Zamek Królewski
Once the residence of kings, seat of the Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Royal Castle in Warsaw is one of the most important royal residences in Europe.
Razed to the ground by order of Adolf Hitler in 1944, the Castle did not exist for nearly three decades, only to be re-erected in 1971-1984 on the wave of a great social upsurge.
Architecturally, the Royal Castle in Warsaw combines early and late Baroque styles, although it also contains relics of earlier eras. The early Baroque façade, austere and restrained in form, can be admired from Castle Square, while the wing on the Vistula side represents a style typical of the first half of the 18th century - lavish, rich in sculptural decoration and chiaroscuro effects.
The Royal Castle in Warsaw is not only a museum of interiors, but also an art gallery, a center for science and education, and a place that performs representative functions at the state and international levels.