🇵🇱 Warsaw for experienced travelers: 10 unusual places
The capital of Poland is not only the Old Town, numerous parks and monuments. Catch a selection of places in Warsaw and its surroundings that are not usually written about in guidebooks.
The narrowest house in the world
Of course, the category “most” is always very controversial, but nevertheless, Keret’s house is probably the narrowest on the territory of Poland. Essentially, it is an insert between two other houses.
The building not only breaks records, but also deserves the proud title of an art installation with a special meaning: a reflection of the different historical periods of Warsaw. This is a symbol of coming to terms with the past and patching up holes. The house is named after the Israeli writer Etgar Keret, whose parents survived the Holocaust.
Roof garden
Despite the fact that the place is in the city center, not everyone knows about it, but in vain. Climb to the roof of the Warsaw University Library and you will see an incomparable mini-park with a greenhouse.
Plus, it offers a wonderful view of the city and all the main attractions. Glass floor, dozens of plants, flowers, small ponds – an unusually inspiring place.
Cafe with cats
Yes, it’s already difficult to surprise anyone with a cat cafe, but still, it’s such a cute place that it’s worthy of mention in any case. “Miau Cafe” is an atmospheric establishment where you can have a snack, relax and have a good time cuddling cats. They are very tactile and willing to make contact.
The cafe opened in 2016. Donations for its creation were collected on social networks. People donated more than 15 thousand euros, taking into account the contribution of the owners – this is a clear argument for the thesis that the demand for cats will never subside.
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“Dollhouse “
In the city center at Hożej 70 there is a cute house that is over 100 years old. The house even survived the war safely. It is not visible from the street due to the high-rise buildings, so you need to enter from the courtyard. Once there was a chemical factory where wool was dyed. Then there was a women's labor cooperative, and now there is a law firm. It is precisely its employees who usually let people in to take photos, since the gates to the courtyard may be closed during non-working hours.
Mammoth bone
What is surprising is not even the bone itself, but its location. And this is by no means a museum, but the Church of St. Anne in Wilanova. It is unlikely that you have seen such decoration in a temple anywhere else. The remains of a mammoth were discovered during the laying of the foundation in 1770, and since then the bone has been an integral part of the church.
Modlin Fortress
There are also a lot of interesting things outside the city limits, if you have at least a few hours, or better yet a couple of days, to explore the surrounding area. Modlin Airport is familiar to many, but the fortress of the same name is, alas, not. But this is one of the longest forts in Europe (the length of the outer ring is 50 kilometers), and it is also well preserved. It is believed that Napoleon designed the building, but in the 19th century the complex was rebuilt by the Russian Tsar. The fortress is located less than 30 kilometers from Warsaw.
Admission is free, but it is possible to book a guided tour. You can walk anywhere, there will be no prohibiting signs anywhere, no matter how high you climb. The area around the fortress is very picturesque, because it was founded at the confluence of two rivers. There is a forest nearby, many benches – a great place to recover from the noise of the city, spend time alone with yourself and nature, and, of course, explore a new attraction.
Village of Radziejowice
A little further from the capital there is a nice little village called Radziejowice. It is located 42 kilometers away. The village is famous for its palace and park complex. The palace is made in classicism with a touch of neo-Gothic. On the territory there is an atmospheric park, a small pond, an old church with a bell tower, an estate, a copy of an ancient mill – a very good reconstruction. A great place for a picnic, relaxation for the whole family and gorgeous photos as a keepsake.
Sometimes, in order to see something not touristic, it is enough to turn off the navigator and go around the nearest bend. After all, every courtyard in a big city can surprise you with something. Somewhere with an impressive mural, somewhere with football boots on a tree – I didn’t add them to this collection, but if you liked the material, write in the comments – and there will be a continuation.