Landmarks
Sigismund III Vasa Column on Castle Square is Warsaw’s oldest secular monument and one of its most recognisable symbols. It was erected in 1643–1644 on the initiative of King Władysław IV in memory of his father, Sigismund III Vasa. The column itself is 22 metres high, and the bronze royal figure above it marks the natural starting point for a walk through the Old Town.
The king appears in armour with a crown, sword and cross. Daniel Tym cast the statue from a model by Clemente Molli, while the architectural design of the column is associated with Constantino Tencalla. Walk around the pedestal and view it from several sides: its position between the Royal Castle, Krakowskie Przedmieście and the Old Town is part of the experience.
German forces toppled the column in September 1944, but the bronze statue survived the fall. In 1949 it was placed on a new granite shaft from Strzegom, a few metres from the original site. The damaged original shafts can be seen beside the Royal Castle. The monument’s story makes Warsaw’s wartime destruction and post-war reconstruction tangible.
The monument stands in an open square and is free to view at any time. A few minutes are enough for the column itself, although the square can be very busy at midday. Combine it with the Royal Castle, the Old Town, St John’s Cathedral and Krakowskie Przedmieście. After dark, the illuminated column gives the square a calmer atmosphere.
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