Castle Square, Warsaw
 Castle Square, Warsaw |
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| Type | Square |
|---|---|
| Managed by | Warsaw City Council |
| Country | Poland |
| Region | Masovian Voivodeship |
| Address | Śródmieście, Warsaw |
| Postcode | 00-267 |
| 52°14′51″N 21°0′49″E / 52.2475°N 21.01361°ECoordinates: 52°14′51″N 21°0′49″E / 52.2475°N 21.01361°E | |
Warsaw's Castle Square (Polish: plac Zamkowy w Warszawie) is a square before the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland.
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[edit] History
On the square is a column of King Sigismund III Vasa from 1644, the oldest and symbolic monument of the city (a work of Clemente Molli). On the east side of square stands reconstructed after the devastation of World War II, the Royal Castle, the residence of the dukes of Mazovia, and then Polish kings and grand dukes of Lithuania from the 16th to 18th century, bombed and blown up by the Nazis during World War II. In 1949 the square was connected to the escalator with newly formed Route W-Z. Runs under the Castle Square tunnel and the viaduct (leading to the Silesian-Dąbrowski Bridge), was built in the place of viaduct Pancer, destroyed during World War II. In 1907 the viaduct was modernized to handle electric trams that went there less than a year later.
This square was the scene of many dramatic scenes from Polish history. There were patriotic demonstrations here, the period before the outbreak of the January Uprising. On February 27, 1861 from Russian bullets fell five dead. On April 8, 1861 five rota infantry and two troop of Russian cavalry (about 1,300 people) led by General Stiepan Aleksandrowicz Chrulew brought a bloody massacre of the civilian population of Warsaw, resulting in more than 100 people were killed[1].
During martial law square was the scene of particularly brutal riot ZOMO rushing through demonstrations on May 3, 1982.
[edit] Events
The square is a hub for tourists and locals, who gather to watch street entertainers, participate in rallies, watch concerts and even engage in breakdancing. In 1997, at the Castle Square, U.S. President Bill Clinton gave a speech welcoming Poland to membership in NATO.[2]
Castle Square featured the United Buddy Bears exhibition in summer 2008 - an array of 140 two metre-high sculptures, each designed by a different artist, touring the world as a symbol of cultural understanding, tolerance and mutual trust.[3] According to official information, more than 1.5 million visitors were counted.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ (Polish)Kieniewicz, Stefan (1983). Warszawa w powstaniu styczniowym. ISBN 83-01-03652-4.
- ^ (Polish) "Archiwum działalności Prezydenta RP w latach 1997-2005". www.prezydent.pl. 1998-01-15. http://www.prezydent.pl/x.node?id=6042904&eventId=1505172. Retrieved 2008-07-01.
- ^ (English) "United Buddy Bears in Warsaw". www.buddy-baer.com. 1998-01-15. http://www.buddy-baer.com/united-buddy-bears/world-tour/warsaw-2008.html. Retrieved 2010-01-25.
[edit] External links
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