ref> Today, the [[Warsaw Stock Exchange]] (WSE) is, according to many indicators,<ref name="warsawvoice" /> the largest market in the region, with 374 companies listed and total capitalization of 162 584 mln EUR as of 31 August 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gpw.pl/gpw.asp?cel=e_informacje&k=1&i=/periodical_statistic/opis_statistic&sky=1&nagnaz=Information%20and%20statistics |title=Giełda Papierów Wartościowych w Warszawie |publisher=Gpw.pl |date= |accessdate=22 January 2010}}</ref> From 1991 until 2000, the stock exchange was, ironically, located in the building previously used as the headquarters of the Polish United Workers' Party ([[Polish United Workers' Party|PZPR]]).<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.poland.gov.pl/Poland,and,Poles,545.html |title=Tourism |work=www.poland.gov.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=28 July 2008}}</ref> The city is considered to be one of the most attractive business locations in Europe.<ref name="warsawvoice" />

===Industry===

During Warsaw's reconstruction after World War II, the communist authorities decided that the city would become a major industrial centre. As a result, numerous large factories were built in and around the city. The largest were the ''Huta Warszawa'' Steel Works, the car factory [[Fabryka Samochodów Osobowych|FSO]] and the tractor factory “Ursus”.

As the communist economy deteriorated, these factories lost significance and most went bankrupt after 1989.<ref name="industry">{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author= |url=http://www.e-warsaw.pl/ekonomia/przemysl.htm |title=Industry |work=www.e-warsaw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=28 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author=Jerzy J. Parysek |url=http://www.ff.uni-lj.si/oddelki/geo/Publikacije/Dela/files/Dela_21/012%20parysek.pdf |title=The socio-economic and spatial transformation of Polish cities after 1989 |work=www.ff.uni-lj.si |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=28 July 2008}}</ref> Today, the Arcelor Warszawa [[Steel mill|Steel Mill]] (formerly ''Huta Warszawa'') is the only major factory remaining.

The FSO Car Factory was established in 1951. A number of vehicles have been assembled there over the decades, including the Warszawa, Syrena, Fiat 125p (under license from Fiat, later renamed FSO 125p when the license expired) and the Polonez. The last two models listed were also sent abroad and assembled in a number of other countries, including Egypt and Columbia. In 1995 the factory was purchased by the South Korean car manufacturer [[Daewoo]], which assembled the Tico, Espero, Nubia, Tacuma, Leganza, Lanos and Matiz there for the European market. In 2005 the factory was sold to AvtoZAZ, a Ukrainian car manufacturer which assembled there the Chevrolet Aveo. The license for the production of the Aveo expired in February 2011 and has since not been renewed.

The “Ursus” factory opened in 1893 and is still in operation today. Throughout its history various machinery was assembled there, including motorcycles, military vehicles, trucks and buses. However, since World War II only tractors are still being assembled there.

The number of [[Government-owned corporation|state-owned enterprises]] continues to decrease while the number of companies operating with foreign capital is on the rise, reflecting the continued shift towards a modern market-based economy.<ref name="industry" /> The largest [[Investment|foreign investors]] are [[Daewoo]], [[Coca-Cola Amatil]] and [[Metro AG]].<ref name="industry" /> Warsaw has the biggest concentration of electronics and high-tech industry in Poland, while the growing consumer market perfectly fosters the development of the food-processing industry.<ref name="industry" />

==Tourist attractions==
===Sights===

{{Infobox World Heritage Site
|WHS         = Historic Centre of Warsaw
|Image       = [[File:Warsaw - Royal Castle Square.jpg|260px]]
|State Party = Poland
|Type        = Cultural
|Criteria    = ii, vi
|ID          = 30
|Region      = [[List of World Heritage Sites in Europe|Europe]]
|Year        = 1980
|Session     = 4th
|Link        = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/30
}}

