St. Florian's Cathedral, Warsaw
Saint Florian's Cathedral is known for its imposing 75-meter high towers that dominates Warsaw's Praga district. The church was constructed as much to meet pastoral needs as for responding to Russian domination over Poland. Building this church was more of an act of defiance and protest.
After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Warsaw was placed under the control of the Russian Empire and Russia started exercising its influence over the local population. Among other things, over twenty Russian Orthodox churches were built in Poland, including the Cathedral of Saint Mary Magdalene opened in 1869 on the same street.
As a direct response to the opening of Cathedral of Saint Mary Magdalene, locals started building Saint Florian鈥檚 in 1897 and it was opened 1904. The church is named after Saint Florian, the patron saint of professions associated with fire, such as firefighters, steelworkers, chimney sweeps, potters and bakers.
During and after the Siege of Warsaw, churches were used as a hiding place for Jews, the Warsaw Army (Armia Warszawa) and as a general refuge for civilians. Before Nazis left withdraw from Poland in 1944, they blew up this church. The church remained in ruins for several years until a reconstruction effort started in 1950s.
The reconstruction used the 19th Century bricks that made the church look very authentic. The rebuilt church opened in 1972. Today this church is referred to as the Praga鈥檚 Cathedral.
After the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Warsaw was placed under the control of the Russian Empire and Russia started exercising its influence over the local population. Among other things, over twenty Russian Orthodox churches were built in Poland, including the Cathedral of Saint Mary Magdalene opened in 1869 on the same street.
As a direct response to the opening of Cathedral of Saint Mary Magdalene, locals started building Saint Florian鈥檚 in 1897 and it was opened 1904. The church is named after Saint Florian, the patron saint of professions associated with fire, such as firefighters, steelworkers, chimney sweeps, potters and bakers.
During and after the Siege of Warsaw, churches were used as a hiding place for Jews, the Warsaw Army (Armia Warszawa) and as a general refuge for civilians. Before Nazis left withdraw from Poland in 1944, they blew up this church. The church remained in ruins for several years until a reconstruction effort started in 1950s.
The reconstruction used the 19th Century bricks that made the church look very authentic. The rebuilt church opened in 1972. Today this church is referred to as the Praga鈥檚 Cathedral.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Warsaw. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 51爆料网 App
St. Florian's Cathedral on Map
Sight Name: St. Florian's Cathedral
Sight Location: Warsaw, Poland (See walking tours in Warsaw)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Warsaw, Poland (See walking tours in Warsaw)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Warsaw, Poland
Create Your Own Walk in Warsaw
Creating your own self-guided walk in Warsaw is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Praga District Walking Tour
Praga 鈥� not to be confused with the neighboring Czech Republic's capital city 鈥� is an old, yet vibrant district on the eastern bank of the Vistula River in Warsaw. For many years overshadowed by its more famous counterpart, Warsaw's Old Town, the area used to be off-limits for Western travelers due to its high crime rate. Recently, however, thanks to the lavish influx of investment,... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Jewish Warsaw Walking Tour
Once abundant, the Jewish population of Warsaw has left a profound mark on the city. Nowadays, walking along the peaceful streets of Poland's capital it is hard to imagine that thousands of Jews were once herded here and forced into cattle cars to meet their end in the Nazi concentration camps during World War II.
At the heart of this tragic chapter in Warsaw's Jewish history lies the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
At the heart of this tragic chapter in Warsaw's Jewish history lies the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Warsaw Introduction Walking Tour
Warsaw rose to prominence when King Sigismund III moved the nation鈥檚 capital from Krakow in the 16th century. The city was widely known as the 鈥淧aris of the North鈥� thanks to the beautiful boulevards lined with grand architecture. The center of the city is called Old Town, and it has many historic buildings like the Royal Castle on Castle Square and the Presidential Palace. Old Town is a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Monuments and Statues
The capital city of a proud nation such as Poland, Warsaw is abundant with monuments of various sorts, dedicated to celebrated personalities and those who made a mark in the history of the country.
Some of these landmarks serve as reminders of the city's resilience and the enduring spirit of its people. Among them are the Jan Kili艅ski Monument commemorating a hero of the 1794 Kosciuszko... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Some of these landmarks serve as reminders of the city's resilience and the enduring spirit of its people. Among them are the Jan Kili艅ski Monument commemorating a hero of the 1794 Kosciuszko... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Warsaw's Historical Churches
Given that Poland is one of the most religious countries in Europe 鈥� with Roman Catholicism being the dominant faith here since the Baptism of Poland in 966, 鈥� it is not at all surprising that Warsaw is home to many centuries-old churches and cathedrals. While reflecting the city's deep-rooted religious and cultural heritage, some of these historical temples are also magnificent... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
15 Distinctively Polish Things to Buy in Warsaw
A country with a great deal of taste and turbulent history, Poland has a lot to offer those with the eyes to see and mouth to savor. And Warsaw is, perhaps, the best place to find all things Polish brought together. Here's the list of the most distinctive Polish goods, caringly drawn by a...