Historic Centre of Warsaw


World Heritage Identification Number: 30

World Heritage since: 1980

Category: Cultural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇵🇱 Poland

Continent: Europe

UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America

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The Historic Centre of Warsaw: A Testament to Resilience and Preservation

The Historic Centre of Warsaw, officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980, stands as a remarkable testament to resilience, preservation, and the indomitable spirit of its people. This ancient district, nestled within the heart of modern Warsaw, offers a unique blend of historical charm and contemporary vibrancy that captivates visitors from around the globe.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

During the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, more than 85% of Warsaw's historic centre was destroyed by Nazi troops. After the war, a five-year reconstruction campaign by its citizens resulted in today's meticulous restoration of the Old Town, with its churches, palaces and market-place. It is an outstanding example of a near-total reconstruction of a span of history covering the 13th to the 20th century.

Encyclopedia Record: Old Town, Warsaw

Warsaw Old Town, also known as Old Town, and historically known as Old Warsaw, is a neighbourhood, and an area of the City Information System, in the city of Warsaw, Poland, located within the district of Śródmieście. It is the oldest portion of the city, and contains numerous historic buildings, mostly from 17th and 18th centuries, such as the Royal Castle, city walls, St. John's Cathedral, and the Barbican, the Old Town Market Square and the Warsaw Mermaid Statue. The settlement itself dates back to between the 13th and 14th centuries, and was granted town privileges c. 1300.

Read more on Wikipedia

Additional Site Details

Area: 25.93 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions

Coordinates: 52.25 , 21.013

Image

Image of Historic Centre of Warsaw

© Kapitel, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Nearby World Heritage Sites

Krzemionki Prehistoric Striped Flint Mining Region
147 km — Poland
Medieval Town of Toruń
183 km — Poland
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208 km — Belarus, Poland
Old City of Zamość
230 km — Poland
Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork
239 km — Poland

Country Information: Poland

Flag of Poland

Official Name: Republic of Poland

Capital: Warsaw

Continent: Europe

Population (2024): 36,554,707

Population (2023): 36,687,353

Population (2022): 36,821,749

Land Area: 306,100 sq km

Currency: Polish złoty (PLN)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Historic Centre of Warsaw are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Old Town, Warsaw, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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