{| style="float:left;"
| {{hidden
  | headercss  = width: 325px; background: #B5B5B5;
  | contentcss =
  | header     = Warsaw Old Town
  | content    =
[[File:Old Town in Warsaw map.png|center|thumb|300px|{{multicol}}1. Stone stairs<br /> 2. Historical Museum<br /> 3. [[Warsaw Barbican|Barbican]]<br /> 4. Defensive walls<br /> 5. Salwator tenement<br /> 6. Museum of Leather Crafts<br /> 7. St. Anne's tenement<br /> 8. Fukier tenement<br /> 9. Museum of Literature<br /> 10. Museum of Artistic and Precision Crafts<br /> 11. [[St. Martin's Church, Warsaw|St. Martin's Church]] {{multicol-break}} 12. Gothic Bridge<br /> 13. Pelican house<br /> 14. [[St. John's Cathedral, Warsaw|St. John's Cathedral]]<br /> 15. [[Jesuit Church, Warsaw|Jesuit Church]]<br /> 16. Canonicity<br /> 17. [[Royal Castle, Warsaw|Royal Castle]]<br /> 18. [[Copper-Roof Palace]]<br /> 19. East – West Route tunnel<br /> 20. Dung Hill<br /> 21. Warsaw Mermaid statue<br /> 22. [[Zygmunt's Column]]{{multicol-end}}]]
  }}
|}

Although today's Warsaw is a fairly young city, it has many [[tourist attraction]]s. Apart from the [[Warsaw Old Town]] quarter, reconstructed after World War II, each borough has something to offer. Among the most notable landmarks of the Old Town are the [[Royal Castle, Warsaw|Royal Castle]], [[Zygmunt's Column|King Zygmunt's Column]], [[Old Town Market Place, Warsaw|Market Square]], and the [[Warsaw Barbican|Barbican]].

Further south is the so-called [[Royal Route, Warsaw|Royal Route]], with many [[classicism|classicist]] palaces, the [[Presidential Palace, Warsaw|Presidential Palace]] and the [[University of Warsaw]] campus.  [[Wilanów Palace]], the former royal residence of King [[John III Sobieski]], is notable for its [[baroque]] architecture and parks.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author = |url = http://www.wilanow-palac.art.pl/index.php?id=343&menuid=136 |title = Palace |work = wilanow-palac.art.pl |publisher =  |pages =  |page =  |date = |accessdate = 21 February 2008}}</ref>

Warsaw's oldest public park, the [[Saxon Garden]], is located within 10 minutes' walk from the old town.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book |author=Polish Academy of Sciences|coauthors=|title=Fragmenta faunistica|year=1985 |editor= |page=317|pages= |chapter= |chapterurl= |publisher=Instytut zoologii, Polska Akademia Nauk|location= |isbn=|url=http://books.google.com/?id=VeQaAAAAMAAJ&q=The+Saxon+Garden+(Ogr.+Saski).+The+oldest+public+park+in+Warsaw,+founded+in+1713.&dq=The+Saxon+Garden+(Ogr.+Saski).+The+oldest+public+park+in+Warsaw,+founded+in+1713.|accessdate=|authorlink= Polish Academy of Sciences}} ''The Saxon Garden (Ogr. Saski). The oldest public park in Warsaw, founded in 1713''.</ref> Warsaw's biggest public park is the [[Royal Baths Park]], established in the 17th century and given its current classical shape in late 18th century.<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.lazienki-krolewskie.pl/ |title=Historia |work=www.lazienki-krolewskie.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=31 January 2009}}</ref> It is located further south, on the [[Royal Route, Warsaw|Royal Route]], about {{convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the [[Warsaw Old Town]].

The [[Powązki Cemetery]] is one of the oldest cemeteries in Europe,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ceo.rsi.pl/dokument.php?dzial=2143&id=48006&PHPSESSID=f6c400ad7970068b81fd2708234f8f93 |title=Short and long history of the Powiązki Cemetery |accessdate=11 February 2008 |language=Polish }}</ref> full of sculptures, some of them by the most renowned Polish artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. Since it serves the [[religion|religious communities]] of Warsaw, be it Catholics, Orthodox, Jews, Muslims or Protestants, it is often called a [[List of necropoleis|necropolis]]. Nearby is the [[Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery]], one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Europe.

