Situated off the Old Town square, down towards the viewing point over the river, the Old Town Heritage Interpretation Centre, which is a branch of the Warsaw Museumon the market square, is not to be overlooked.
Old Town Heritage Interpretation Centre
The Monument Interpretation Centre focuses on the architectural history of the Old Town, and is the best introduction to the history of Warsaw's reconstruction. The permanent exhibition "Destruction and Reconstruction of the Old Town" gives an in-depth look into Warsaw's Old Town, before, during and after WWII, which decimated 90% of the neighborhood, leaving it almost entirely in ruins.
Following the destruction of WWII, the Old Town was reconstructed in a pioneering way that combined both modern techniques and conservation methods. This exhibit focuses on that reconstruction, which had significant moral, symbolic and patriotic implications. The reconstruction was so impactful, in fact, that it became a model for the reconstruction of other parts of the city, many of which were destroyed by the bombs and fighting of WWII.
This exhibition and this centre in general give a clear reason for why the reconstruction of the Old Town led to its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
