The Krasiński Garden (Polish pronunciation: [kraˈɕiɲ.ski]; Polish: Ogród Krasińskich) is an urban park in Warsaw, Poland, within the neighbourhood of Muranów in the Downtown district. It is located between Świętojerska, Andersa, Stare Nalewki, and Długa Street, and borders Krasiński Square to the east. The park was designed in Baroque style and developed in 1676 as a garden complex of the Krasiński Palace. With an original area of 3.4 ha, it was the largest park in Warsaw until the opening of the Saxon Garden in 1724. In 1765, it was bought by the state and turned into a public park that opened in 1768. It was heavily redesigned between 1891 and 1895 by the main city gardener, Franciszek Szanior, and redeveloped in the style of an English landscape garden. After the end of the Second World War, it was enlarged to its current area of 11.8 ha. It was renovated between 2012 and 2014.
History
The Krasiński Garden was founded in 1676, as the garden complex of the Krasiński Palace, which was constructed between 1677 and 1695, as a residence of Jan Dobrogost Krasiński, the voivode of the Płock Voivodeship. The garden was designed in the Baroque style, and with the area of 3.4 ha, it was the largest park in Warsaw, until the opening of the Saxon Garden in 1724. The palace and its gardens were bought in 1765 by the state, and turned into a park opened to the public on 1 April 1768. It was heavily redesigned between 1891 and 1895 by the main city gardener, Franciszek Szanior, and redeveloped in the style of an English landscape garden. There was also created an artificial lake, known as the Krasiński Garden Pond. In the evening of 29 November 1830, during the November Uprising, the insurgents fought and won in a skirmish at the western edge of the park, which subsequently allowed them to capture the Royal Arsenal and weaponry that was stored there. Currently, the event is commemorated with a plaque on a rock, placed in the park near Andersa Street. In 1940, during the Second World War, while the city remained under the German occupation, outside the park, alongside current Świętojerska and Stare Nalewski Streets, were erected the walls of the Warsaw Ghetto. In 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising the park and surrounding area became a sight of fighting between Polish insurgents and German forces. This included the Chrobry I Battalion of the Home Army, which set up there a redoubt blocking the access to the Old Town. It was placed in the ruins of Simons Passage store complex. It was bombed on 31 August 1944, by the German Air Force. In the event died over 200 people, 120 of whom, were soldiers of the Polish resistance. After the war, the park was enlarged to 11.8 ha, incorporating the land, which was previously occupied by the formerly-neighbouring it buildings, that were destroyed in the war. In the 1930s, prior to the war, under the park was constructed the bunker for the city mayor, then Stefan Starzyński. While he never used it, it became a shelter for the population of the nearby tenements during the conflict. After the war, it was used by the government as the archives. It survives to the present day. It has eight rooms with the height of 2.5, and enforced walls which are 1.3 m thick. On 12 November 1963, at the garden square next to the park, near Andersa Street, was unveiled the monument dedicated to the soldiers of the First Polish Army that fought in the Second World War. It was designed by Xawery Dunikowski. In 1965, the garden and the palace complex was given the statues of a protected cultural property. On 31 August 1989, in the park, near Stare Nalewski Street, was unveiled a monument dedicated to the soldiers of the Chrobry I Battalion, designed by Jerzy Pietras. It was placed in the location of the former Simons Passage building. On 30 May 1999, in the garden square right outside the park's western gate at Stare Nalewski Street, was unveiled the monument dedicated to the Allies soldiers that fought in the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944 during the Second World War. It was designed by Gustaw Zemła and Wojciech Zabłocki. At the turn of the 20th century, the trees and plants of the park were allowed to spread naturally across the park, altering its original landscape concept, while enriching its biodiversity. The park underwent major renovation works between 2012 and 2014, with the goal of restoring it to its 19th-century design. There was erected a fence around the park, and the historic entrance gate at Stare Nalewki Street was renovated. 337 trees, one third of parks supply, were cut down. According to the renovators, half of them were removed due to their health. It caused controversies among local inhabitants as well as ecological scientists, who argued that it would negativity impact the biodiversity in the park, as well as local animals. There was also staged a protest, supported by local celebrities, such as actor Olgierd Łukaszewicz. In 2014, 97 new trees and over 10,500 bushes were planted there. Between 2013 and 2014, in the northern portion of the park was conducted archeological excavation, attempting to find the archives of the General Jewish Labour Bund. For this, there were excavated the cellars of former tenements at 38 and 40 Świętojerska Street. While the archives were not found, there were discovered human bones, everyday objects, and bucher tools. The fundings provided valuable insights to the everyday lives of the city inhabitants during the conflict. On 2 October 2021, at the Krasiński Square, next to the park entrance, was unveiled the monument dedicated to the women of the Warsaw Uprising. It was designed by Monika Osiecka.
Characteristics
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