Old Town Warsaw

View to the Old Town Warsaw

25 May 2015 | From Dorota of Poland

POSTCROSSING SWAP

I received this postcard swap request from Dorota - who previously goes by the nickname of Neo, and now calls herself Mairon (which I would always misspell as Marion). She's such an unusual, introverted person in an interesting kind of way. Wherever you are Mairon, in case you are able to read this, I wish that you are well and always happy and loved.

The Warsaw Old Town, and collectively with the New Town, known colloquially as Starówka, is the oldest part of the capital city. It is bounded by the Wybrzeże Gdańskie, along with the bank of Vistula river, Grodzka, Mostowa and Podwale Streets. It is one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Warsaw.

The Old Town was established in the 13th century. Initially surrounded by an earthwork rampart, prior to 1339 it was fortified with brick city walls. The town originally grew up around the castle of the Dukes of Mazovia that later became the Royal Castle. The Market Square (Rynek Starego Miasta) was laid out sometime in the late 13th or early 14th century, along the main road linking the castle with the New Town to the north.

The heart of the area is the Old Town Market Place, rich in restaurants, cafés and shops. Surrounding streets feature medieval architecture such as the city walls, the Barbican and St. John's Cathedral.