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EVENTS
Wałęsa – a Freeman of the City of Warsaw
Lech Wałęsa, the legendary leader of the Solidarity movement (Solidarność), the most internationally known living Pole, was given the title of a freeman of the City of Warsaw. The celebration during which he received the freedom of the city was organized on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, the Mayor of Warsaw, emphasized his exceptional achievements in regaining Poland's independence and in supporting the collapse of communism in the world. It has become a tradition in Warsaw to pay tribute to Polish heroes on every anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, which was one of the greatest Polish armed bids for independence. The life of Lech Wałęsa, who is also a Nobel Peace Prize winner, is one of the most elements of the contemporary history of Poland.
Tour of Poland to Start in Warsaw
On September 9, the Tour of Poland (Tour de Pologne), a road bicycle racing stage race, starts in Warsaw. This is one of the oldest and most important sport events organized in Poland. In 2005, the prestige and renown of the Tour of Poland became yet more immense as the race was included in the calendar of Pro Tour UCI, which is the league of cycling champions, as one of the thirteen most important bicycle races of the world. The first edition of the Tour of Poland was organized in 1928, and 71 cyclists participated in it. Because of the Second World War, the race was suspended and would not continue until 1947. Since 1993, when Czesław Lang, an excellent Polish cyclist and an Olympic medal winner, invested his money in the development and promotion of the competition, Tour de Pologne has become an event on an international scale. This year's route of the race is 1224 kilometers long. Among the sportsmen who are to take part in the competition we should mention, for instance, Danilo di Luc from Italy. The finish of the face is in Karpacz in the southern part of Poland. The race will have a live coverage on Eurosport 2.
Seven Wonders of Poland
The antique world had its Seven Wonders, and millions of people have recently chosen the Seven Wonders of the contemporary world in an international poll. Similarly, Poles have decided to choose their own Polish Seven Wonders. The list of candidates is long and it consists of monuments of great historic and artistic value. These are, for example, the largest gothic fortress in Europe, namely the Castle in Malbork, the gothic St. Mary's Church (Kościół Mariacki) in Cracow with its Veit Stoss Altar from the 16th century (our photo), the Town Hall in Poznań, which is considered to beone of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Northern Europe, the canal from Ostróda to Elbląg, a real feat of engineering from the first half of the 19th century, the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa from the 15th century, and St. Mary's Basilica (Bazylika Mariacka) in Gdańsk from the 16th century. This long list of Polish potential wonders (covering 70 items) also includes contemporary buildings, for example, the beautiful seat of Warsaw University's Library. The poll is to be decided at the end of the month.
A Monument to Ronald Reagan
Inhabitants of Warsaw, as the first group in Central and Eastern Europe, have decided to commemorate Ronald Reagan, a former President of the United States. A monument to Reagan, as a sign of recognition for his achievements in toppling communism and 'the evil empire', as he once called the Soviet Union, is to be five meters tall and it will be located at Piękna Street, opposite the American Embassy. The monument was designed by Adam Myjak, a sculptor. It will be unveiled on July 4, 2008. The figure of the President will be made of bronze and it will be placed on a huge stone. The money for the monument has already been raised. It comes from private sources.
Fiftieth Warsaw Autumn
The Warsaw Autumn (Warszawska Jesień) International Contemporary Music Festival is the largest international music festival that takes place in Poland. This year, the festival is organized for the 50th time. The idea behind the event was to acquaint Polish music lovers with the avant-garde achievements in the field of music at the time when, because of the communist rule in the country, art was burdened with ideology. Avant-garde music was then described as a 'bourgeois' caprice of the West. However, in 1965, Poland witnessed a political thaw and it seemed that democracy and freedom would be progressing. Later, it turned out that absolute freedom and democracy came as late as in 1989, after the Solidarity movement (Solidarność) was born. Yet, the thaw in question made the Polish borders opened for Western values, and Poland became the most 'western' country in the Soviet bloc. Moreover, Polish music started to be popular internationally, and our composers, such as, for example, Witold Lutosławski, Krzysztof Penderecki, Andrzej Panufnik, Grażyna Bacewicz and Henryk Górecki, became top artists in the world. The Warsaw Autumn Festival played an important role in promoting Polish music in the world, as well as in promoting international music in Poland. This year, as usual, in Warsaw, there will take place numerous concerts by many internationally known artists from, for instance, Canada, Israel, Germany and Greece. For more information visit: www.warszawska-jesien.art.pl.
IV 'Warsaw of Singer'
From 2nd till the 9th of September in the hart of Warsaw there will be held the fourth edition of the Festival of Jewish Culture 'Warsaw of Singer'. The culminating point of the Festival will be an attempt to establish a Guinness Record in the 'Largest Dance to Klezmer Music', which will be followed by releasing few thousands of balloons into the air. The Festival is organized by the Shalom Foundation and it's founder miss Golda Tencer.
