JEWISH WARSAW TOUR
– FOLLOW SECRET ROUTE OF WARSAW
Discover fascinating Jewish history in Warsaw that is deeply rooted in city’s culture. See the most important spots, monuments and relics of Jewish society during our historical private tour with a professional guide. Although severely destroyed by the WWII, the Jewish heritage and spirit is still alive in the city and ready to tell you a sad but true story.
FROM
ABOUT WARSAW JEWISH TOUR
Our Warsaw Jewish Tour route includes walking with a guide as well as driving in a retro minibus “Zuk”. You’ll be either picked up from your hotel in the city centre or meet with your guide in front of the Palace of Culture and Science.
For a start, you’ll hear a comprehensive history lesson about first Jews in Warsaw, where they appeared in the XV century. You’ll find out what how their story of business and cultural prosperity turned into human tragedy and injustice.
You’ll see Grzybowski Square and Prozna street – the area, that before the WWII was densely inhabited by Jewish community and then became a part of Jewish Ghetto. You’ll pass by Korczak Monument that marks the life of a Polish pedagogue who run an orphanage for Jewish children during the occupation.
The last fragment of Ghetto Wall at Zlota street will be another crucial object on your way. There, you’ll see the famous Ghetto Heroes Memorial, historical Nowolipki street and innovative Pollin Museum (from outside).
You’re guide will lead you to the place where Anilewicz bunker at Mila 18 street and Umschlagplatz is located. That’s where you’ll hear another part of the terrifying history about Jews being gathered and transported to concentration camps across the country.
Our guides are history buffs and will answer any of your questions during the tour – don’t hesitate to ask, investigate and be curious!
TOUR INCLUDES
English-speaking, professional guide – historian
English-speaking, friendly driver
Old-school vehicle
Hotel pick-up and drop-off (only in the city centre)
Tours in other languages available on request
ADDITIONAL INFO
Duration: 3 hours
Type of the tour: Private
Meeting point: Palace of Culture and Science / pick-up from city centre
Language: English
Transportation: “Zuk” minibus (walking + driving)
* Tours by ZUK minibuses are available for travelers taller than 150 cm (4,9 ft).
READ MORE – JEWS IN POLAND
- Warsaw Ghetto – the biggest Ghetto in General Government in occupied Europe. At the climax it reached up to 460 000 dwellers in 1941. Then, Germans launched the liquidation of Jewish ghetto in April 1943. In response to this action, the famous Warsaw Uprising broke out. Unfortunately, it was quickly put down and thousands of insurgents were killed.
- Ghetto Heroes Monument – It’s a commemoration of those who died in the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Although the rebellion was put down, all insurgents became national heroes for Poles and their deeds are solemnly celebrated each year in Poland.
- Nozyk Synagogue – t’s the only active pre-war synagogue that was built in 1902. Nowadays, it’s a place of everyday act of worship and a centre of Jewish culture.
- Jewish Cemetery (kirkut) – one of the most important and one of the oldest Jewish monuments in the city. It consists of graves of prominent rabbis, zaddiks, politicians, artists and scientists.
- Umschlag Platz – It’s an area adjoining to a railway station where Jews were being gathered by Germans for deportation to Nazi extermination camps (mostly to Treblinka camp, but also to Auschwitz).
- Uprising Museum – It is regarded as one of the best museums in the country. It mixes interactive exhibitions with tons of facts, original photographs and stories. One can spend there the whole day and never have enough.
Did you know that Jewish nation constituted over 30% of the city population just before the war went off?
The history of Warsaw Jews dates back as far as to medieval ages. For years, they constituted a prominent part of the city and contributed to its development. Although War destroyed most of their amazing heritage and culture traces, there are still a lot of spots commemorating their existence in the city. Starting from Warsaw Ghetto, going through several addresses of prominent Jews, ending in Jewish local bars and restaurants, some of them still in their original locations.
Ghetto Heroes Monument in Warsaw commemorates most important event in city’s history. It’s a part and parcel of each Jewish Warsaw Tour as it’s connected with an amazing story of cooperation of Polish and Jewish nation connected in a heroic act of bravery.
Jewish Ghettos in Poland were set up between 1940 and 1943 by Nazi Germany in the whole country. Their purpose was to segregate and imprison around 3.5 million Jewish from the whole country. There were as much as 278 ghettos in Poland! The numbers of their prisoners differs starting from few hundred up to 200 000. Here are only few most prominent ghettos with dwellers number:
- Krakow Ghetto (20 000)
- Bialystok Ghetto (50 000)
- Łodź Ghetto (210 000)
- Czestochowa Ghetto (48 000)
- Lwow Ghetto (160 000)
- Lublin Ghetto (40 000)
