Location guide extended

LOCATION GUIDE WWW.MWFC.PL

Warsaw University of Technology, Biuro ds. promocji i informacji PW

Photo W. Rogut

Introduction Masovia, with Warsaw located in its heart, is a region where most domestic films are made and where the film service market is best developed. Masovia is unique in comparison with the rest of Europe, modern Polish capital is situated in an area of great ecological potential, very natural and full of picturesque settings.

Thanks to that, a film crew may set a comfortable base in Warsaw, temporary or permanent, and can with no difficulty travel around the region in distances of less than 2 hours drive. Masovia is packed with urban architecture from different historical and cultural eras. The capital of the country is most diverse, due to its size, importance and its past.

Warsaw is the administrational, political and cultural centre of Masovia and Poland.

It is a city of contrast, rebuilt after unbelievable war damages and is at the moment the most popular film location. Pearls of architecture - the Old Town, Royal Tract, are situated next to urban parks and green areas; or examples of pure socialist realism from the 1950s, and Polish biggest agglomeration of modern architecture. Offices of majority of domestic film industry businesses are located in Warsaw. It is estimated that there are 12-15 film crews working in the city everyday, other than regular TV operations.

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Photo P. Tyler

Photo R. Trochimiak

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Panorama of Warsaw, Photo T. Szejbut

Grzybowska St. Photo M. Kozłowski

Warsaw Modern Warsaw is a dynamic, vivid and culturally rich city. For the last 20 years the capital has been rapidly growing and changes into modern, European metropolis.

Modern skyscrapers, shopping centers and office buildings, designed by world acclaimed architects, are raised in the city center.

The infrastructure of the city also gets renovated to match European standards and to offer transport system of modern thoroughfares.

We can find many modern sport, culture and scientific centers in the city - Warsaw University Library is a good example of that. Creative potential can be best observed in artistic projects performed in urban space. An artificial15 meter high palm tree and the “narrowest house” - Keret’s house, may be quite a surprise.

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Warsaw University Library, Photo J. Antoniak © Uniwersytet Warszawski

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Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Photo Muzeum Żydów Polskich

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Copernicus Science Centre, Photo PZ Studio, Urząd m.st Warszawy

Warsaw Skyscrapers, Photo M. Kozłowski

City of Warsaw, Photo K. Bednarski

National Stadium, Warsaw, Photo J. Frydrysiak

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Park, Photo M. Najdek

Pułtusk City Area, Photo Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Mazowieckiego

Mazovia, Warsaw Nature and green areas Ogród Saski, Photo M. Jabłoński

There are as many as 177 nature reserves, 62 nature parks and over 4000 natural monuments in the region. Masovia is called “the green heart of Poland”. It is dominated by mixed forests, very often in grand forest complexes which are the remains of primeval forests. The finest forest areas are Kampinos National Park which is situated almost within Warsaw’s city borders or Kozienicka forest.

The variety and charm of meandering rivers is simply amazing. Unregulated Vistula river is the most often filmed Polish river, but wild meanders of Bug, Pilica, Narew and Bzura also form beautiful film locations.

Warsaw is unique, it has a lot of green space of high quality which covers 25% of city’s area. Seventy six Warsaw parks and gardens represent various styles and eras. Sculptures, fountains and ponds can be found next to park alleys. Warsaw University Library is home of unique and one of the biggest and most beautiful roof gardens in Europe.

Warsaw is considered to be one of the greenest cities in Europe.

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Natural inhalatorium in Konstancin-Jeziorna

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Warsaw University Library, Photo PZ Studio, Urząd m.st. Warszawy

Meander of Liviec

Poniatowski Bridge, Photo B. Mydlak

Warsaw beach, Photo S. Wójcik

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Panorama of Warsaw, Photo E. Petryka, Urząd m.st. Warszawy

Sala Kongresowa, PKiN Photo P. Jagiełło

Warsaw

Monumentality and socialist realism Warsaw, as the capital city, combines features of modern European metropolis with a modern downtown, together with monumentality of government and public utility buildings.

In many parts of the city you may find the remains of the socialistic era. The most important example of the socialist realism is the Palace of Science and Culture, monumental structure designed to match similar buildings in Moscow. Its chambers are model interiors for films about the dictator era or United States in the beginning of the 20th century. Plac Konstytucji and MDM district, built in the 1950’s was inspired with the same style, including its street arrangement, squares, monumental sculptures and lanterns.

Examples of monumental buildings from other historic eras in Warsaw are e.g.

National Theatre and Warsaw University of Technology Assembly Hall.

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Plac Konstytucji Photo K. Wiech

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PKiN, Sala Rudniewa, Photo P. Jagiełło

PKiN, Sala Marmurowa, Photo P. Jagiełło

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Opera House in Warsaw, Photo J. Kośnik

Warsaw School of Economics Library, Photo J. Sokołowski

Warsaw University of Technology Photo Biuro ds. Promocji i Informacji PW

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

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Świętokrzyski Bridge, Photo D. Dobrosz

Warsaw by Night, Photo J. Drygała

Mazovia, Warsaw Transport Masovia provides film crews with diverse transport possibilities. Modern highways, road junctions, flyovers and bridges mix with roads winding between trees, cobbled tracts and forest routes. You can also find here modern airport and rail terminals as well as small charming train stations.

