Powisle
Encyclopedia
Powiśle is a neighbourhood in Warsaw
's borough of Śródmieście
(city centre). It is located between the Vistula
river and its escarpment. Historically it is composed of three neighbourhoods: the Powiśle proper, Mariensztat
to the north (just below the Warsaw's Old Town) and Solec
to the south.
In 17th and 18th centuries the area became populated mostly with the poor of Warsaw. Little changed in 19th century when the neighbourhood became slightly industrialized. It retained its character of an area of poverty until its almost complete destruction during the Warsaw Uprising
of 1944. It was inhabited by the unemployed and craftsmen of all types, factory and port workers, smith
s, coalers, sand vendors, fishermen and prostitutes. As such it was similar in character to London Docklands.
After the war, the area became partially rebuilt and the area of Mariensztat became the first neighbourhood of Warsaw to be reconstructed. Currently there are plans to turn the area into the Warsaw University campus
, a notion that was already started by the construction of the Warsaw University Library
and several faculties there.
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
's borough of Śródmieście
Warszawa-Sródmiescie
Śródmieście is the central borough of the city of Warsaw. The best known neighborhoods in the borough are the Old Town and New Town ....
(city centre). It is located between the Vistula
Vistula
The Vistula is the longest and the most important river in Poland, at 1,047 km in length. The watershed area of the Vistula is , of which lies within Poland ....
river and its escarpment. Historically it is composed of three neighbourhoods: the Powiśle proper, Mariensztat
Mariensztat
Mariensztat is a neighbourhood in Warsaw's borough of Śródmieście . It is located between the Vistula river and the Old Town.The historical neighbourhood dates from the 18th century, when local nobleman Eustachy Potocki married Maria Kątska and received the parcel of land as part of Kątska's dowry...
to the north (just below the Warsaw's Old Town) and Solec
Solec
Solec may refer to the following places:*Solec, Łódź Voivodeship *Solec, Gostynin County in Masovian Voivodeship *Solec, Piaseczno County in Masovian Voivodeship...
to the south.
In 17th and 18th centuries the area became populated mostly with the poor of Warsaw. Little changed in 19th century when the neighbourhood became slightly industrialized. It retained its character of an area of poverty until its almost complete destruction during the Warsaw Uprising
Warsaw Uprising
The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation by the Polish resistance Home Army , to liberate Warsaw from Nazi Germany. The rebellion was timed to coincide with the Soviet Union's Red Army approaching the eastern suburbs of the city and the retreat of German forces...
of 1944. It was inhabited by the unemployed and craftsmen of all types, factory and port workers, smith
Smith (metalwork)
A metalsmith, often shortened to smith, is a person involved in making metal objects. In contemporary use a metalsmith is a person who uses metal as a material, uses traditional metalsmithing techniques , whose work thematically relates to the practice or history of the practice, or who engages in...
s, coalers, sand vendors, fishermen and prostitutes. As such it was similar in character to London Docklands.
After the war, the area became partially rebuilt and the area of Mariensztat became the first neighbourhood of Warsaw to be reconstructed. Currently there are plans to turn the area into the Warsaw University campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
, a notion that was already started by the construction of the Warsaw University Library
Warsaw University Library
Warsaw University Library is a library of the University of Warsaw, Poland.The library was founded in 1816, linguist Samuel Linde became its first director. The library initially housed mostly theological and historical books, the collection was however enlarged by papers from other scientific...
and several faculties there.