Warsaw - capital of Poland.It is the largest in area and population of cities in the country.After a fire in the Wawel Castle King Sigismund the Third ordered to move his residence is in Warsaw.This happened in 1596.The capital of Poland was actually transferred to the specified city.Nevertheless, he gained legal status only after the adoption of the Constitution in 1791.
Etymological data
Many linguists and historians believe that the city owes its origin possessive adjectives «Warszowa» (or «Warszewa»), formed from the previously common name Warcislaw.
name was transformed from Warszewa in Warszawa in the sixteenth century.This phenomenon is associated with the peculiarities of the Mazovian dialect (it was circulated it on the territory where the modern capital of Poland).Thus, the vowel "a" becomes "e" in the position after soft consonants (combination «sz» at the time was mild).In the fifteenth century, coupled with the secondary "e" were among the dialect, so the people who hold the literary pronunciation, forms replaced them with "a".In this case, the capital of Poland is Warsaw was named by replacing the etymological form on giperkorrektnuyu.
There is a popular belief that the option Warszawa appeared as a result of joining the names of the fisherman Wars and the mermaid Sawa.The image of the lovers, as the unofficial version, and has become a source of capital formation names.
most common legend about the foundation of Warsaw tells about a prince (Lord) named Casimir.Getting lost while hunting, he came across a poor fisherman's hut on the bank of the Vistula.There he saw a girl who had just given birth to two boys - Varsha and Sava.Casimir agreed to become godfather to the twins and well thanked the hosts for their hospitality.They donated money was enough to build another house next.Other fishermen also began to build their huts in this place.So it was the beginning of the state capital.
Official symbols
capital of Poland has its own character.This aforementioned mermaid Sawa.Her image can be seen even on the coat of arms of the city.Monument in honor of the mythical creature is set to the Market Square.
coat of arms is in the shape of the French shield.Its color - red.The upper boundary is a ribbon with the motto, from the tongue - Silver Cross of the Order of Military Merit.
Flag capital is a panel consisting of two equal-width stripes of red and yellow.
Historical information
According to ancient documents found by archeologists in the tenth century on the territory of modern Warsaw housed several settlements, the most important of which were Kamion, Brodno and Jazdow.However, the first wooden structures appeared here only in the twelfth century, and stone - the fourteenth.
New time
What was the center of the capital of Poland Mazowiecki Duchy?Warsaw.Subsequently, she was considered his residence of Polish kings and Lithuanian princes.From 1791 to 1795 the city was the capital of the Commonwealth, from 1807 to 1813 - Duchy of Warsaw, from 1815 to 1915 - the Polish Kingdom.
During occupation 1939-1944 suffered greatly Poland.The capital - Warsaw - was destroyed by German bombers.City released 01/17/1945, during the success of the Vistula-Oder operation.
At the end of the 2nd World Capital of Poland has been actively recover.However, only the Royal Route, Old and New Town were reconstructed in its historical form.
major European cities of the late nineteenth - early twentieth century was characterized by dense buildings.It did not save in order to improve the hygiene of housing in accordance with the ideological program mode prokommunistov and ideas of modernism.
Most of the city was transformed radically.Warsaw has changed not only in an urban but also in architectural terms.
weather
Warsaw different temperate continental climate with warm humid summers and mild winters.Frosts below fifteen degrees above thirty and fever - a rarity.Autumn is usually warm and lingering, spring usually comes gradually.In the year the average 530 millimeters of precipitation falls.
administrative division
Since 2002, the capital of Poland - a county that consists of a single commune.The latter, in turn, is divided into eighteen districts (Dzielnica).
bit about the Chief of Police
Until 1833 Warsaw was one of the police departments of the municipal government of the capital, is run by the country's president.Twentieth of June (the second of July to the old calendar) of the year was published Council Regulation control of the Polish kingdom.According to this document, the Executive Police separated from administrative and passed to the jurisdiction of the Vice-President of the capital, which later became officially known as the Warsaw Chief of Police.
population
on evolution and the increase in the number varshavtsev long been influenced by the fact that the city was one of the staging posts on the crossroads of trade routes and the Trans-European migration.This is a significant impact on the number and ethnic composition of the local people.Before the formation of Warsaw as the center of services and industry in the majority of the population consisted of merchants.According to the 1897 census, 34% of the residents were Jews (219,000 of 638,000).The mixing of nationalities, ideas and movements has led to the fact that there was the informal name of the capital.Poland has become known for its "Second Paris" - Warsaw.
architectural appearance of the city
modern Warsaw is a mix of many different architectural styles.This is due to the difficult history of both the country and the city.His adjustments made recovery process after the Second World War.The historic center of the capital - the Royal Palace - restored so far.It is noteworthy that this area has been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.It is recognized as the personification of a thorough reconstruction process of destroyed historic monument.
during the Polish People's Republic in the city there are many buildings in the style of Stalin's empire.Some significant buildings have been restored after the fall of the NDP.Nowadays, the city's architecture is increasingly supplemented by modern business centers and skyscrapers.
transport system
metropolitan public transport network has reached a high level of development.Developed by a large number of bus routes.Transportation adheres to the schedule.Periodically, buses with a low floor for the convenience of the disabled.
