Stalin's Empire State
This gargantuan, Gotham City-like tower shoots up from the centre of Warsaw. Raised after the Second World War during the era of Soviet domination, it remains one of the most controversial buildings in Poland, and it was only a whisker away from being pulled down when the Berlin Wall fell in '89.
Built between 1952 and 1955 as Joseph Stalin's "gift" to Warsaw, it was to resemble the Seven Sisters of Moscow, although to frustrated Varsovians it merely resembled the ugly reality of Soviet domination. After the "thaw" of 1956, the name of the building dropped Stalin's moniker and became merely the Palace of Culture and Science (Palac Kultury i Nauki), though it was occasionally referred to as "Peking" (from the Polish abbreviation, PKiN).
Today, the Palace of Culture (Palac Kultury) still stands as the tallest structure in the city, as well as in all of Poland. With 42 floors and over 234 metres (with 43 metres of spire alone), this epic still has the upper hand on all of its modern neighbours. At the moment, the building serves as an exhibition hall and office complex, as well as an FM and television broadcasting centre and cinema, theatre, museum, bookshop, and conference hall fitting 3,000 people.
Perhaps the highlight of the Palace of Culture for tourists is its observation deck on the 30th floor, from which you can see the whole city and the Vistula on a clear day. An old joke goes that the best views of Warsaw are available from the building - it's the only place in the city from where it could not be seen. In case you're having difficulty finding this megalith on Marshal Street (don't know how you could!) try asking for Plac Defilad (Plahts deh-FEE-lahd) - the largest square in Europe.
|  I visited this building recently. I have to say I is in poor shape! It looks good from a distance. The cement is falling apart. I was not impressed. 
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reviewed by George from United States on Jul.22.2011 |
| I visited this building recently. I have to say I is in poor shape! It looks good from a distance. The cement is falling apart. I was not impressed. |
reviewed by George from United States on Jul.22.2011 |
| I visited this building recently. I have to say I is in poor shape! It looks good from a distance. The cement is falling apart. I was not impressed. |
reviewed by George from United States on Jul.22.2011 |
| again another "must see" location in poland.. either in summer or the coldest winter.. the sight both day and nite is 2nd t none.. imagine big ben on steroids and ur half way there.. :D warsaw (waszawa) is a great place t go for jus about everything.. shoppin.. socialisin and sight seein.. a must for any traveler.. :D
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reviewed by Brian Hill from United Kingdom on Jul.03.2011 |
| I have visited Poland....i was in a theatrical team and we have played the "helios the heliatoras" of Elytis!
It was great! |
reviewed by georg from Greece on Feb.14.2011 |
| come on facebook join the cause to save the palace of culture. |
reviewed by arno from France on Dec.06.2009 |
| this is the most exciting bulding in warsaw. both inside and out this building is breath taking. and the viewing platform shows you the beauty of warsaw. we go to the building every year as warsaw is our holiday destination. also make sure you have a coffee from cafe superb. |
reviewed by martin smith from United Kingdom on Nov.02.2009 |
| the palace of culture viewing platform is the highlight of any visit to the wonderful city of warsaw |
reviewed by martin and beverley from United States on Apr.13.2009 |
| in google i wrote ,,palace of culture and science'' not other tower! |
reviewed by Joker from Poland on Mar.17.2009 |
| Warsaw is a dirty place (dogs shits on grass everywhere) I prefere Gdynia. |
reviewed by Rafał from Zimbabwe on Jan.07.2009 |
| I think you need to stop seeing the Palace of Culture as a symbol of Communism. It really is an amazing piece of architecture irrespective of who built it or for what reason. It houses theatres, great cinema, bars, clubs and huge concert hall and is in no way out of place in post-communist Poland! |
reviewed by Polo from United Kingdom on Dec.18.2008 |
| i went up this tower a few years back. The displays inside were just awful and tacky but this is a beautiful building. It wouldnt look out of place in New York.
I live in the north of England and nothing we've built since the 1930's looks this nice |
reviewed by jon stanley from United Kingdom on Dec.12.2008 |
| Poland, with the help of some private investors from other countries (including the U.S.) should erect (no pun intended) a building twice as massive and profound as that of this building. It should be erected right next to this one. Then, we will see "Stalin's Penis" shrivel up and become just another memory, which is where Stalin deserves to be and remain. Any government that suppresses and abuses groups of people is a government that needs to be destroyed and replaced. PERIOD! |
reviewed by Angela from United States on Dec.05.2008 |
| i'm polish and ive been in thhe tower i could see the whole city |
reviewed by patrick from Canada on Sep.19.2008 |
| yeah, i thought it was a reasonably good thing after all we are the step cousins of sin. stalin in my mind was not just a dictator but a powerful role model and showed great leadership. thanks |
reviewed by ken from United States on Jun.12.2008 |
| I have often been to Warsaw and never get tired of seeing this amazing building.OK To be sure it not to everyone's taste.
Tt is a lasting legacy of post-war poland and the reconstruction of Warsaw.
If Poland ever wins the Eurovision song contest , then I am sure it will be televised from here |
reviewed by DAVID WILSON from United Kingdom on May.24.2008 |
| It is one of the prettiest buildings in Warsaw and everyone hates it and they're discussing destroying it -- even though it's probably the most photographed building AND on all the postcards in Warsaw. There's so much going on in the palace also, there's no point to destroy it. It may be a symbol of communism and mistreatment, but it is history still. |
reviewed by Sarah from United States on Apr.28.2008 |
| You do not understand that this building is symbol of Communism and the treatment of the Polish people by the Russian invaders who held them prisoners |
reviewed by Maggie from United States on Mar.26.2008 |
| The best building in Warsaw by a LONG WAY! If they could just clear up the area around it (it is full of scruffy hamburger stalls and the like) it could be the real icon of the city. Shame the city elders don't see it that way, but I can understand their point too.... Apparently the city's finest brothel is located on one of the upper floors, but what would I know about that? |
reviewed by Marco from United Kingdom on Aug.23.2007 |
| best in Warsaw, il ike a lot !!!!! |
reviewed by mordor from United Kingdom on Mar.02.2007 |
| Maybe it's because i'm not Polish, but i'm gonna be contraversial and state that i actually like the Palace of Science and Culture. Better looking than the average skyscraper in Warsaw, that's for sure! |
reviewed by Sir Slink-a-lot from United Kingdom on Feb.09.2007 |