Warsaw

Warsaw, the beautiful capital of Poland.
The market square is the heart of the Old Town, with open-air cafes and pastel buildings. 
Some people don't like Warsaw's Old Town as they say it is too modern, but as you will read about their history below, it is beautiful what they have been able to rebuild. 

History of Warsaw

September 1st 1939, German troops invaded Poland and just over a week later on September 9 they attacked. The city was forced to surrender just under three weeks later. 

April 1943, an uprising broke out in the Jewish ghetto. By May the Nazis had destroyed the ghetto. One year later, on August 1st 1944, the largest armed insurrection against the Nazi aggressors in Europe - the Warsaw Rising - began. 

Soldiers of the Home Army, supported by the civilian residents of Warsaw fought an unequal battle against the Germans for 63 days. Unfortunately the rising ended in an unimaginable loss: nearly 200,000 people perished; 84% of Warsaw's buildings were destroyed including art works and historical buildings. Even though Warsaw was liberated on January 17th 1945, it was not the end of their struggle for freedom. After six years of war, the capital was finally freed from the Nazis only to fall into the communist clutches. 

In the early post-war decades Warsaw was under intense reconstruction. Many thanks need to be given to the Varsovians (someone living in or originating from Warsaw), if it wasn't for their enormous effort and work, the completely destroyed Old Town and Royal Castle wouldn't have been rebuilt in such minute detail. This exceptional accomplishment was appreciated by UNESCO in 1980 when Warsaw's Old Town was listed as a World Heritage Site.