Poland’s landmark skyscraper turns 70

CGTN Europe

Warsaw’s Palace of Culture and Science was a postwar gift from the Soviet Union. Today, it’s a cultural icon — and still the tallest building in Poland.  #Warsaw #Architecture #History #Poland #PalaceOfCulture #SovietArchitecture

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00:00It's one of Europe's tallest and most debated buildings.

00:04This summer, the Palace of Culture and Science turned 70.

00:08Gifted by the Soviet Union in 1955, it was designed by Soviet architect Lev Rudnev in monumental Stalinist style.

00:16Built in just three years, with 42 floors, over 3,000 rooms, and a spire that still towers over the skyline.

00:23At the time, it was the 8th tallest building in the world, and the tallest in Europe outside of Moscow.

00:29Its look? A mix of Soviet grandeur and Polish flourishes, with balustrades and cornices inspired by cities like Krakow and Zamosz.

00:38When it opened, Warsaw was still rebuilding after the war.

00:42The palace was meant to show strength, and to house culture, theatres, science institutes, even a swimming pool.

00:49Seventy years later, it's still doing just that.

00:52It's now one of Warsaw's busiest cultural hubs, and a go-to meeting point for locals.

00:58From concerts, to exhibitions, to late-night views from the 30th floor, it's part of everyday city life.

01:05But not everyone sees it the same way.

01:07Some, like Foreign Minister Radoswav Sikorski, once called for it to be demolished.

01:11But for many, it represents a unique chapter in Warsaw's story, and a powerful gesture of post-war solidarity.

01:18Seventy years on, it remains one of the city's most enduring and iconic landmarks.

01:23If you can imagine Warsaw without it.

01:24If you can imagine Warsaw without it.

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