The fourth edition of the 'Warsaw of Singer' consists of nearly 90 artistic performances: theatrical spectacles, film projections, recitals and concerts, dancing and singing lessons as well as exhibitions, science conferences, literature meetings and big open air events. World famous artists and klezmer bands from many european coutries, Russia, Izrael and USA have accepted the invitation from the Shalom Foundation. Cantor Joseph Malovany, cantors choir Hasidic Cappella, Sinfonia Varsowia orchestra under the baton of Jacek Kaspszyk, Lea Koenig, Vadim Brodski, SoCalled, Leszek Możdżer, Marina Yakubovich, Joanne Borts, Adrienne Cooper, Theresa Tova and Vira Loziński are among them.
Próżna street and Grzybowski Square will regain the pre-war look, thanks to decoration of apartament-houses: there will be a winery, a bakery, a book shop, street stalls, Jewish restaurant and shops from the beginning of the 20th century. Special feeling of pre-war's Warsaw will be created by actors from Jewish Theatre, dressed as characters typical to Jewish Warsaw: Jewish families, paperboys, musicians and street artists.
The restoration of old Warsaw
The Royal Road in Warsaw is one of the greatest tourist attractions of the city. It leads from the Royal Castle in Old Town Square to the Palace in Wilanów. A special program aiming at the revitalization of this route was prepared – it will be completed in 2013. It includes modernization works of Krakowskie Przedmieście, the restoration and reconstruction of Palac pod Blachą, the revitalization of the historic area of Warsaw University on Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, the refurbishment of the interiors of the Palace in Wilanów, as well as other projects prepared by international cultural and educational institutions.
In July, first 400 meters of the newly restored Krakowskie Przedmieście were given to use – the part from the monument of Copernicus to the Palace of Staszic situated at Królewska Street. Warsaw was granted a beautiful passage, and works on the section of the street from the column presenting King Zygmunt III Waza to Trębacka Street have already started. The promenade that is to be built will constitute an extension of the galleries, and places connected with culture, education, and tourism, all of which can be found nearby.
And what has already been changed? The main, four-lane road was narrowed to a two-lane one, wide pavements were built – everything was constructed with the use of three kinds of beige granite. Glass blocks containing reproductions of Canaletto's paintings will be placed next to some buildings – the painter immortalized 18th century Warsaw in his works of art. There will be a model of the solar system – made of bronze – in front of the monument of Copernicus. Street furniture will appear – 85 benches made of metal and wood, and 80 bicycle stands. In autumn, we will be able to see 140 baskets made of steel and iron. Stone seats will grow in numbers. So far, only one of them has been placed. It is made of sandstone and is situated next to a plane-tree growing between the monument of Copernicus and the Palace of Staszic.
The person behind the changes in Krakowskie Przedmieście is doctor Krzysztof Domaradzki, and the works are being carried out by Mostostal Warszawa.
The Great Fountain in the Saxon Garden (Ogród Saski)
Since May this year, the Great Fountain in the Saxon Garden has been the object of delight again. Its restoration lasted 9 months, and the decorative architectonic elements, like, for example, the 7-tons-heavy cup, were renovated. The walls of the underground corridors were dried and secured with special moisture-resistant preparations. New basins were constructed – the bigger, bottom one was created with the use of 72 cubic meters of first-class cement that can withstand high and low temperature and its frequent changes for the next 500 winters. Water network was also renovated. The closed circulation of water is controlled by a computer. The fountain spills 5 thousand liters of water per minute, and the liquid comes out also from the mouths of 4 dolphins and from the heads of 20 medusas. The water is purified by a sand filter, and it is treated with active oxygen, and once a week, anti-alga mixture is added. The fountain also gained illumination.
The Saxon Garden, in which the fountain is located, is the oldest park in Warsaw. It was established in the years 1666-1667. Its name comes from its founder, King August II Sas (Saxon). The palace, which was once here (and which will be soon reconstructed), and the garden were built in accordance with the assumptions of Tylman from Gameren. At the beginning of the 18th century, the garden was rebuilt in the late-Baroque style, and rich architectural constructions and numerous statues were introduced in it. The park was opened to the public on May 27, 1727.
The works on the fountain started in 1852, and the park was changed to the plans of Henry Marconi at that time. From the side of Niecała Street, a pond and a hill were created. On the hill, there appeared a kind of a water tower in the shape of a rotunda. The huge fountain was opened on June 4, 1855, during festive celebrations on the occasion of the opening of the municipal water supply system in Warsaw. Today, the Saxon Garden occupies the surface of 16 ha, and it is one of the favorite places of relaxation for the citizens of Warsaw.
