St. Anne's Church, Gothic church near Castle Square, Warsaw, Poland
St. Anne's Church is a brick building in the heart of Warsaw, sitting just beside Castle Square, with a facade that displays two bell towers and neoclassical lines. Inside, the space opens with tall vaults and side chapels, while stucco ornaments and gilded accents draw the eye upward.
Duchess Anna of Masovia founded the building in 1454 after she became a widow and turned to piety. Architect Piotr Aigner redesigned the front in the late 18th century, giving it the neoclassical appearance it wears today.
Inside, you may notice students and professors gathering here, a habit that dates back to when the building was attached to Warsaw's academy in the 15th century. That link continues, with faculty and young people sitting side by side during major feast days.
The viewing terrace in the bell tower opens daily in the morning and offers rooftop views across the old town without requiring advance booking. The entrance sits on the side of the square, and you reach the platform by climbing a narrow spiral staircase.
In 1949 the construction of the tunnel for Trasa W-Z opened deep trenches beside the foundations, threatening to tip the building over. Four hundred workers shored up the walls within two weeks and saved the structure from collapse.
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