In many places in the city the [[Secular Jewish culture|Jewish culture]] and [[History of the Jews in Poland|history]] resonates down through time.<ref name="judaica">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author=|url=http://www.um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/perelki/index_en.php?mi_id=270&dz_id=18|title=Warsaw Judaica|work=www.um.warszawa.pl|publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=26 January 2010}}</ref> Among them the most notable are the Jewish theater, the [[Nożyk Synagogue]], [[Janusz Korczak]]'s Orphanage and the picturesque Próżna Street.<ref name="judaica" /> The tragic pages of Warsaw’s history are commemorated in places such as the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, the [[Umschlagplatz (Warsaw Ghetto)|Umschlagplatz]], fragments of the Ghetto wall on Sienna Street and a mound in memory of the [[Jewish Combat Organization]].<ref name="judaica" />

There are also many places commemorating the heroic history of Warsaw.<ref name="heroic">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author=|url=http://www.um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/perelki/index_en.php?mi_id=174&dz_id=17|title=Heroic City|work=www.um.warszawa.pl|publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=26 January 2010}}</ref> [[Pawiak]], an infamous German [[Gestapo]] prison now occupied by a [[Mausoleum]] of Memory of [[Martyr]]dom and the [[museum]], is only the beginning of a walk in the traces of Heroic City.<ref name="heroic" /> The [[Warsaw Citadel]], an impressive 19th century fortification built after the defeat of the [[November Uprising]], was a place of martyr for the Poles.<ref name="heroic" /> Another important monument, the statue of [[Mały Powstaniec|Little Insurgent]] located at the ramparts of the Old Town, commemorates the children who served as messengers and frontline troops in the Warsaw Uprising, while the impressive Warsaw Uprising Monument by Wincenty Kućma was erected in memory of the largest insurrection of World War II.<ref name="heroic" /><ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book |author=James Ramsay Montagu Butler, Norman Henry Gibbs, J. M. A. Gwyer, John Patrick William Ehrman, Michael Eliot Howard |coauthors=|title=Grand strategy|year=1976 |editor=James Ramsay Montagu Butler |page=369|pages= |chapter=History of the Second World War; United Kingdom military series 5 |chapterurl= |publisher=H. M. Stationery Off |location= |isbn= |url=|accessdate=}}</ref>

In Warsaw there are many places connected with the life and work of [[Frédéric Chopin]]. The heart of Polish-born composer is sealed inside Warsaw's [[Holy Cross Church, Warsaw|Holy Cross Church]].<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author = |url = http://um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/perelki/index_en.php?mi_id=112&dz_id=16 |title = Church of the Holy Cross |work = eGuide / Treasures of Warsaw on-line |publisher = |pages = |page = |date = |accessdate = 23 February 2009}}</ref> During the summer time the [[Chopin Statue, Warsaw|Chopin Statue]] in the [[Royal Baths Park]] is a place where pianists give concerts to the park audience.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author = |url = http://um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/perelki/index_en.php?mi_id=165&dz_id=16 |title = Frédéric Chopin Monument |work = eGuide / Treasures of Warsaw on-line |publisher = |pages = |page = |date = |accessdate = 23 February 2009}}</ref>

Also many references to [[Marie Curie]], her work and her family can be found in Warsaw: Marie's birthplace at the [[Warsaw New Town]], the working places where she did her first scientific works<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author = |url = http://www.aip.org/history/curie/polgirl2.htm |title = Polish Girlhood (1867–1891) |work = www.aip.org |publisher = American Institute of Physics |pages = |page = |date = |accessdate = 25 February 2009}}</ref> and the [[Curie Institute (Warsaw)|Radium Institute]] at Wawelska Street for the research and the treatment of cancer which she founded in 1925.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author = |url = http://www.aip.org/history/curie/radinst1.htm |title = The Radium Institute (1919–1934) |work = www.aip.org |publisher = American Institute of Physics |pages = |page = |date = |accessdate = 25 February 2009}}</ref>

===Warsaw Mermaid===
[[File:Warsaw Sirene 1659.png|thumb|upright|The 1659 [[Coat of arms of Warsaw|coat of arms of Old Warsaw]] on the cover of one of Warsaw's accounting books.]]
{{Main|Coat of arms of Warsaw}}

