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Addresses and stories
Every tenement in the Old Town hides a different story. Here we collect residents' stories, legends and facts tied to specific addresses.
The Mermaid who promised to defend the city
One of the oldest symbols of Warsaw. According to the legend, the mermaid lived in the Vistula until one day fishermen caught her and put her on display at the market.
Read story →The Basilisk in the tenement cellars
In the very heart of the Old Town, in the cellars of an old tenement, a monster was said to live. Anyone who looked it in the eyes would turn to stone.
Read story →Wars and Sawa — how Warsaw got its name
Lost in the forest, a prince came upon a fisherman's hut. The couple's hospitality was said to give rise to a new settlement on the Vistula.
Read story →Fukier Tenement — the wine house that survived the war
Owned by the Fukier family from 1810. Wine was stored in the cellars and a well-known wine bar operated on the ground floor. In 1944 the tenement was almost completely destroyed.
Read story →The legend of the walled-up girl
According to the tale, while the Tenement Under St. Anne was being built or rebuilt, a mason was ordered to wall a beautiful girl into its walls. It is one of the darkest stories of Old Town folklore.
Read story →Got a story about your tenement?
Want to share a story about a former resident, a courtyard or an event? Fill in a short form — once approved by the editors, your story will appear next to the address.