Lech Wałęsa, the legendary leader of the Solidarity movement (Solidarność), the most internationally known living Pole, was given the title of a freeman of the City of Warsaw. The celebration during which he received the freedom of the city was organized on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, the Mayor of Warsaw, emphasized his exceptional achievements in regaining Poland's independence and in supporting the collapse of communism in the world. It has become a tradition in Warsaw to pay tribute to Polish heroes on every anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, which was one of the greatest Polish armed bids for independence. The life of Lech Wałęsa, who is also a Nobel Peace Prize winner, is one of the most elements of the contemporary history of Poland.
Tour of Poland to Start in Warsaw
On September 9, the Tour of Poland (Tour de Pologne), a road bicycle racing stage race, starts in Warsaw. This is one of the oldest and most important sport events organized in Poland. In 2005, the prestige and renown of the Tour of Poland became yet more immense as the race was included in the calendar of Pro Tour UCI, which is the league of cycling champions, as one of the thirteen most important bicycle races of the world. The first edition of the Tour of Poland was organized in 1928, and 71 cyclists participated in it. Because of the Second World War, the race was suspended and would not continue until 1947. Since 1993, when Czesław Lang, an excellent Polish cyclist and an Olympic medal winner, invested his money in the development and promotion of the competition, Tour de Pologne has become an event on an international scale. This year's route of the race is 1224 kilometers long. Among the sportsmen who are to take part in the competition we should mention, for instance, Danilo di Luc from Italy. The finish of the face is in Karpacz in the southern part of Poland. The race will have a live coverage on Eurosport 2.
Seven Wonders of Poland
The antique world had its Seven Wonders, and millions of people have recently chosen the Seven Wonders of the contemporary world in an international poll. Similarly, Poles have decided to choose their own Polish Seven Wonders. The list of candidates is long and it consists of monuments of great historic and artistic value. These are, for example, the largest gothic fortress in Europe, namely the Castle in Malbork, the gothic St. Mary's Church (Kościół Mariacki) in Cracow with its Veit Stoss Altar from the 16th century (our photo), the Town Hall in Poznań, which is considered to beone of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in Northern Europe, the canal from Ostróda to Elbląg, a real feat of engineering from the first half of the 19th century, the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa from the 15th century, and St. Mary's Basilica (Bazylika Mariacka) in Gdańsk from the 16th century. This long list of Polish potential wonders (covering 70 items) also includes contemporary buildings, for example, the beautiful seat of Warsaw University's Library. The poll is to be decided at the end of the month.
A Monument to Ronald Reagan
Inhabitants of Warsaw, as the first group in Central and Eastern Europe, have decided to commemorate Ronald Reagan, a former President of the United States. A monument to Reagan, as a sign of recognition for his achievements in toppling communism and 'the evil empire', as he once called the Soviet Union, is to be five meters tall and it will be located at Piękna Street, opposite the American Embassy. The monument was designed by Adam Myjak, a sculptor. It will be unveiled on July 4, 2008. The figure of the President will be made of bronze and it will be placed on a huge stone. The money for the monument has already been raised. It comes from private sources.
Fiftieth Warsaw Autumn
The Warsaw Autumn (Warszawska Jesień) International Contemporary Music Festival is the largest international music festival that takes place in Poland. This year, the festival is organized for the 50th time. The idea behind the event was to acquaint Polish music lovers with the avant-garde achievements in the field of music at the time when, because of the communist rule in the country, art was burdened with ideology. Avant-garde music was then described as a 'bourgeois' caprice of the West. However, in 1965, Poland witnessed a political thaw and it seemed that democracy and freedom would be progressing. Later, it turned out that absolute freedom and democracy came as late as in 1989, after the Solidarity movement (Solidarność) was born. Yet, the thaw in question made the Polish borders opened for Western values, and Poland became the most 'western' country in the Soviet bloc. Moreover, Polish music started to be popular internationally, and our composers, such as, for example, Witold Lutosławski, Krzysztof Penderecki, Andrzej Panufnik, Grażyna Bacewicz and Henryk Górecki, became top artists in the world. The Warsaw Autumn Festival played an important role in promoting Polish music in the world, as well as in promoting international music in Poland. This year, as usual, in Warsaw, there will take place numerous concerts by many internationally known artists from, for instance, Canada, Israel, Germany and Greece. For more information visit: www.warszawska-jesien.art.pl.
IV 'Warsaw of Singer'
From 2nd till the 9th of September in the hart of Warsaw there will be held the fourth edition of the Festival of Jewish Culture 'Warsaw of Singer'. The culminating point of the Festival will be an attempt to establish a Guinness Record in the 'Largest Dance to Klezmer Music', which will be followed by releasing few thousands of balloons into the air. The Festival is organized by the Shalom Foundation and it's founder miss Golda Tencer.