The mermaid (''syrenka'') is Warsaw's symbol<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ucl.ac.uk/atlas/polish/mywarsaw/warsaw10.html |title=The Mermaid |accessdate=11 February 2008}}</ref> and can be found on statues throughout the city and on [[Coat of arms of Warsaw|the city's coat of arms]]. This imagery has been in use since at least the mid-14th century.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/perelki/index_en.php?mi_id=47&dz_id=2 |title=Warsaw Mermaid's Statue |accessdate=10 July 2008}}</ref> The oldest existing armed seal of Warsaw is from the year 1390, consisting of a round seal bordered with the Latin inscription ''Sigilium Civitatis Varsoviensis'' (Seal of the city of Warsaw).<ref name="herb">{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.e-warsaw.pl/miasto/herb.htm |title=History of Warsaw's Coat of Arms |work=www.e-warsaw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=10 July 2008}}</ref> City records as far back as 1609 document the use of a crude form of a [[sea monster]] with a female upper body and holding a sword in its claws.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author=Ewa Bratosiewicz |url=http://www.warsaw-guide.invito.pl/index.php?str=x41 |title=Other symbols of Warsaw|work=www.warsaw-guide.invito.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=10 July 2008}}</ref> In 1653 the poet Zygmunt Laukowski asks the question: {{Rquote|center|''Warsaw of strong walls; why was the emblem Mermaid with sharp sword, given you by the kings? ''|Zygmunt Laukowski<ref>{{cite web |url=http://biega.com/syrena.html |title=Warsaw Mermaid – Syrena |accessdate=10 July 2008 }}</ref>}}

[[File:Syrenka.jpg|thumb|upright|left|1855 bronze sculpture of ''The Warsaw Mermaid'' in the [[Old Town Market Place, Warsaw|Old Town Market Place]]]]

The origin of the legendary figure is not fully known. The best-known legend, by Artur Oppman, is that long ago two of [[Triton (mythology)|Triton]]'s daughters set out on a journey through the depths of the oceans and seas. One of them decided to stay on the coast of Denmark and can be seen sitting at the entrance to the port of [[Copenhagen]]. The second mermaid reached the mouth of the [[Vistula|Vistula River]] and plunged into its waters. She stopped to rest on a sandy beach by the village of Warszowa, where fishermen came to admire her beauty and listen to her beautiful voice. A greedy merchant also heard her songs; he followed the fishermen and captured the mermaid.<ref name="legend">{{en icon}} {{cite web  |author= |url=http://www.e-warsaw.pl/miasto/herb-1.htm |title=History of Warsaw's Coat of Arms |work=www.e-warsaw.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=10 July 2008}}</ref>

Another legend says that a mermaid once swam to Warsaw from the [[Baltic Sea]] for the love of the Griffin, the ancient defender of the city, who was killed in a struggle against the [[Deluge (history)|Swedish invasions]] of the 17th century. The mermaid, wishing to avenge his death, took the position of defender of Warsaw, becoming the symbol of the city.<ref name="legend" />

Every member of the [[Queen's Royal Hussars]] of [[United Kingdom|the United Kingdom]] light [[cavalry]] wears the ''Maid of Warsaw'', the crest of the City of Warsaw, on the left sleeve of his No. 2 (Service) Dress.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.qohmuseum.org.uk/maid.htm |title=The Maid of Warsaw |work=The Queen's Own Hussars Museum |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=10 July 2008}}</ref> Members of [[No. 651 Squadron RAF|651 Squadron Army Air Corps]] of the United Kingdom also wear the ''Maid of Warsaw'' on the left sleeve of their No. 2 (Service) Dress.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www2.army.mod.uk/linkedfiles/soldierwelfare/supportagencies/aws/communityguides/swf_sa_aws_cg_w/raf_odiham_2008/raf_odiham_section_1.pdf |title=RAF Odiham |work=www2.army.mod.uk |publisher= |pages= |page=16 |date= |accessdate=10 July 2008}}</ref>

==Famous people==

[[File:Mariecurie.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Marie Curie-Skłodowska]] was born in Warsaw.]]

One of the most [[Celebrity|famous people]] born in Warsaw was [[Marie Curie|Maria Skłodowska-Curie]], who achieved international recognition for her scientific discovery of radiation.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1903/marie-curie-bio.html |title=Marie Curie – The Nobel Prize in Physics 1903 |work=nobelprize.org |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=10 July 2008}}</ref> Famous musicians include [[Władysław Szpilman]] and [[Frédéric Chopin]]. Chopin was born in the village of [[Żelazowa Wola]], about 60 kilometers from Warsaw, but moved to the city with his family when he was seven months old.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite web |author=Joanna Ławrynowicz |url=http://www.infochopin.pl/en/artykuly.php/1/ |title=Frederick Francois Chopin, the most eminent Polish composer |work=www.infochopin.pl |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=10 July 2008}}</ref> [[Kazimierz Pułaski]], a hero of the [[American Revolutionary War]], was born here in 1745.

