Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Warsaw, Poland

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is dedicated to the unknown soldiers who have given their lives for Poland. It is one of many such national tombs of unknowns that were erected after World War I, and the most important such monument in Poland.

The monument, located at Piłsudski Square, is the only surviving part of the Saxon Palace that occupied the spot until World War II. Since 2 November 1925 the tomb houses an unidentified body of a young soldier who fell during the Defence of Lwów. At a later date earth from numerous battlefields where Polish soldiers have fought was added to the urns housed in the surviving pillars of the Saxon Palace.

The Tomb is constantly lit by an eternal flame and assisted by a guard post by the Representative Battalion of the Polish Army. It is there that most official military commemorations take place in Poland and where foreign representatives lay wreaths when visiting Poland.

The changing of the guard takes place on the hour of every hour daily and this happens 365 days a year.

References:

Wikipedia

Cemeteries, mausoleums and burial places in Poland

User Reviews

Elizabeth B (20 months ago)
Historical place commemorating fallen unkown Polish soldiers fighting in domestic and foreign wars. Exept for World War II, the soldiers have been standing guard 24/7 since 1923.

Alex Parent (2 years ago)
Very nice free spot which is the grave of all the Polish unknown soldiers. 2 soldiers are on constant duty. Ps: Do not to walk on the black bricks inside the grave! The soldiers will tell to stop.

Discovering Destinations (2 years ago)
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located in Piłsudski Square and it’s 10 minutes walking distance from the main Old Town square of Warsaw, Sigismund's Column for example. You can also have access to it walking through Saxon Garden, actually is what we did. The Tomb is a beautiful monument dedicated to the unknown soldiers who have given their lives for Poland and according Wikipedia is the only surviving part of the Saxon Palace that occupied the spot until World War II. The place is nicely decorated with flowers, there is a eternal flame and we waited a little and we could see the changing of the guard that takes place on the hour of every hour daily and this happens 365 days a year. Eli: 4 / Serge: 4 Recommended: Yes, it’s a really beautiful and historical place to visit in Warsaw.

Traci Cappiello (2 years ago)
This is a stunning memorial to those soldiers who lost their lives in World War II and is guarded 24/7 by two soldiers. It's OK to stop by to read the signs and take photos as long as you are respectful. In the evening, it's really just gorgeous.

Alistair Norris (2 years ago)
This isn't a large site, just a small monument near the Warsaw old town. Multi lingual signs explain the history of the place in all of your favourite European languages. The site seems to be continuously manned by armed services in a mark of respect. I was fortunate enough to witness the changing of the guard. An interesting visual spectacle of traditional military movement.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Maciek Lulko

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Wroclaw Town Hall

The Old Town Hall of Wrocław is one of the main landmarks of the city. The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction. The town hall serves the city of Wroclaw and is used for civic and cultural events such as concerts held in its Great Hall. In addition, it houses a museum and a basement restaurant.

The town hall was developed over a period of about 250 years, from the end of 13th century to the middle of 16th century. The structure and floor plan changed over this extended period in response to the changing needs of the city. The exact date of the initial construction is not known. However, between 1299 and 1301 a single-storey structure with cellars and a tower called the consistory was built. The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time. In these early days the primary purpose of the building was trade rather than civic administration activities.

Between 1328 and 1333 an upper storey was added to include the Council room and the Aldermen’s room. Expansion continued during the 14th century with the addition of extra rooms, most notably the Court room. The building became a key location for the city’s commercial and administrative functions.

The 15th and 16th centuries were times of prosperity for Wroclaw as was reflected in the rapid development of the building during that period. The construction program gathered momentum, particularly from 1470 to 1510, when several rooms were added. The Burghers’ Hall was re-vaulted to take on its current shape, and the upper story began to take shape with the development of the Great Hall and the addition of the Treasury and Little Treasury.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59). This was the final stage of the main building program. By 1560, the major features of today’s Stray Rates were established.

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During the 19th century there were two major changes. The courts moved to a separate building, and the Rates became the site of the city council and supporting functions. There was also a major program of renovation because the building had been neglected and was covered with creeping vines. The town hall now has several en-Gothic features including some sculptural decoration from this period.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902. During the 1930s, the official role of the Rates was reduced and it was converted into a museum. By the end of World War II Town Hall suffered minor damage, such as aerial bomb pierced the roof (but not exploded) and some sculptural elements were lost. Restoration work began in the 1950s following a period of research, and this conservation effort continued throughout the 20th century. It included refurbishment of the clock on the east facade.

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