15 Famous buildings in Poland

1.Sea Towers

Everyone has heard about Sea Towers, designed by Andrzej Kapuscik, a polish architect working in Vienna. The tower is located on the Bay of Gdansk, and the investment was created only 12 meters from the modern shoreline.

Sea Towers are two connected buildings, situated on an extended platform. The towers are 141 and 125 meters tall and became a symbol of the dynamic development of the city. Wedding and business sessions take place here.

The success of this bold project began a new chapter in the city’s history. Excellent location, making it very attractive to tourists from all over the world.

2. Malbork Castle

The Gothic Castle is an old Teutonic stronghold built at the end of the 13th century. It is the largest Castle in the world measured by land area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This spectacular fortress located on the east bank of the River Nogat, over the years, has changed hands several times and finally became part of Poland.

Today huge museum presents archaeological collections from excavations, collections of military items, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, stained glass, and amber. The Castle Museum has over 700 pieces of amber, rich collections of historical documentation, contemporary bookplates, and engravings (among them is the battle of Grunwald imitated by Jan Matejko).

 3. Cloth hall Krakow

The Cloth Hall is standing in the middle of the Main Square in the Krakow Old Town. This pearl of renaissance architecture became one of the most characteristic monuments of Krakow. In the past, it was an international trade center.

Today, the Cloth Hall is a great tourist attraction. The long hall of the ground floor is still full of stalls with jewelry, handicrafts, and souvenirs. In the rooms on the first floor, you can admire the paintings of the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art, incl. “Prussian Homage” by Jan Matejko, “Torches of Nero” by Henryk Siemiradzki, or “Szał” by Władysław Podkowiński. 

Rynek Underground Museum entrance is located in the Sukiennice. Visitors wander beneath the main square and experience the atmosphere of medieval Kraków.

4.Crane Gdansk

The Crane is a symbol of Gdańsk and the maritime character of the city. Europe’s largest medieval port crane had a threefold function as a port crane, defensive fortification, and town gate.

Today’s today’s role of the Crane also has a sea-related character – it is a branch of the National Maritime Museum. In addition to admiring the mechanism itself, you can also see an exhibition depicting the life of the port city from the 16th to the 18th century, the golden times of Gdańsk trade.

5.Town Hall Poznan

The building is a pearl of the Renaissance and is located in Poznań’s Old Market Square. Once it was decided here about the course of urban affairs and the offenses were judged.

The traditional bugle call (hejnal) of Poznań is played every day at noon with the assistance of characteristic goats, symbolizing the city. The first mention of the town hall building in this place dates back to the beginning of the 14th century.

The building was damaged several times, and it burned down in 1536, and in the 1950s, it was rebuilt in the form that we admire with slight changes to the present day.

The Town Hall arouses interest as one of the most famous monuments of architecture in Poland. Currently houses the Museum of the History of the City of Poznań.

6.Palace of Culture and Sience Warsaw

The tallest building in Poland and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Warsaw. The structure was designed by Soviet architect Lev Rudnev modeled on American skyscrapers.

A “gift” of the Soviet Union for Poland but by many seen as a symbol of Soviet domination. The Palace today serves as an exhibition center and office complex. Don’t miss the panoramic view and admire the Warsaw from the 30th-floor (115m) observation deck.

7.St Mary’s Basilica

Gothic church, one of the most famous in Poland, was built in the 14th century, standing 80 m tall, it is particularly renowned for its wooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss.

A bugle call (Hejnał mariacki) is played every hour on the hour from the top of the taller of Saint Mary’s two towers. The plaintive tune breaks off in mid-stream, to commemorate the famous 13th-century trumpeter, who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before the Mongol attack on the city. The noon-time hejnał is heard across Poland and abroad broadcast live by the Polish national Radio 1 Station.

8.Czestochowa Monastery

Częstochowa is the spiritual capital of Poland, and every year, millions of pilgrims flock to its monastery to visit the shrine to the Black Madonna, a painting rumored to have miraculous powers.

Jasna Gora monastery is a historic site miraculously saved from a Swedish invasion. Everyone should at least once in their life go to the holiest place in Poland, see a beautiful fortress and learn about the history of this magic place.