The fourth edition of the 'Warsaw of Singer' consists of nearly 90 artistic performances: theatrical spectacles, film projections, recitals and concerts, dancing and singing lessons as well as exhibitions, science conferences, literature meetings and big open air events. World famous artists and klezmer bands from many european coutries, Russia, Izrael and USA have accepted the invitation from the Shalom Foundation. Cantor Joseph Malovany, cantors choir Hasidic Cappella, Sinfonia Varsowia orchestra under the baton of Jacek Kaspszyk, Lea Koenig, Vadim Brodski, SoCalled, Leszek Możdżer, Marina Yakubovich, Joanne Borts, Adrienne Cooper, Theresa Tova and Vira Loziński are among them.
Próżna street and Grzybowski Square will regain the pre-war look, thanks to decoration of apartament-houses: there will be a winery, a bakery, a book shop, street stalls, Jewish restaurant and shops from the beginning of the 20th century. Special feeling of pre-war's Warsaw will be created by actors from Jewish Theatre, dressed as characters typical to Jewish Warsaw: Jewish families, paperboys, musicians and street artists.
The restoration of old Warsaw
The Royal Road in Warsaw is one of the greatest tourist attractions of the city. It leads from the Royal Castle in Old Town Square to the Palace in Wilanów. A special program aiming at the revitalization of this route was prepared – it will be completed in 2013. It includes modernization works of Krakowskie Przedmieście, the restoration and reconstruction of Palac pod Blachą, the revitalization of the historic area of Warsaw University on Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, the refurbishment of the interiors of the Palace in Wilanów, as well as other projects prepared by international cultural and educational institutions.
In July, first 400 meters of the newly restored Krakowskie Przedmieście were given to use – the part from the monument of Copernicus to the Palace of Staszic situated at Królewska Street. Warsaw was granted a beautiful passage, and works on the section of the street from the column presenting King Zygmunt III Waza to Trębacka Street have already started. The promenade that is to be built will constitute an extension of the galleries, and places connected with culture, education, and tourism, all of which can be found nearby.
And what has already been changed? The main, four-lane road was narrowed to a two-lane one, wide pavements were built – everything was constructed with the use of three kinds of beige granite. Glass blocks containing reproductions of Canaletto's paintings will be placed next to some buildings – the painter immortalized 18th century Warsaw in his works of art. There will be a model of the solar system – made of bronze – in front of the monument of Copernicus. Street furniture will appear – 85 benches made of metal and wood, and 80 bicycle stands. In autumn, we will be able to see 140 baskets made of steel and iron. Stone seats will grow in numbers. So far, only one of them has been placed. It is made of sandstone and is situated next to a plane-tree growing between the monument of Copernicus and the Palace of Staszic.
The person behind the changes in Krakowskie Przedmieście is doctor Krzysztof Domaradzki, and the works are being carried out by Mostostal Warszawa.
The Great Fountain in the Saxon Garden (Ogród Saski)
Since May this year, the Great Fountain in the Saxon Garden has been the object of delight again. Its restoration lasted 9 months, and the decorative architectonic elements, like, for example, the 7-tons-heavy cup, were renovated. The walls of the underground corridors were dried and secured with special moisture-resistant preparations. New basins were constructed – the bigger, bottom one was created with the use of 72 cubic meters of first-class cement that can withstand high and low temperature and its frequent changes for the next 500 winters. Water network was also renovated. The closed circulation of water is controlled by a computer. The fountain spills 5 thousand liters of water per minute, and the liquid comes out also from the mouths of 4 dolphins and from the heads of 20 medusas. The water is purified by a sand filter, and it is treated with active oxygen, and once a week, anti-alga mixture is added. The fountain also gained illumination.
The Saxon Garden, in which the fountain is located, is the oldest park in Warsaw. It was established in the years 1666-1667. Its name comes from its founder, King August II Sas (Saxon). The palace, which was once here (and which will be soon reconstructed), and the garden were built in accordance with the assumptions of Tylman from Gameren. At the beginning of the 18th century, the garden was rebuilt in the late-Baroque style, and rich architectural constructions and numerous statues were introduced in it. The park was opened to the public on May 27, 1727.
The works on the fountain started in 1852, and the park was changed to the plans of Henry Marconi at that time. From the side of Niecała Street, a pond and a hill were created. On the hill, there appeared a kind of a water tower in the shape of a rotunda. The huge fountain was opened on June 4, 1855, during festive celebrations on the occasion of the opening of the municipal water supply system in Warsaw. Today, the Saxon Garden occupies the surface of 16 ha, and it is one of the favorite places of relaxation for the citizens of Warsaw.
Found in our archive:
Information published at 3 September 2007
