- Saska Kępa
Saska Kępa is a neighbourhood in Warsaw, Poland, currently part of
Praga Południe district. It is a seat ofPark Skaryszewski History
In the 17th century one of areas of present
Praga Południe was turned into a military camp. In the 18th century part of the area was named Saska Kępa (literally "Saxon Rise") after the Saxon Guards of the Kings of Poland stationed there.However, until the early 20th century the area retained its rural character. The area officially became a part of Warsaw in 1916. It soon became one of fastest-growing areas of Warsaw and Saska Kępa became its centre. In 1920's and 1930's it became one of the most popular
villa areas of the Warsaw'smiddle class .During and after
World War II the borough was not destroyed. Despite several plans, it was not industrialised either, which allowed the district to retain much of its original, quiet and peaceful character. It has historically housed many embassies and consulates of foreign nations, nestled among streets named "French", "Parisian", "English", "Mexican", "Dutch", "Angolan", "Brazilian", "Estonian", "Finish", "International", and others named after continents, nations, and prominent cities.Currently
French Street (Francuska) is the main commercial street, lined with shops and restaurants. There are plans to close off the street to most traffic and enhance the pedestrian atmosphere.Fact|date=October 2007
The "front door" to the district is George Washington Circle (Rondo Waszyngtona), which links the district to Warszawa-Śródmieście via road, tram, and bus. On the other side of the Circle is Europe Bazaar (Jarmark Europa), one of the largest open air bazaars in the world, spread around and within the tiers of an abandoned stadium (10th-Anniversary Stadium). It is a major trading hub for goods from the East, with many merchants from former Soviet republics, Vietnam, and Korea. While residents from the district and the city in general take advantage of the cheap prices and variety of goods (including many counterfeit CDs and DVDs) , many worry that the bazaar brings crime and disorder. The Polish Government plans to close the Bazaar and begin work on a new National Stadium in 2007.
Currently there are several new areas with luxurious blocks of flats complexes in the area, but the authorities do not plan to construct more houses and want the character to be preserved. Many of the older homes have been repainted and remodeled in the late '90's and early '00's to resemble the pre-WWII character of the district.
Famous people
*
Tadeusz Baird - composer
*Miron Białoszewski -poet ,novelist ,playwright andactor
*Stanisław Bułak-Bałachowicz - Polish-Belarus ian general, veteran ofWorld War I ,Russian Civil War ,Polish-Bolshevik War and Polish Defensive War
*Katarzyna Figura - actress
*Józef Gosławski - sculptor and medallic artist
*Konrad Guderski - the organizer and commander of thedefense of the Polish Post Office in Danzig
*Tadeusz Kutrzeba -general of theSecond Polish Republic
*Witold Lutosławski - composer
*Waldemar Łysiak - writer, art historian and journalist
*Agnieszka Osiecka - poet andsongwriter
*Jan Parandowski - writer,essayist , andtranslator
*Jan Rokita - liberal-conservative politician, a member ofSejm , the lower chamber of the Polish parliament, and chairman of the parliamentery club ofPlatforma Obywatelska ("Citizens' Platform")
*Krzysztof Skowroński - journalist and the director of Program 3 in Polish Radio
*Stanisław Sojka - jazz and popsinger/songwriter
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