Wola

Wola is a district in western Warsaw, Poland. It is an industrial area with a long history that began in the early 19th century. Over time, Wola has changed and become an important place for business and finance. Today, it has many famous buildings, including some of the tallest office buildings in the city. The area is special because of its mix of old history and new development.

History

The area known today as Wola was first mentioned in the 14th century as a village called Wielka Wola. For many years, it was an important place where Polish kings were chosen by the nobility from 1573 to 1764.

In the 19th century, Wola became a busy area with many factories and workers. It was later included as part of Warsaw in 1916. Today, Wola is made up of several neighborhoods, including Czyste, Koło, Mirów, Młynów, Nowolipki, Odolany, Powązki, and Ulrychów, which often grew from older villages.

Skyscrapers

See also: List of tallest buildings in Warsaw and List of tallest buildings in Poland

Since the 1990s, Wola has seen many tall buildings go up, with some reaching up to 53 stories. The area is especially known for its skyscrapers along Towarowa and Prosta streets. Some of the tallest include the Varso Tower, which stands at 310 meters, and the Warsaw Spire at 220 meters.

Even more buildings over 100 meters tall are being built right now. These include The Bridge and the Towarowa 22 complex, showing how quickly Wola is growing as a busy part of Warsaw.

Historic landmarks

Wola is full of interesting buildings and places that tell the story of Warsaw’s past. St. Lawrence’s Church was built between 1695 and 1755. The Church of St Charles Borromeo was designed by Enrico Marconi and built from 1841 to 1849 in a Renaissance Revival style. The Krongold Tenement House was built between 1896 and 1899. The Church of St. Adalbert, designed by Józef Pius Dziekoński, was built from 1898 to 1903 in a Gothic Revival style.

The St. John Climacus's Orthodox Church was built from 1903 to 1905 in a Russian Revival style. The PDT Wola department store was built between 1949 and 1956. The Za Żelazną Bramą housing estate was built from 1965 to 1972, inspired by the Unité d'habitation. The Warsaw Rising Museum opened in 2004 in the buildings of a former tram power station, built from 1905 to 1909. There is also the Norblin shopping and entertainment complex on the site of the former Norblin factory. The Electio Viritim Monument marks the area where Polish Kings were elected during the 1575-1764 period in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The Keret House is an art installation known as the narrowest house in the world. Other notable spots include Powązki Cemetery, the Warsaw Insurgents Cemetery, and Sikorski Palace, which houses the Wola Museum.

Gallery

[Varso](/wiki/Varso)

[Warsaw Spire](/wiki/Warsaw_Spire)

Plac Europejski - public green space near [Warsaw Spire](/wiki/Warsaw_Spire)

[Warsaw Unit](/wiki/Warsaw_Unit)

[Warsaw Trade Tower](/wiki/Warsaw_Trade_Tower)

Church of St Charles Borromeo

Krongold Tenement House

Church of St. Adalbert

[St. John Climacus's Orthodox Church](/wiki/St._John_Climacus's_Orthodox_Church,_Warsaw)

PDT Wola department store

Za Żelazną Bramą housing estate

Former tram power station, now [Warsaw Rising Museum](/wiki/Warsaw_Rising_Museum)

[Warsaw Rising Museum](/wiki/Warsaw_Rising_Museum)

Former Norblin factory, now shopping and entertainment complex

[Electio Viritim Monument](/wiki/Electio_Viritim_Monument)

[Keret House](/wiki/Keret_House)