City Walls and Barbican Walk

À propos

Faits rapides: Roughly 22 kilometers of defensive walls once ringed the Old Town, and visitors can walk along the surviving medieval and 19th century sections today. The Barbican, a circular brick fortification with arrow slits and a red-tiled roof, was designed by an Italian architect in the 1500s and rebuilt after WWII using original bricks recovered from the rubble.

Points forts: At the Vistula side of the walls you can spot the original 16th century brickwork still marked with mason's scratches, while the walkway offers a view straight into the rooftops and courtyards of the Old Town below. Locals use the elevated paths as a shortcut between the river and the market square, so you'll share the route with commuters, not just tourists.

Conseils d'initiés

• Wear comfortable shoes because the path blends cobblestones, uneven brick, and steep staircases at several access points.
• Head to the section above Świętojańska Street for a clear photo of the Barbican's arches without crowds in the frame.
• Come in the evening, when the walls are floodlit and the Old Town is far less crowded than midday.
• Skip the rampart walk if you cannot handle stairs, as the main viewpoints require climbing several flights with no elevator access.

Plus d'attractions à Warsaw

Old Town Market Square (Rynek Starego Miasta)

Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski)

Łazienki Park (Łazienki Królewskie) — Palace on the Isle & Chopin Monument

Wilanów Palace (Pałac w Wilanowie)