Region: Eastern Europe
Area total: 312,685 km²
Coast line: Baltic Sea
Capital: Warsaw
Grzybowski Square
SYRENKA
Lutheran Trinity Church in central Warsaw
St. Michael's and St. Florian's Cathedral
Lazienki Park-Warsaw
Palace on the Water in the Royal Lazienki Park is one of the most exelent works of Polish architectural classicism.
Founded in 1775, it was the summer residence of King Stanislaw August Poniatowski.
Lazienki Park-Warsaw
Polish Army Field Cathedral
Palace of Culture and Science
University of Warsaw - Collegium Novum
The Old Town Market Square-warsaw
Area total: 312,685 km²
Coast line: Baltic Sea
Capital: Warsaw
Grzybowski Square
Mermaid - the symbol of Warsaw, it's in the city's crest since the mid of 14th century. - SYRENKA
Syrenka appears on a shield on every municipal building, on buses, trams and taxis. It can also be found in many locations in Warsaw, on buildings, walls and roofs, in the streets and parks, in signboards and gates.
Legend of the Warsaw Mermaid (by Artur Oppman):
Once upon a time there were two mermaid sisters, who swam to the shore of the Baltic Sea from their home deep in the sea. They were very beautiful. One of them decided to swim towards the Danish straits, to the port of Copenhagen. The second swam up the Vistula River and came out of the water onto the sandy bank to rest. It was at the foot of today's Old Town and she decided to stay.
The fishermen living in this area noticed, that during their fishing someone was churning the waves of the Vistula River, tangling the nets and releasing the fish. But the mermaid enchanted them with her beautiful singing, and they did not harm her.
One day a wealthy merchant saw the mermaid and heard her lovely song. He quickly calculated how much money he could make her displaying at market fairs, so he captured her and imprisoned in a wooden shed without any water. A young farmhand heard the mermaid's cries, and with the help of friends he freed her at night. Grateful that the townspeople had defended her, the mermaid promised "when difficult times come, I will return and the poor city with a shield and sword." This is why the Warsaw Mermaid bears a sword and a shield to defend the city.
Syrenka appears on a shield on every municipal building, on buses, trams and taxis. It can also be found in many locations in Warsaw, on buildings, walls and roofs, in the streets and parks, in signboards and gates.
Legend of the Warsaw Mermaid (by Artur Oppman):
Once upon a time there were two mermaid sisters, who swam to the shore of the Baltic Sea from their home deep in the sea. They were very beautiful. One of them decided to swim towards the Danish straits, to the port of Copenhagen. The second swam up the Vistula River and came out of the water onto the sandy bank to rest. It was at the foot of today's Old Town and she decided to stay.
The fishermen living in this area noticed, that during their fishing someone was churning the waves of the Vistula River, tangling the nets and releasing the fish. But the mermaid enchanted them with her beautiful singing, and they did not harm her.
One day a wealthy merchant saw the mermaid and heard her lovely song. He quickly calculated how much money he could make her displaying at market fairs, so he captured her and imprisoned in a wooden shed without any water. A young farmhand heard the mermaid's cries, and with the help of friends he freed her at night. Grateful that the townspeople had defended her, the mermaid promised "when difficult times come, I will return and the poor city with a shield and sword." This is why the Warsaw Mermaid bears a sword and a shield to defend the city.
SYRENKA
Jester
Sculpture of the most famous court jester in Polish history.
His name was Stanczyk (c. 1480 - 1560) and he was employed by three Polish kings: Alexander, Sigismund the Old (Zygmunt Stary) and Sigismund Augustus (Zygmunt August).
He was not a mere entertainer, but a man of great intelligence and a political philosopher gifted with formidable insight into Poland's current and future situation.
He used his job to criticize and warn the kings by the use of satire.
His jokes were usually related to political issues, and later he became a historical symbol for Poles.
The sculpture is placed at the bottom of monument to the great Polish painter Jan Matejko, as Stanczyk was one of his favorite historical figures and he appears on a number of his paintings
Sculpture of the most famous court jester in Polish history.
His name was Stanczyk (c. 1480 - 1560) and he was employed by three Polish kings: Alexander, Sigismund the Old (Zygmunt Stary) and Sigismund Augustus (Zygmunt August).
He was not a mere entertainer, but a man of great intelligence and a political philosopher gifted with formidable insight into Poland's current and future situation.
He used his job to criticize and warn the kings by the use of satire.
His jokes were usually related to political issues, and later he became a historical symbol for Poles.
The sculpture is placed at the bottom of monument to the great Polish painter Jan Matejko, as Stanczyk was one of his favorite historical figures and he appears on a number of his paintings
Lutheran Trinity Church in central Warsaw
St. Michael's and St. Florian's Cathedral
Lazienki Park-Warsaw
Palace on the Water in the Royal Lazienki Park is one of the most exelent works of Polish architectural classicism.
Founded in 1775, it was the summer residence of King Stanislaw August Poniatowski.
Lazienki Park-Warsaw
Polish Army Field Cathedral
Palace of Culture and Science
University of Warsaw - Collegium Novum
The Old Town Market Square-warsaw
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