Walk in Warsaw: City Center
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier / Shutterstock
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The idea of honouring unknown soldiers appeared in Warsaw in 1921, although the Warsaw Tomb of the unknown soldier was only erected in 1925 by the colonnade of the Saski Palace. On 2nd November 1921 the ashes of an unknown soldier, which had been ceremoniously brought from Lvov, were placed in a grave with full honours. The tomb was totally destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in 1946. It is now the only remaining part of the Saski Palace. In 2010 the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier underwent a full renovation which included the installation of some modern lighting. An eternal flame burns at the site and soldiers of the Representative Battalion of the Polish Army stand guard day and night.
Pi³sudski Square
This place has had its name changed 4 times in the last 200 years. In 1814 it was called Saski (Saxon) Square, but 14 years later it became Marshal Joseph Pi³sudski Square. The Nazis called it Adolf Hitler Square (surprise surprise) and after the war it went back to Saski Square for just a year, which was then changed to Victory Square. Finally, since 1990, this important Warsaw landmark has returned to its former name - Marshal Joseph Pi³sudski Square. The various monuments and buildings that have been built here have also had an equally turbulent history. In 1841 a monument to Poles martyred for loyalty to their monarchs was erected in memory of Army officers killed by the November revolutionaries. Less than 60 years later it had to make way for a huge Orthodox Cathedral built from 1894 to 1912 by Aleksander Newski, which was supposed to strikingly symbolise Russia's dominance of Poland. The building stood for only 12 years as it was demolished, despite many protests, in 1926. Before it was torn down, a monument to Prince Józef Poniatowski was erected but was later destroyed by the nazis. After its reconstruction the monument was placed outside the present President's Palace. During the second world war a giant 5m high letter 'V' was placed in the square to symbolise the power of the Wehrmacht. It was quickly burnt down, though, in an act of sabotage.
In the mid-90s the Józef Pi³sudski Monument was unveiled near the square, but, unfortunately, the Marshall stands in a poor place - between the cars parked by the square. The City authorities are supposedly planning to move the monument to the centre of the square.
Pi³sudski Square is also connected to Pope John Paul II's pilgrimages to Poland. The Pontiff celebrated mass here during his first visit to Poland in 1979 and beatified 108 Polish martyrs in 1999. After the Pope's death, the citizens of Warsaw, brought wreathes and lit candles en masse at the square. The Warsaw authorities decided to commemorate John Paul II with a monument which was erected in 2009.
Discussions about rebuilding the Saski (Saxon) Palace, which was destroyed by the nazis, on the square have been going on for years. The only part of the palace left on the square is what is now the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.