New Town (Nowe Miasto), Warsaw

New Town (Nowe Miasto), Warsaw

New Town (Nowe Miasto), historically referred to as New Warsaw, is a neighborhood located in the Śródmieście district. The New Town's historical roots trace back to the early 14th century when it was established as an independent city, receiving formal recognition in 1408 when it was separated from the Old Town under the rule of Duke of Masovia. This district had its own governing bodies, including a vogt, council, and town hall.

In 1411, the Parish Church of Saint Mary was constructed, and by 1546, there were a total of 204 estates in the New Town. One notable project during this era was the construction of the Sigismund Augustus bridge, which spanned approximately 500 meters (about 1,600 feet).

The Swedish-Brandenburgian invasion between 1655 and 1660 resulted in extensive damage to the predominantly timber buildings in the New Town. However, this period of adversity also led to the construction of many beautiful and more durable structures, including the Town Hall, Saint Kazimierz Church, the Kotowski Palace, and the Holy Spirit Church.

In 1791, following the principles of the Constitution of May 3, 1791, the New Town was integrated into the city of Warsaw. During the Warsaw Uprising, the New Town suffered severe destruction due to heavy German bombardment, resulting in the complete destruction of historic buildings that had served as hospitals and shelters for the residents. The process of reconstructing the New Town began in 1954.

The New Town had its own seal with a coat of arms, including a female figure and a unicorn in 1648. After merging with Warsaw, the Warsaw Mermaid became the official coat of arms. You can still see the girl with a unicorn on a well in front of Saint Kazimierz Church, installed around 1957 during reconstruction.

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.

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New Town (Nowe Miasto) on Map

Sight Name: New Town (Nowe Miasto)
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'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
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
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
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

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...