We must admit that this charming town located about 20 km from Warsaw’s city centre is one of our biggest discoveries. It has so much to offer! Fresh scent of pine forests ideal for long strolls or bike rides; healing properties of brine natural resources for people suffering from different lungs conditions; or breathtaking villas built at the end of the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th centuries- a real treat for history and architecture lovers. So, charge your camera and set off on a tour to get to know more about this fascinating place. Stroll along Żeromskiego, Batorego, Skargi, or Sienkiewicza Street to find gems of Art Nouveau architecture. Built by notable architects such as Jan Heurich, Józef Pius Dziekoński, Tadeusz Tołwiński, and Edward Cichocki, the Konstancin mansions were owned by financiers, industrialists, and artists of that time.
A bit eclectic with elements of Neo-Renaissance or mixing other old architectural styles, with porches and entrances decorated with lavish wood carvings the buildings haven’t lost their charm and beauty. In the bright and glorious time Konstancin was an attractive and popular residential area among Polish nobility or English and Russian diplomats. Either temporarily or permanently, they settled in one of best known mansions which were given intriguing names such as Julia, Anna, Hugonówka, Natemi, Ukrainka, Ustronie, Świt, Rusałka, la Fleur … Keep your eyes wide open and you’ll notice the names inscribed at the top of each building. Don’t be afraid of getting lost here. Who knows, maybe you’ll come across a villa that belonged to one of the most famous Polish writers Stefan Żeromski.
Neither Capri nor Nice smell as beautiful as Konstancin and its surroundings.
ft & text/ Kate Zaniewska more places to discover in Warsaw, get IN Places app/ Apple Store or Google Play
