At the start of World War II, Warsaw was home to the biggest urban population of Jews in the world. In less than six years of the war, 90% of them perished. The ghetto area where they were forced to live (the largest in Nazi-occupied Europe) was razed to the ground, building after building, street after street. A new residential district was built in its place, leaving very little testimony to the past. This tour covers the former ghetto area as well as some places that bring together the Jewish community today.
On the walk you will:
take a stroll down a pre-war street that doesn’t exist anymore
find out what rabbis’ curse had to do with the construction of one of Warsaw’s skyscrapers
learn about the creator of the Esperanto language and see the place where he used to live
discover why the post-war Polish communist government decided to rebuild the old town but not the ghetto area
find out what project would involve 3 years’ worth of work of 10 thousand people and 7 trains, and what has been done instead
trace the symbolic references to Torah and Judaism in Warsaw’s architecture
learn who was the ‘Oscar Schindler of Warsaw’
walk the only street in the city that survived the demolition of the ghetto
admire the only still standing pre-war synagogue in Warsaw
stop by the original section of a ghetto wall and let a moment of silence speak louder than any words
learn about the Jewish community in Warsaw today
find out what controversial piece of art has recently been sold for 17.2 million dollars, and what it has to do with our story
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Tour duration: 3.5 hours
Total distance covered on foot: approx. 3.7 km (2.3 miles)
Price: 450 pln/ tour – one price regardless of the group size!
Start point: In front of the Arsenal Building at 52, Długa street