[[Tamara de Lempicka]] was a famous artist born in Warsaw.<ref name="lempicka">{{en icon}} {{cite book |author= |coauthors=Uta Grosenick, Ilka Becker|title=Women artists in the 20th and 21st century |year=2001 |editor= |page= 306 |pages=576  |chapter= |chapterurl = |publisher=Taschen |location= |isbn=38-22858-54-4 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=ZSvSfCmzo2wC&printsec=frontcover |accessdate=}}</ref> She was born Maria Górska in Warsaw to wealthy parents and in 1916 married a Polish lawyer Tadeusz Łempicki.<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.marchand.pl/artysta.php?id=134&biografia=f&l=pl |title=Tamara Łempicka |work=www.marchand.pl|publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=22 January 2009}}</ref> Better than anyone else she represents the [[Art Deco]] style in painting.<ref name="lempicka" /> 
[[Nathan Alterman]], the Israeli poet, was born in Warsaw, as was [[Moshe Vilenski]], the Israeli composer, lyricist, and pianist, who studied music at the [[Warsaw Conservatory]].<ref name="jewishvirtuallibrary1">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/Vilensky.html |title=Moshe Vilensky |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |date= |accessdate=July 31, 2011}}</ref> Warsaw was the beloved city of [[Isaac Bashevis Singer]], which he described in many of his novels:<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web |author= |url=http://www.jewish-theatre.com/visitor/article_display.aspx?articleID=2973 |title= The 5th Festival of Jewish Culture 'Singer's Warsaw' |work=www.jewish-theatre.com |publisher= |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=4 March 2009}}</ref> ''Warsaw has just now been destroyed. No one will ever see the Warsaw I knew. Let me just write about it. Let this Warsaw not not disappear forever'', he commented.<ref>{{en icon}} {{cite book |author=Richard Burgin, Issac Bashevis Singer|coauthors=|title=Issac bashevis Singer Talks ... About Everything|year=1978 |editor= |page=46 |chapter= |chapterurl = |publisher=[[The New York Times Magazine]] |location= |isbn= |url=|accessdate=}} in: {{cite book |author=David Neal Miller, Isaac Bashevis Singer|coauthors=|title=Recovering the canon: essays on Isaac Bashevis Singer |year=1986 |editor= |page=40 |chapter= |chapterurl = |publisher=BRILL |location= |isbn=90-04076-81-6 |url=http://books.google.com/?id=O6hNoUXlCXwC&pg=PA40&dq=Warsaw+has+just+now+been+destroyed.+No+one+will+ever+see+the+Warsaw+I+knew.+Let+me+just+write+about+it.+Let+this+Warsaw+not+not+disappear+forever#v=onepage&q=Warsaw%20has%20just%20now%20been%20destroyed.%20No%20one%20will%20ever%20see%20the%20Warsaw%20I%20knew.%20Let%20me%20just%20write%20about%20it.%20Let%20this%20Warsaw%20not%20not%20disappear%20forever&f=false |accessdate=}}</ref>

==Rankings==
*[[Largest cities of the European Union by population within city limits|Largest cities of]] the [[European Union]]: ranked 9th.
*[[List of most expensive cities for expatriate employees|Most expensive cities]]: ranked 113th of 144.
*[[List of cities by quality of living|Best cities in terms of quality of living]]: ranked 87th of 100.

