Warsaw is considered as the most essential witness of Polish history. Warsaw may remind you of World War II as it started in Poland. During the Cold War, the Eastern European Communist bloc confronted with NATO by signing the Warsaw Pact, which was named after the city. You may also think of many other uprisings and protests in Warsaw. Warsaw thus can be seen as a history book of Europe.

Apart from a series of historical events, Warsaw is also a metropolis of art and culture. Since the reconstruction of Warsaw from the ruins after World War II, its development in art and culture has begun ever since. Between the restored classical architecture, you can find art everywhere on the streets in Warsaw. At the Poster Museum at Wilanów, you can appreciate the globally renowned Polish poster art. At the Grand Theatre, you can enjoy yourself in a very intense Polish drama. Polish people are known for their artistic sense and critical thinking – drama is a channel to bring these Polish elements together. The late Pope John Paul II from Poland was a drama actor and playwright in his youth.

Warsaw today has been developing rapidly since Poland became a member state of the European Union. Reconstructed from scratch, Warsaw has become a testing ground for architecture. Modern architecture exists with the classical in harmony. Not only can you find the restored traditional Eastern European buildings in vivid colours, but also magnificent castles, Soviet-style architecture built in the Cold War period and modern skyscrapers with curtain walls. The old town has great visual contrasts with modern architecture, but surprisingly both styles blend well with each other, like the Polish posters, which have vivid but harmonious colour – simply artistic.

Extended reading: (Chinese only)

城市靜止一分鐘的由來──反思曾經腥風血雨的華沙起義