9.Theatre Baj Pomorski Torun

The Theater, founded by the repatriate from Vilnius, Irena Pikiel-Samorewiczowa, began operating in Bydgoszcz in October 1945. However, in April 1946, it was moved to Toruń, where it received better housing conditions after the German Castle Theater at ul. Piernikarska 9.

From the very beginning, the Theater focused on young audiences, but over time they began to be introduced to the art repertoire for adults as well.

Between 2005 and 2006, during the directorship of Zbigniew Lisowski, the Baj Pomorski Theatre was thoroughly rebuilt and modernized.

Along with taking over the Theater, Lisowski faced the task of carrying out the reconstruction and modernization of the theater building planned for years.

The cooperation of architects and stage designer Pavel Hubiczka led to the creation of an exciting theater project – a magic wardrobe that would combine the gothic elements of the city’s architecture with modern solutions. The new “Baja” building has gained the opinion of one of the most exciting theaters in Poland.

10.Wang Temple

Originally the wooden church was built in the Norwegian town Vang where its name comes from. The Lutheran church was transferred to the Giant Mountains in 1842.

The Countess Friederike Charlotte von Redern, from nearby Bukowiec, convinced the King Wilhelm IV to move the church to the Karpacz.

The Wang Church is a main year-round attraction for tourists from the country and around the world. Every year, the temple is visited by over 100 thousand people. On the site, you can buy souvenirs, take a photo with the Mountain Spirit, attend mass, or enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of this place.

11.Wawel Krakow

The Wawel Castle was a place of coronation and burial of kings. After losing independence, it became for Poles living in three divided parts of the country, a symbol of Polishness, reminding of the past power of the kingdom and a place in which the tradition of Polishness has never been lost.

Wawel Castle is one of Krakow’s most popular attractions and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also considered to be one of Poland’s significant cultural sites. The Castle’s museum is home to an extensive collection of artworks, sculptures, and paintings.

The Castle is vast, with plenty of exciting places to visit, such as Wawel Cathedral, John Paul II Cathedral Museum, Royal Palace, and Dragon’s Den. 

12.Wilanow Palace

The Wilanów Palace called today the “Polish Versailles” became a symbol of Warsaw. The summer residence of Polish King Jan III Sobieski delights with incredible baroque architecture and atmosphere from hundreds of years ago.

The Palace was built in 1681-1696 for king Jan III Sobieski and Maria Kazimiera. The author of the project was Augustyn Locci. The Wilanow Palace, together with the surrounding park and buildings, have remained unchanged ​despite annexations, occupation, and wars.

In 1945 the Palace was taken over by the Ministry of Culture and Arts. Since 1995, the Palace-park complex is managed by the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanów.

13.Royal Castle in Warsaw

The Royal Castle is one of the most famous buildings in Poland, not because it looks particularly impressive, or because it is over 700 years old and was once a royal residence. The uniqueness of the Castle lies in the fact that for 37 years, Warsaw Royal Castle did not exist, and yet it was reborn like a Phoenix from ashes. 

The Castle was destroyed during WWI. The reconstruction of the Royal Castle from scratch began in 1971 when Edward Gierek came to power and was completed in 1981. Today the Castle is a famous museum, a monument of Polish Culture and Heritage fully open to the public.

 14.Zamosc Town Hall

The magnificent, beautiful Town Hall is one of the most significant monuments of Zamość, and at the same time, the undoubted symbol of the city. The majestic building of the Town Hall represents the mannerist and baroque style.

Every day at noon in the summer season, a trumpeter plays a bugle call from the tower but only towards three directions of the world because, according to legend, the city founder, hetman Jan Zamoyski, forbade to play the trumpeter in the course of Krakow as he competed and disliked Krakow. The Town Hall in Zamość was and still is the seat of the city authorities.

15.Royal Lazienki in Warsaw

This famous Palace and park complex was founded in the 18th century by King Stanisław August Poniatowski and turn into his summer residence.

In the park, tourists can visit many outstanding monuments, including the Łazienkowski Palace, the Amphitheater, the Old Orangery, the Great Outbuilding, the Myślewicki Palace, as well as the famous Frederic Chopin Monument. Łazienkowski Park is also a place where many cultural, scientific, and sporting events take place.

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