Castle of Warsaw

Castle of Warsaw

The Royal Castle in Warsaw (Warszawa), Poland (Polska) is one of the most important Polish royal residences and one of the main symbols of the national identity, Polish culture and history. At the beginning it was the seat of the Mazovian Dukes (13th-16thc.), then a royal residence and the seat of the Sejm of the Polish Commonwealth of Two Nations (i.e. Poland and Lithuania). In 1926-39 the President of the Polish Republic lived here. The Castle was destroyed during World War II on Hitler’s orders, and rebuilt between 1971 and 1984 due to the resolve of the Polish nation. The Royal Castle located in the center of Warsaw is an example of early baroque architecture, though it contains many relics from earlier periods. It is an urban residence with richly decorated interiors filled with precious works of art and furnishings dating back to the time of the dynasties of Vasa and Wettin but mostly to King Stanislaw August. Currently, the Royal Castle is a museum which is open to the general public. Apart from the permanent display, temporary exhibitions, concerts, museum lessons and workshops are held. The Castle is also a venue for important State ceremonies, cultural and social events and key international conferences.