Warsaw Barbican: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:4 Warszawa 23.jpg|thumb|250px|Warsaw Barbican, inside passage]] |
[[Image:4 Warszawa 23.jpg|thumb|250px|Warsaw Barbican, inside passage]] |
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[[Image:Warsaw Barbican outside.JPG|thumb|250px| Warsaw Barbican, from outside city walls]] |
[[Image:Warsaw Barbican outside.JPG|thumb|250px| Warsaw Barbican, from outside city walls]] |
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The '''Warsaw Barbican''' ({{lang-pl|Barbakan warszawski}}) is a [[barbican]] (semicircular fortified outpost) in [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]], and one of few remaining relics of the complex network of historic fortifications that once encircled Warsaw. Located between the [[Warsaw Old Town|Old]] and [[Warsaw New Town|New Town]]s, it is a major tourist attraction. |
The '''Warsaw Barbican''' ({{lang-pl|Barbakan warszawski}}) is a [[barbican]] (semicircular fortified outpost) in [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]], and one of few remaining relics of the complex network of historic fortifications that once encircled Warsaw. Located between the [[Warsaw Old Town|Old]] and [[Warsaw New Town|New Town]]s, it is a major tourist attraction. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The barbican was erected in 1540 in place of an older [[gate]] to protect [[Nowomiejska]] Street. It was designed by [[Jan Baptist the Venetian]] (also known as [[Giovanni Battista the Venetian]]), an [[Italian Renaissance]] architect who lived and worked in the [[Mazowsze]] region of 16th century [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Poland]] and was instrumental in the redesign of the 14th century [[city walls]], which by that time had fallen into disrepair. The barbican had the form of a three-level semicircular [[bastion]] manned by [[fusiliers]]. It was 14 meters wide and 15 meters high from the bottom of the [[moat]], which surrounded the city walls, and extended 30 meters from the external walls. |
The barbican was erected in 1540 in place of an older [[gate]] to protect [[Nowomiejska]] Street. It was designed by [[Jan Baptist the Venetian]] (also known as [[Giovanni Battista the Venetian]]), an [[Italian Renaissance]] architect who lived and worked in the [[Mazowsze]] region of 16th century [[Kingdom of Poland (1385–1569)|Poland]] and was instrumental in the redesign of the 14th century [[city walls]], which by that time had fallen into disrepair. The barbican had the form of a three-level semicircular [[bastion]] manned by [[fusiliers]]. It was 14 meters wide and 15 meters high from the bottom of the [[moat]], which surrounded the city walls, and extended 30 meters from the external walls. |
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Almost immediately after its inception, the 4-[[tower]] barbican became an [[anachronism]] serving virtually no practical purpose. This was largely a result of the rapid advancement in [[artillery]] power. It was used in the defense of the city only once, during the [[The Deluge (Polish history)|Swedish invasion]] of Poland, on [[30 June]] [[1656]], when it had to be recaptured by the Polish [[army]] of [[Jan Kazimierz|Polish king Jan Kazimierz]] from the [[Sweden|Swedes]]. |
Almost immediately after its inception, the 4-[[tower]] barbican became an [[anachronism]] serving virtually no practical purpose. This was largely a result of the rapid advancement in [[artillery]] power. It was used in the defense of the city only once, during the [[The Deluge (Polish history)|Swedish invasion]] of Poland, on [[30 June]] [[1656]], when it had to be recaptured by the Polish [[army]] of [[Jan Kazimierz|Polish king Jan Kazimierz]] from the [[Sweden|Swedes]]. |
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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 [[apartment]] buildings (''[[kamienica (architecture)|kamienica]]''). During the [[interwar period]], in 1937–1938, [[Jan Zachwatowicz]] reconstructed part of the walls and the western part of the [[bridge]], demolishing one of the newer buildings in the reconstruction process. However, a lack of funds delayed the barbican's planned complete reconstruction, and the 1939 [[invasion of Poland (1939)|invasion of Poland]] by [[Nazi Germany]] put the plans on hold. |
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 [[apartment]] buildings (''[[kamienica (architecture)|kamienica]]''). During the [[interwar period]], in 1937–1938, [[Jan Zachwatowicz]] reconstructed part of the walls and the western part of the [[bridge]], demolishing one of the newer buildings in the reconstruction process. However, a lack of funds delayed the barbican's planned complete reconstruction, and the 1939 [[invasion of Poland (1939)|invasion of Poland]] by [[Nazi Germany]] put the plans on hold. |
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[[Image:Barbakan10a.jpg|thumb|right |
[[Image:Barbakan10a.jpg|thumb|right|Ruins of barbican and nearby buildings (1947)]] |
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During [[World War II]], particularly the [[Siege of Warsaw (1939)]] and the [[Warsaw Uprising|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 [[etching]]s, 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 ''kamienica'' apartments. In its reconstruction, [[bricks]] were used from historic buildings demolished in the cities of [[Nysa, Poland|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. |
During [[World War II]], particularly the [[Siege of Warsaw (1939)]] and the [[Warsaw Uprising|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 [[etching]]s, 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 ''kamienica'' apartments. In its reconstruction, [[bricks]] were used from historic buildings demolished in the cities of [[Nysa, Poland|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. |
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Revision as of 15:41, 20 March 2009
The Warsaw Barbican (Template:Lang-pl) is a barbican (semicircular fortified outpost) in Warsaw, Poland, and one of few remaining relics of the complex network of historic fortifications that once encircled Warsaw. Located between the Old and New Towns, it is a major tourist attraction.
History
The barbican was erected in 1540 in place of an older gate to protect Nowomiejska Street. It was designed by Jan Baptist the Venetian (also known as Giovanni Battista the Venetian), an Italian Renaissance architect who lived and worked in the Mazowsze region of 16th century Poland and was instrumental in the redesign of the 14th century city walls, which by that time had fallen into disrepair. The barbican had the form of a three-level semicircular bastion manned by fusiliers. It was 14 meters wide and 15 meters high from the bottom of the moat, which surrounded the city walls, and extended 30 meters from the external walls.
Almost immediately after its inception, the 4-tower barbican became an anachronism serving virtually no practical purpose. This was largely a result of the rapid advancement in artillery power. It was used in the defense of the city only once, during the Swedish invasion of Poland, on 30 June 1656, when it had to be recaptured by the Polish army of Polish king Jan Kazimierz from the Swedes.
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 apartment buildings (kamienica). During the interwar period, in 1937–1938, Jan Zachwatowicz reconstructed part of the walls and the western part of the bridge, demolishing one of the newer buildings in the reconstruction process. However, a lack of funds delayed the barbican's planned complete reconstruction, and the 1939 invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany put the plans on hold.
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 kamienica apartments. 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
- Barbican of Kraków - the largest barbican in Poland (Warsaw's is the second largest).
External links
References