Warsaw Barbican
The Warsaw Barbican (
History
The barbican was erected in 1540 in place of an older
Almost immediately after its inception, the 4-
In the 18th century, the barbican was partially dismantled as its defensive value was negligible, and the city benefited more from a larger gate which facilitated movement of people and goods in and out of the city. In the 19th century, its remains were incorporated into newly built
During World War II, particularly the Siege of Warsaw (1939) and the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, the barbican was largely destroyed, as were most of the Old Town's buildings. It was rebuilt after the war, during 1952–1954, on the basis of 17th-century etchings, as the new government decided it would be cheaper to rebuild the barbican and the nearby city walls as a tourist attraction than to rebuild the tenements. In its reconstruction, bricks were used from historic buildings demolished in the cities of Nysa and Wrocław; most of the barbican was rebuilt, save for two exterior gates and the oldest tower on the side of the Old Town. It is currently a popular tourist attraction.
See also
- Kraków Barbican: the largest barbican in Poland. (Warsaw's is the second-largest.)
External links
- Barbican of Warsaw at www.virtualtourist.com
- The Warsaw Barbican
- (in Polish) History of Barbacan and archival photos
52°15′2″N 21°0′36″E / 52.25056°N 21.01000°E
