Presidential Palace, Warsaw
Home to the Polish head of state, the Presidential Palace was built in 1643 as a home for local aristocrat Crown Great Hetman Stanislaw Koniecpolski. Koniecpolski owned so much of eastern Poland that he could cross the Commonwealth and spend each night in one of his own manors. The palace was designed by architect Constantino Tencalla, who also designed Sigismund's Column in Castle Square.
It's had several refurbishments since then. The current neoclassical style has been in place since 1818. Ever since then, it has served various government functions.
The first historical events occurred even earlier, though. In 1791, the home hosted the authors of the Constitution of May 3, 1791. That constitution was the first of its kind in Europe and the second of its kind in the world. In 1818, the house became the seat of the Viceroy. The council of ministers sat here between World Wars I and II. Since the German occupiers used the house, it survived World War II intact. After the war, the Warsaw Pact between the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc countries was signed here.
Since 1994, the palace has been the seat of the President of the Republic of Poland. As this is a functioning government building, visitors are not allowed inside, and the building is heavily guarded. But you can admire the impressive neoclassical facade from Nowy Street.
You'll also notice the large equestrian statue of Prince Jozef Poniatowski, created by Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen. The statue is modeled after a similar one of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius from Capitoline Hill in Rome. The original statue was destroyed during the Nazi occupation of Poland, and this recreation was made in 1950. It was based on Thorvaldsen's original models, donated from the Thorvaldsen Museum in Copenhagen.
It's had several refurbishments since then. The current neoclassical style has been in place since 1818. Ever since then, it has served various government functions.
The first historical events occurred even earlier, though. In 1791, the home hosted the authors of the Constitution of May 3, 1791. That constitution was the first of its kind in Europe and the second of its kind in the world. In 1818, the house became the seat of the Viceroy. The council of ministers sat here between World Wars I and II. Since the German occupiers used the house, it survived World War II intact. After the war, the Warsaw Pact between the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc countries was signed here.
Since 1994, the palace has been the seat of the President of the Republic of Poland. As this is a functioning government building, visitors are not allowed inside, and the building is heavily guarded. But you can admire the impressive neoclassical facade from Nowy Street.
You'll also notice the large equestrian statue of Prince Jozef Poniatowski, created by Danish artist Bertel Thorvaldsen. The statue is modeled after a similar one of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius from Capitoline Hill in Rome. The original statue was destroyed during the Nazi occupation of Poland, and this recreation was made in 1950. It was based on Thorvaldsen's original models, donated from the Thorvaldsen Museum in Copenhagen.
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.
Presidential Palace on Map
Sight Name: Presidential Palace
Sight Location: Warsaw, Poland (See walking tours in Warsaw)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Warsaw, Poland (See walking tours in Warsaw)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Warsaw, Poland
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.
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
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
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
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
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
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'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
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
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
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
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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...