Warsaw

Warsaw (Polish: Warszawa [varava]) located on the Vistula River , is the capital and largest city of Poland. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most populous city proper in the European Union. Warsaw is an Alpha- global city, a major international tourist destination and an important economic hub in Central and Eastern Europe.It is also known as the "phoenix city" because it has survived many wars throughout its history. Most notably, the city had to be painstakingly rebuilt after the extensive damage it suffered from World War II, during which 80% of its buildings were destroyed.

History
The first fortified settlements on the site of today's Warsaw were Brdno (9th/10th century) and Jazdw (12th/13th century). After Jazdw was raided, a new similar settlement was established on the site of a small fishing village called Warszowa. 14th-century Warsaw's economy rested on crafts and trade. Upon the extinction of the local ducal line, the duchy was reincorporated into the Polish Crown in 1526.

Masovian Dukes Castle in Czersk

World War II
During World War II, central Poland, including Warsaw, came under the rule of the General Government, a German Nazi colonial administration. Several hundred thousand, some 30% of the city herded into the Warsaw Ghetto. The city would become the center of urban resistance to Nazi rule in occupied Europe. About 85% of the city had been destroyed, including the historic Old Town and the Royal Castle.

Warsaw in 1945

Modern times
After the war, under a Communist regime set up by the conquering Soviets, large prefabricated housing projects were erected in Warsaw to address the housing shortage, along with other typical buildings of an Eastern Bloc city, such as the Palace of Culture and Science. The city resumed its role as the capital of Poland and the country's centre of political and economic life. Many of the historic streets, buildings, and churches were restored to their original form. In 1980, Warsaw's historic Old Town was inscribed onto UNESCO's World Heritage list.

Sights
Although today's Warsaw is a fairly young city, it has many tourist attractions. Apart from the Warsaw Old Town quarter, reconstructed after World War II, each borough has something to offer. Among the most notable landmarks of the Old Town are the Royal Castle, King Zygmunt's Column, Market Square, and the Barbican. Further south is the so-called Royal Route, with many classicist palaces, the Presidential Palace and the University of Warsaw campus.Wilanw Palace, the former royal residence of King John III Sobieski, is notable for its baroque architecture and parks

Wilanw Palace

Economy
During Warsaw's reconstruction after World War II, the communist authorities decided that the city would become a major industrial centre. As a result, numerous large factories were built in and around the city. The largest were the Huta Warszawa Steel Works, the car factory FSO and the tractor factory Ursus. As the communist economy deteriorated, these factories lost significance and most went bankrupt after 1989. Today, the Arcelor Warszawa Steel Mill (formerly Huta Warszawa) is the only major factory remaining. Warsaw is home not only to many national institutions and government agencies, but also to many domestic and international companies. In 2006, 304,016 companies were registered in the city. Warsaw's ever-growing business community has been noticed globally, regionally, and nationally.

Infrastructure
Like many cities in Central and Eastern Europe, infrastructure in Warsaw suffered considerably during communism. However, over the past decade it has seen many improvements due to solid economic growth, an increase in foreign investment as well as funding from the European Union. In particular, the city's underground transit system, roads, sidewalks, health care facilities and sanitation facilities have improved markedly.

Bibliografie
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