In a recent issue of "Der Spiegel," journalist Nadia Pantel writes, "The Eiffel Tower may be more famous, the Colosseum older, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa undoubtedly slimmer. But none of these buildings tell us as much about Europe's recent past as the Palace of Culture and Science." She describes the imposing, austere structure, which dominates the center of Warsaw, as "a symbol of a confident city and the coolest monument in Europe."
In the mid-1950s, the palace, which the Poles received as a "gift" from Stalin, was considered one of the eight tallest buildings in the world. Its construction began in 1952 when Warsaw was still in ruins after being destroyed by the Nazis during the German occupation in World War II.
From controversy to cool: Warsaw’s Palace of Culture and Science stirs strong reactions
"Der Spiegel" notes that after the victory of the party led by Jarosław Kaczyński, the Palace of Culture and Science became a key gathering place for the opposition, with numerous protests taking place in the surrounding squares, including demonstrations for women's rights and in defense of the Polish constitution.
The article also highlights that there has been a heated debate in Poland for many years about the potential demolition of this iconic building, with current Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski among the proponents of this idea.
Polish Empire State Building or... unwanted gift from Moscow
The building's architecture, inspired by both American skyscrapers and socialist realism, leads some to see it as Poland's version of New York's Empire State Building, while others cannot stand its resemblance to structures still standing in Moscow today.
It’s noteworthy that the Palace of Culture and Science, built on the ruins of a city where "Hitler and Stalin left their mark" (as sung by the Polish rock band T-Love), has ironically become a symbol of modern Warsaw, which "Der Spiegel" has dubbed "the coolest in Europe."
Source: "Der Spiegel"/Deutsche Welle
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