Visiting the Palace of Culture and Science

The Palace of Culture and Science

Warsaw, Poland

59 years in 2014

The Palace of Culture and Science is the tallest building in Poland. It was conceived as a "gift from the Soviet people to the Polish nation"....and is also known as a gift from Stalin. 

It is a controversial structure...erected in three years from 1952 to 1955, built by over 3,000 Russians and ultimately mostly paid for by Poland....it was a gift the people were not too happy to receive. 

 While living in Warsaw we have seen the Palace of Culture and Science almost daily....it stands directly across from Mark's office in the heart of Warsaw.  We have also taken out-of-town guests to the observation deck on the 30th floor.

The "palace" has a great clock tower which can be seen from quite a distance away, and therefore provides a good frame of reference from many areas of Warsaw.

In the latter part of Spring 2014, the Polish Literature Group I participate in read and discussed a book about the Cultural Palace.

The  group had a very interesting visit from the author and later took a guided tour inside the palace.  As a foreigner, I didn't always understand the controversies, nor the problems with this huge building.  Now I have a greater appreciation for how others see it.

 The tallest building not only in Warsaw, but all of Poland is a structure of numerous hallways, assembly halls and corridors....3,288 rooms in all.

The architecture, decor, and furnishings are an eclectic mixture of Russian, Polish and American styles. 

Looking upwards towards many of the ceilings, one can see colorful prints depicting Polish folk art.

Interesting....

....and delicate light fixtures are a part of many rooms.

Long and simple corridors.  

With over 3,000 rooms of eclectic styles, it would take well over 9 years to spend just a few minutes inside each one!

The Sala Kongresowa was originally built as a meeting hall for the Polish Congress and/or communist party.  

It is now one of two beautiful concert halls in the palace, where Mark and I have seen two performances.

The rooms will soon be renovated and closed for a couple of years. 

The wall decor is quite interesting.

Warsaw's mermaid can even be found in many of the rooms.

The group tour we took included areas of the palace that are cannot be seen by the general public.

Since living in Warsaw this Polish icon has been the backdrop of many of our pictures.  

On Mark's first visit to Warsaw in November 2010 he had his picture taken in front of the palace....and had the view in the picture below from the 41st floor of the hotel he was staying in.

On my first visit to Poland in February 2011, I looked out the window of a nearby restaurant and had this view.  It is illuminated by multiple colored lights at night and is quite pretty. 

 Summer of 2011, we took our first trip up to the 30th level terrace and had great views of Warsaw. 

It is nearly impossible to stand in front of the palace and get a complete picture.

In May 2012 we took Jamie, Caroline and Melissa up to see Warsaw from the observation deck.  

A common joke is that the best view of Warsaw is from the observation deck of the palace....not because of the view itself but because while on the terrace the palace is not part of the view!

Later during their visit in May 2012, we took Melissa and Caroline back to the palace to take pictures of it lit up at night.


December 2012....Melissa came to Poland again and we attended a New Year's Eve party with the colorful Cultural Palace in the background.

Happy New Year from Warsaw.

Spring 2013....our friends Kelvyn and Laurie came to visit....and it warranted another trip up to the 30th floor.  Often it is quite windy and cold on the observation deck....so even though it was May we needed our jackets.

Summer 2013....my sister Rebecca and her granddaughter Becca came to visit....and another visit up to the tower.  I think we have been up to the 30th level in every season.

Melissa's future in-laws, Bev and Craig came to Warsaw in October 2013.  They enjoyed the great views of Warsaw.

This structure is in the heart of Warsaw and is a constant reminder of a difficult time in Warsaw's history.  

Though many debate its looks and appropriateness in post-communist Poland, the palace is is one of Warsaw's icons and a national historical landmark.

Before World War II there were businesses and apartment buildings on the site.  There is still controversy today about compensation claimed by the people who owned the buildings that were not rebuilt after the war, so that the palace could be built here.

Facing east...the National Stadium is in the center, with the Vistula River in front of it.

Facing north....

Facing north east...with Saski Park in the background and then Old Town.

Facing west....the silver rectangular building at the far left is Warsaw's Central Train Station.  Just to the right is the Skylight Office Tower where Mark's office is located, and the Zlote Tarasy Mall is behind the office tower.  The 40-story modernistic tower on the right side of the picture was constructed while we were here and contains very expensive residential housing.

Still looking west, and down on to Emilie Platter street...very familiar to us because it fronts the office Mark works in.

Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science....though controversial, this structure will remind us of "home" for the past 3-1/2 years....

....a view that will bring good memories in so many ways.