Stare Miasto

The Old Town (Stare Miasto) is one of the most historic and fascinating parts of Warsaw. It was established at the end of the 13th century, around what is now the Royal Castle, originally the seat of the Mazovian dukes. The Old Town was designed as something of a geometric "chessboard" of streets, and the area has maintained its medieval town-planning scheme. The Old Town was completely destroyed by the Nazis during World War II. The area was subsequently rebuilt from rubble with a fastidious eye for historical detail, and is now listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The heart of the area is the Old Town Market Square (Rynek Starego Miasta), with its distinguished architecture, restaurants, cafes, shops and museums.

excerpt from
Eyewitness Travel Guide Warsaw

13 - 14 May 2000