The city operates one branch of the subway, lots of tram lines.Tickets for travel can be purchased at kiosks at stops or from the driver, all of which are universal, split by type of vehicle is performed.In the capital-developed network of bike rental.
former capital of Poland
Previously, the main city of the country was considered to Krakow.And even his full official title - Capital royal city of Krakow - reminds us of this.Until the eighteenth century, there were crowned all the Polish rulers.
Hindsight
Krakow, which is located in that territory, where p.Wisla becomes navigable.Due to its geographical position the city is rapidly expanding its position and grew rich.Boleslaw the Brave founded the episcopal chair in 1000.Counting on the support of the princes of Silesia and feeling their importance, in 1311 Krakow Germans organized a rebellion against Wladyslaw the Elbow.The revolt was quickly suppressed by the same rebels were deprived of all privileges and benefits.
value of Krakow began to grow in the fourteenth century.In 1319 the current governor - Vladislav first elbow - moved to his residence (previously it was in Gniezno).During the reign of Casimir the Great in the city were built new structures were developed areas such as trade and craft.In February 1386 in the former capital of Poland Jagiello was baptized.There was his marriage to Jadwiga.
When authorities were Jagiellonians, Krakow finally strengthened the position of the main city of the kingdom.The number of inhabitants increased to one hundred thousand.
What is the capital of Poland have been in the sixteenth century?In 1596 the honorary title has moved from Krakow to Warsaw.The welfare of the once wealthy city is slowly but surely eroding the enemy attacks.In 1787, the population of Krakow is less than ten thousand people.
twentieth century until 1918 Krakow was under the jurisdiction of the Austro-Hungarian Empire., 1939-1945.It is a tragic period in the history of the former capital.Organized by the Nazi occupiers in the city of Krakow ghetto, where most of the Jews were herded, living mainly in the area of Kazimierz.Representatives of the ethnic mercilessly exterminated in the concentration camps Auschwitz and Plaszow.
Forces troops of the First Ukrainian Front in January 1945 the city was liberated from the invaders.Eleventh August the same year rolled around Krakow pogrom.During the political crisis in 1968 it passed an anti-Semitic campaign.Given these developments, the majority of Jews, survivors of the Holocaust, left Poland.
Cultural Center
What is the capital of Poland now?The main city of the country - Warsaw.However, several centuries ago belonged to the honorary title of Krakow.That's why the city is still called the heart of the Polish culture.Its historic center to be destroyed during the retreat of the German troops in 1945.However, as a result of extremely complex military operation carried out by soldiers of the Soviet Army and the Polish resistance groups, the city survived.
two main attractions of Krakow are located on Wawel Hill.The first of them - the Cathedral Wawel Cathedral.This is one of the most revered temples of the country.Earlier it carried out the coronation and burial of rulers of Poland.The second interesting building on a hill - the Royal Castle.Once it was the residence of the Jagiellonian, Piast and Vasa.Initially, the castle was a rather modest little building in the Romanesque style.Later, he was repeatedly rebuilt, expanded.That's why it has the characteristics of the architectural trends of many historical periods.
In Krakow, a great many churches.The oldest - St. Mary's (Mariana).It is widely known for its unparalleled Gothic stained glass.Initially, the building was made of wood.In the thirteenth century in its place was built a new - in the Romanesque style, but during one of the raids of the Tatars, it was completely destroyed.The church rebuilt in the fourteenth century, and in the Gothic style.
Another attraction is the world-famous salt mines are called "Magnum Sal".They are located ten kilometers from Krakow - in the town Velichko.Anyone can visit the unique Salt Museum.
Cracow famous institution of higher education - the Jagiellonian University.Diplomas issued on the basis thereof Casimir II in May 1364.At the entrance inscribed with the following motto: "Mind wins power."This school had an enrollment of a lot of stars of world science.Among them, more often mention Nicholas Copernicus - astronomer and mathematician of the Renaissance, the author of the heliocentric system of the world;Stanislaw Lem - the famous author of fantastic stories;John Paul II canonized Blessed.
originally was formed eleven faculties, of which eight jurisprudential two medical and one liberal arts.Department of theology came later, when it received permission of the Pope.University Chancellor led the Polish kingdom.His duties include taking care of the activities and development of the institution.
Conclusion We have considered why and when to change the name of the capital.Poland is known for many ancient cities, but it was in Krakow and Warsaw are concentrated the main historical attractions, and some of them are even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
