Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski)

The original residence of Polish kings and dating from the 14th and later the seat of the Polish parliament, the castle was completely destroyed in the Warsaw uprising and its aftermath. What you see today is a painstaking reconstruction that was finished only in 1984. Two tours are offered: "Route I" and "Route II." Of the two, the second is more interesting, passing through the regal apartments of Poland's last monarch, King Stanislaw August Poniatowski, and to the Canaletto room, where the famed cityscapes of Warsaw by the Italian painter Bernardo Bellotto hang. These paintings, and others not on display, were of extreme value in rebuilding the Old Town from scratch after the war. The tour ends in the lavish ballroom, the largest room in the castle.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.