Exhibitions at the Barbican

Barbican and the Old Warsaw City Walls. A Story of a Historic Monument

Is it possible to misplace an object as large as the city’s fortifications and so much so that it has to be searched for and discovered later? This unusual and yet true situation is presented in the exhibition titled Barbican and the Old Warsaw Walls. A Story of a Historic Monument, on display inside the Barbican. A walk along its corridors, from where former residents defended the city against invaders, is a big attraction in itself.

The exposition located inside is dedicated to a military edifice that was important in the past, and while it takes a close look at one particular story related to the Barbican and the city walls, it also touches upon other themes. The exhibition’s narrative focuses on the discovery of the lost walls of Old Warsaw—at first very important, protecting and delineating the city limits. Later, the walls were more of a hindrance, not needed by anyone, and as such were hidden behind other walls and forgotten.

It is also a story of discovering which elements from the city’s past have survived to our time. The exposition talks about the pre-war and postwar efforts of the local authorities and conservation officers who wished to restore them to the public.

The exhibition tells the story through a variety of means. Aside from photographs and drawings—presented in an unusual way in illuminated frames—it also presents traditional mock-up models and films. With their help, it offers an opportunity to see what the defensive walls of Warsaw looked like in the past—where they were located, what they looked like and how the city gates changed over time. The exhibition content also makes it possible to recognize today which parts of the wall are original and which are later reconstructions. The exposition features unusual material about Warsaw’s Barbican that is not usually presented to the public—not only rare and aerial photographs, but also design drawings that show how the reconstruction of the old town was being planned.

An exhibition presenting its extraordinary history and the history of the city walls is shown only in the summer season, and is closed in the autumn and winter season.

Passing through the gate and along the defensive walls is free and possible all year round.