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Poland}}

===Twin towns – Sister cities===
Warsaw is [[twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref name="Warsaw">{{cite web  |author= |url=http://www.um.warszawa.pl/node/2920?page=0,0 |title=Miasta partnerskie Warszawy |work=um.warszawa.pl |publisher=Biuro Promocji Miasta |pages= |page= |date=4 May 2005 |accessdate=29 August 2008}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|Kazakhstan}} [[Astana]] in [[Kazakhstan]] <small>''(since 2002)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Thailand}} [[Bangkok]] in [[Thailand]] <small>''(since 2010)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Germany}} Berlin in Germany <small>''(since 1991)''</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berlin.de/rbmskzl/staedteverbindungen/warschau.en.html|title=Berlin's international city relations |publisher=Berlin Mayor's Office|accessdate=1 July 2009}} ''Berlin and Warsaw’s agreement on friendship and cooperation and a corresponding supporting program was signed in Berlin on 12 August 1991.''</ref>
*{{flagicon|Hungary}} [[Budapest]] in Hungary <small>''(since 2005)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Argentina}} [[Buenos Aires]], [[Argentina]] <small>''(since 1992)''</small><ref>{{es icon}} {{cite web  |author= |url=http://www.buenosaires.gov.ar/areas/internacionales/hermanamientos.pdf |title=Listado de ciudades hermanas |work=www.buenosaires.gov.ar |publisher=Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires |pages= |page= |date= |accessdate=15 October 2011 |quote=1990. Praga. 1992. Rótterdam. 1990. Varsovia.}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|UK}} [[Coventry]] in England <small>''(since 1957)''</small>
*{{flagicon|USA}} Chicago in United States <small>''(since 1960)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Düsseldorf]] in Germany <small>''(since 1989)''</small><ref name="Düsseldorf">{{cite web |url=http://www.amazingdusseldorf.com/community-local/people/twin-towns.html |title=Twin Towns |publisher=www.amazingdusseldorf.com |accessdate=29 October 2009 }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Grozny]] in Russia <small>''(since 1997)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[The Hague]] in Netherlands <small>''(since 1991)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Hamamatsu]] in Japan <small>''(since 1990)''</small>
||
*{{flagicon|Vietnam}} [[Hanoi]] in [[Vietnam]] <small>''(since 2000)''</small>
*{{flagicon|China}} [[Harbin]] in China <small>''(since 1993)''</small>
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Île-de-France (region)|Île-de-France]] in France <small>''(since 1990)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Istanbul]] in [[Turkey]] <small>''(since 1991)''</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greatistanbul.com/sister_cities.htm|title=Sister Cities of Istanbul|accessdate=8 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=94185|publisher=Radikal|language=Turkish|date=3 November 2003|quote=49 sister cities in 2003|title=İstanbul'a 49 kardeş|last=Erdem|first=Selim Efe}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Kiev]] in [[Ukraine]] <small>''(since 1994)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Madrid]] in Spain <small>''(since 1981)''</small><ref name="madridsister">{{cite web | title = Mapa Mundi de las ciudades hermanadas | publisher = Ayuntamiento de Madrid | url = http://www.munimadrid.es/portal/site/munimadrid/menuitem.dbd5147a4ba1b0aa7d245f019fc08a0c/?vgnextoid=4e84399a03003110VgnVCM2000000c205a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4e98823d3a37a010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD&vgnextfmt=especial1&idContenido=508c7aefd9b5b010VgnVCM100000d90ca8c0RCRD Madrid city council webpage}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Russia}}  Moscow in Russia <small>''(since 1993)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Norway}} [[Oslo]] in Norway <small>''(since 2005)''<ref name="Oslo">[http://www.oslo.kommune.no/the_city_of_oslo/international_cooperation/  Partners – Oslo kommune]</ref></small>
*{{flagicon|France}} Paris in France <small>''(since 1999)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rio de Janeiro]] in [[Brazil]] <small>''(since 1997)''</small>
||
*{{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Riga]] in [[Latvia]] <small>''(since 2002)''</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riga.lv/EN/Channels/Riga_Municipality/Twin_cities_of_Riga/default.htm |title=Twin cities of Riga |publisher=[[Riga City Council]] |accessdate=27 July 2009}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Saint-Étienne]] in France <small>''(since 1995)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Saint Petersburg|St.&nbsp;Petersburg]] in Russia <small>''(since 1997)''<ref name="Saint Petersburg">{{cite web |url=http://eng.gov.spb.ru/figures/ities  |title=Saint Petersburg in figures – International and Interregional Ties  |publisher=Saint Petersburg City Government |accessdate=23 March 2008}}</ref></small>
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[San Diego]] in United States <small>''(since 1960)''<ref name="San Diego">{{cite web|title=  Online Directory:  California, USA|url=http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/usa/CA |publisher=[[Sister Cities International]]|accessdate=22 April 2009 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080116164532/http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/usa/CA |archivedate = 16 January 2008}}</ref></small>
*{{flagicon|South Korea}} [[Seoul]] in South Korea <small>''(since 1996)''<ref name="Seoul">{{cite web|url=http://english.seoul.go.kr/gover/cooper/coo_02sis.html|author=Seul Metropolitan Government|title=International Cooperation: Sister Cities}}</ref></small>
*{{flagicon|Republic of China}} [[Taipei]] in [[Republic of China|Taiwan]] <small>''(since 1995)''</small><ref>[http://www.edunet.taipei.gov.tw/attach/The%2045%20Sister%20Cities%20list.doc Sister city list] (.DOC)</ref>
*{{flagicon|Israel}} [[Tel Aviv]] in [[Israel]] <small>''(since 1992)''<ref name="Tel Aviv">{{cite web |url=http://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/Hebrew/Cityhall/TwinCities/Index.asp |title=Tel Aviv sister cities |accessdate=14 July 2009 |publisher=Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality |language=Hebrew}}</ref></small>
*{{flagicon|Canada}} Toronto in Canada <small>''(since 1990)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Austria}} [[Vienna]] in Austria <small>''(since 2001)''</small>
*{{flagicon|Lithuania}} [[Vilnius]] in [[Lithuania]] <small>''(since 1998)''</small>
|}

