Themed Walks: Praga-Północ

Spacer, na który niebawem wyruszysz to wędrówka praskimi zakamarkami, która zadowoli zarówno zapalonego kinomaniaka, jak i miłośnika historii Warszawy. Poznasz tajemnice dzielnicy z perspektywy świata filmu, który gościł tu wyjątkowo często. Bo przecież w żadnym innym zakątku stolicy nie znajdziemy tak autentycznych scenerii, które - bez zbędnego retuszu - mogą stać się tłem każdego filmu zarówno historycznego, wojennego, lub nawet obyczajowego. Miasto opowie Ci wiele ciekawych historii i odkryje przed Tobą: - miejsce, w którym mieszkały trzy serialowe wiedźmy - blok, w którym filmowy hołd Zbyszkowi Cybulskiemu oddawał Andrzej Wajda - bazar, po którym spacerowała filmowa Michalina Wisłocka - nieistniejący róg Brzeskiej i Capri Spacer filmowy po Pradze Północ to spotkania z gwiazdami kina, wizyty na planach filmowych, ciekawe, zabawne i nieraz tragiczne historie, które pomogą Ci lepiej poznać i zrozumieć fenomen tej dzielnicy. Wiem, że nie możesz się doczekać - nie traćmy więc czasu!

Imagine that Praga is such a large, slightly dusted little trunk, found in the attic of Warsaw. Soon, we will open the lid together and during the walk “Praga-North - Tales from the right bank of the river” we will present you the most interesting treasures and artifacts in it. What is not there? The contents of the trunk are really diverse: well-preserved architecture, legacy of craft, industrial and Jewish culture, dozens of stories, hundreds of interesting characters, which you will soon be able to get acquainted with. I will not give you details now, I will just tell you that after opening the trunk: - you will feel the smell of vodka, which during the First World War flowed along Ząbkowska Street, - you will see a piece of Rome in the Warsaw landscape, - you will pull out a half-kilometer "dachshund", - try the hat from Cieszkowski's studio, You will not only visit places known for tourist guides, but also less obvious and accessible places. Ready? Let's go!

Behind the railway lines of the former Warsaw-Petersburg railway, hides a veryinteresting part of Warsaw, commonly known as New Praga. You will find buildings that remember the times when Warsaw was ruled by the Russians, places closely associated with the unforgettable Praga folklore and a lot of memorabilia of Jewish residents... During the walk you will find the answer to many intriguing questions: • who the mysterious "Mr. Gum" was and how he was honored; • what happened to the heroic Żabińscy couple; • why you have to be wary of guests, especially during a libation; • who the so-called Praga Apostle of Mercy was; • what "Dziadek" Lisiecki has in common with the family of Captain Witold Pilecki; • where once popular "carriages" came from. After the walk, all the answers to these questions will form an unusual mosaic of the history and culture of this part of the capital. So move on to the conquest of New Praga: listen, watch, touch and absorb the unique atmosphere of this district and the heroes associated with it!

Both residents of the right and left-bank parts of Warsaw agree that Warsaw and Old Praga are two completely separate worlds. The latter even add with a sneer that the Vistula is the border between Europe and Asia. Let’s forget about these local acrimonies and discover the places that created and still create this unique, magical world. However, do not think that this trip will be limited only to visiting the popular Różycki Market, finding famous Praga chapels or listening to chilling stories from the dark Bermuda Triangle of Praga. To get to know and absorb the essence of Praga, you have to: • listen to stories about of the hard-rockers’ Mecca on Ząbkowska; • capture the atmosphere of the old Jewish Praga, recreate the view of stalls, synagogues and bathhouses using your imagination; • move in time to feel the peculiar and not very pleasant smell of butcher shops; • pop into the iconic antique store. Be careful - you're on the way at your own risk! We warn that when you return home, your habits may change: instead of dietary dishes, caloric Pyzy from Praga may appear on your plate, and a sentimental melody of one of the popular Praga backyard bands will flow from the playlist. Welcome!

The story of Praga without knowing the abundantly rich history of the local Jews would certainly be incomplete. We cannot afford such a sin of abandonment, therefore, in a moment, we will go for a walk along the streets of the right-bank district of Warsaw to discover places connected with the Jewish legacy. During this journey you will learn about the history of many interesting places, you will hear about Jewish residents who had influence on the character of this place. We will look into crowded rent tenements full of people, recreate the look of now-defunct prayer houses, learn about the stories of Jewish residents both in the interwar period and the dark times of the Second World War. Listen carefully to the city's story and you will learn: - what a typical Praga synagogue looked like, - who the most well-known tenant of the Jewish Academic House was, - which staircase attracts contemporary photographers and filmmakers, - how the celebration of Sukkot was celebrated on Targowa Street, Soon you will find out that learning about Praga's Judaics is a fascinating adventure. So let's not waste time and let's get going!

Shabby, neglected, dirty. If we had to use stereotypes about the architecture of Praga, we would describe the tenement houses on the right bank of the Vistula River in this way. Stereotypes are usually hurtful, and this is also the case here - as you will soon see, embarking on a unique thematic walk concerning tenement houses in Praga. The stories about these buildings will give you the perfect opportunity to get to know the interesting history of the district and its extraordinary residents. The right-bank city and its historic buildings will reveal a lot of secrets to you, and along the way you will be able to see: - a building, called by the inhabitants of Praga “an tenement house of the NKVD”, - a house inspired by the style of “Silesian Baroque”, - a tenement house with a spiral staircase, - a favorite object of mural artists. Who knows - maybe it will be You who will find a mythical tunnel, directly connecting the tenement house at Brzeska Street 18 with the Różycki Market? Ready for a challenge? So let's go!