King Sigismund's Column (Zygmunt's Column), Warsaw

King Sigismund's Column (Zygmunt's Column), Warsaw

If you've ever had the chance to visit Warsaw, you've likely seen the famous King Sigismund's Column, which is an ancient secular monument and happens to be the oldest of its kind in Northern Europe.

This monument is situated in Warsaw's Castle Square and was constructed back in 1644 to honor King Sigismund III Vasa. King Sigismund was responsible for relocating Poland's capital from Krakow to Warsaw in 1596.

The centerpiece of the column is a statue of King Sigismund, perched atop a Corinthian column. This sculpture stands at 2.75 meters in height and is surrounded by four eagles on the 8.5-meter column. The king is depicted in armor, wielding a sword and holding a cross in his hand.

The column itself was designed by Constantino Tencalla, an esteemed Italian-born architect, with Clemente Molli as the sculptor, and it was cast by Daniel Tym. In 1681, a wooden fence was erected around the monument, which was later replaced by a permanent iron fence. Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the column underwent several renovations, and a fountain featuring marble tritons, designed by the German sculptor August Kiss, was added.

During the Warsaw Uprising, the bronze statue atop the column was destroyed by the Germans but was subsequently reconstructed. In 1949, a new column made of granite was erected a short distance from the original site.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Warsaw. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

King Sigismund's Column (Zygmunt's Column) on Map

Sight Name: King Sigismund's Column (Zygmunt's Column)
Sight Location: Warsaw, Poland (See walking tours in Warsaw)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Warsaw, Poland

Create Your Own Walk in Warsaw

Create Your Own Walk in Warsaw

Creating your own self-guided walk in Warsaw is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Warsaw Introduction Walking Tour

Warsaw Introduction Walking Tour

Warsaw rose to prominence when King Sigismund III moved the nation’s capital from Krakow in the 16th century. The city was widely known as the “Paris of the North” thanks to the beautiful boulevards lined with grand architecture. The center of the city is called Old Town, and it has many historic buildings like the Royal Castle on Castle Square and the Presidential Palace. Old Town is a...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Warsaw's Historical Churches

Warsaw's Historical Churches

Given that Poland is one of the most religious countries in Europe – with Roman Catholicism being the dominant faith here since the Baptism of Poland in 966, – it is not at all surprising that Warsaw is home to many centuries-old churches and cathedrals. While reflecting the city's deep-rooted religious and cultural heritage, some of these historical temples are also magnificent...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Monuments and Statues

Monuments and Statues

The capital city of a proud nation such as Poland, Warsaw is abundant with monuments of various sorts, dedicated to celebrated personalities and those who made a mark in the history of the country.

Some of these landmarks serve as reminders of the city's resilience and the enduring spirit of its people. Among them are the Jan Kiliński Monument commemorating a hero of the 1794 Kosciuszko...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Jewish Warsaw Walking Tour

Jewish Warsaw Walking Tour

Once abundant, the Jewish population of Warsaw has left a profound mark on the city. Nowadays, walking along the peaceful streets of Poland's capital it is hard to imagine that thousands of Jews were once herded here and forced into cattle cars to meet their end in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

At the heart of this tragic chapter in Warsaw's Jewish history lies the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Praga District Walking Tour

Praga District Walking Tour

Praga – not to be confused with the neighboring Czech Republic's capital city – is an old, yet vibrant district on the eastern bank of the Vistula River in Warsaw. For many years overshadowed by its more famous counterpart, Warsaw's Old Town, the area used to be off-limits for Western travelers due to its high crime rate. Recently, however, thanks to the lavish influx of investment,...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


15 Distinctively Polish Things to Buy in Warsaw

15 Distinctively Polish Things to Buy in Warsaw

A country with a great deal of taste and turbulent history, Poland has a lot to offer those with the eyes to see and mouth to savor. And Warsaw is, perhaps, the best place to find all things Polish brought together. Here's the list of the most distinctive Polish goods, caringly drawn by a...