References – city's official site<ref>{{pl icon}} {{cite web  |author= |url=http://um.warszawa.pl/v_syrenka/new/index.php?dzial=aktualnosci&ak_id=3284&kat=11 |title=Miasta partnerskie Warszawy |work=um.warszawa.pl |publisher=Biuro Promocji Miasta |pages= |page= |date=4 May 2005 |accessdate=29 August 2008}}</ref>

==Varieties==
{{Varieties Warsaw}}

==See also==
* [[Tourism in Poland]]
* [[Battle of Warsaw]]<!-- Link to disambiguation page, please do not change -->
* [[Street names of Warsaw]]
* [[Warsaw dialect]]
* [[Warsaw Fire Guard]]
* [[Warsaw concentration camp]]

==References==
===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Crowley |first=David |title=Warsaw |url=http://books.google.com/?id=E4cM2Hf8KYsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false |accessdate=2011-08-28|edition=|year=2003|publisher=[[Reaktion Books]]|location=|isbn=18-61891-79-2|ref=}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Olchowik-Adamowska|first1=Liliana|last2=Ławecki|first2=Tomasz|title=Travellers Warsaw|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=xXbqAQAACAAJ|accessdate=11 March 2010|edition=First|date=1 April 2006|publisher=[[Thomas Cook Group|Thomas Cook Publishing]]|location=[[Peterborough]], United Kingdom|isbn=9781841574929|ref=Adamowska69}}
{{Refend}}

===Notes===
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.e-warsaw.pl/index.php Official web page of Warsaw] includes 360° panoramas of the [http://www.e-warsaw.pl/miasto/unesco.htm UNESCO listed] region
* [http://um.warszawa.pl/mapa/ Interactive city map in Polish]
* [http://mokotow.policja.waw.pl/?page=Structure&id=131 District Police Headquarters – Warsaw II] (part of Warsaw Metropolitan Police)
* [http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?c993 Skyscrapers Diagram of Warsaw]
* [http://www.warszawa3d.prv.pl Skyscrapers in Warsaw] (pictures, map, future projects, [[3D computer graphics|3d models]])
* [http://www.geschichteinchronologie.ch/eu/PL/EncJud_juden-in-Warschau01-MA-bis-1939-ENGL.html Jews in Warsaw] (from [[Encyclopaedia Judaica]] 1971)
* [http://expatsguide.pl Warsaw Expat's Guide] – information for foreigners/expatriates relocating to and living in Warsaw
* [http://www.polished.pl/forum Warsaw message board] – information and advice for foreigners living in Warsaw
* [http://www.warszawacity.pl/ Portal Warszawa City] – Polish

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{{Coord|52|13|48|N|21|00|39|E|type:city|display=title}}<!--coordinates for the point from where all distances in Poland are measured-->

[[Category:Warsaw| ]]
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