Old bus, Photo J. Frydrysiak

Region offers the most modern transportation system and fine selection of antique vehicles. We can organize shootings in old, authentic engine-houses, with passenger, military and goods carriages, which could stop at stations built during World War I and II. Cars from different times and of different brands are available at Museum of Automotive and Technology in Otrębusy and in many private collections which also include many horse carriages - coaches and sleighs.

On the other hand, Warsaw offers possibility of shooting in the underground, old and modern trams and buses, stylized hackney carriages and water trams.

Thanks to EU funds the region constantly has its routes renovated, which makes travelling in the area quick and easy.

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Modern train, Photo PZ Studio, Urząd m.st. Warszawy

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Sochaczew, Photo Muzeum Kolejnictwa

Museum of Automotive and Technology, Photo Muzeum Pojazdów Otrębusy

Old Town hackney, Photo M. Kozłowski

Trasa Toruńska, Photo W. Bryniak

Modern communication, Warsaw, Photo T. Jasiński

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Old gas storage, Photo P. Bucharowski

Praga, Photo G. Nowak

Warsaw Alternative and contrasts Warsaw has a lot to offer to film makers whose cameras seem to like contrasts on the verge of modern buildings and old, neglected tenant houses. Beautifully designed new public spaces and communication solutions often neighbor with dark yards, staircases, walls full of graffiti, or forgotten cobbled streets.

Warsaw’s alternative also means post-industrial spaces of old factories and military installations with mysterious and bleak interiors often used as venues for cultural events.

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Marmermaid in Praga, Photo A. Stańska

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Club M25, Photo K. Wiech

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Bracka St., Warsaw, Photo Illia Krasnoshchok Contrast, Photo P. Wasążnik

PKP Powiśle Bar, Photo S. Ożdżyński

Staircase, Photo P. Ceran

Trasa Armii Krajowej, Photo A. Szczepańska

Koneser, Praga, Photo K. Wiech

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Warsaw Old Town, Photo M. Maciejewski

Warsaw Old Town, Photo M. Kozłowski

Warsaw historical structures Masovia is packed with urban architecture from different historical and cultural eras. The capital of the country is most diverse, due to its size, importance and the past. The old district of Warsaw, located at the banks of the Vistula river, composed of the Old Town and the New Town, is very often used for film locations. It is also a UNESCO listed heritage, which is almost fully a reconstruction, as 90% of the Old Town was completely destroyed during WWII. On the Royal Tract, which goes as far as to Wilanów, you may find pieces of reconstructed old architecture, which together with renovated monuments is a real gem of the city and the country.

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Warsaw Old Town, Photo J. Frydrysiak

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Kościół Środowisk Twórczych, Photo W. Hansen

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Barbakan, Photo PZ Studio, Urząd m.st. Warszawy

Belweder, Photo W. Hansen

Stairs Warsaw Old Town, Photo A. Rębecka

Pałac na wodzie, Photo W. Wroński

Warsaw Old Town Photo A. Kraśnicki

Royal Castle Photo R. Sypek Pałac Krasińskich Photo P. Wierzbowski

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Wilanow Palace Museum, Photo Z. Myczkowski

Royal Castle, Sala Rycerska, Photo A. Ring

Mazovia, Warsaw royal and aristocratic traditions (castles and palaces) Masovia and Warsaw are an area of palaces, palaces with parks, former royal and aristocracy residences build in different architectural styles.

Majority of them are public spaces, museums or commercial sites which are glad to host film crews. Best known example of such architecture is Wilanów Palace, a baroque, summer royal residence surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Opinogóra, Photo Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Mazowieckiego

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Ciechanów Castle, Photo Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Mazowieckiego

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Czersk Castle, Photo Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Mazowieckiego

Guzów, Sobański Palace, Photo Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Mazowieckiego

Royal Castle, Sala Wielka, Photo M. Bronarski

Jablonna Dwór, Photo Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Mazowieckiego

Otwock Wielki Palace

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Cathedral in Radom, Photo E. Jasińska

Fortified church in Brochów

Mazovia, Warsaw Sacred and religious objects Masovia is a unique phenomenon in Europe due to number of sacred objects than can be found in the region - new and historical, rich and simple, modern and wooden. There are many of them next to main roads, or dirt and forest tracks; but you can also find them in city centers and backyards of old tenant houses, where they bear testimony of residents’ faith.

In particular, road chapels have a film, documentary character, which combined with little old wooden churches and sanctuaries, and numerous religious symbols create a unique, mystical picture of the Masovia region.

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Carmelite Church, Photo B. Tekieli, Stoleczne Biuro Turystyki

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Photo M. Piłat

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Photo Skarbiec Mazowiecki

Jewish cemetery, Powązki, Photo A. Grabowska

Photo P. Dobrzyński

Cathedral in Praga, Photo M. Banaszkiewicz

Photo Skarbiec Mazowiecki

Chapel, Photo Urząd Marszalkowski Województwa Mazowieckiego

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Żyrardów

Old Town in Płock

Mazovia Towns and cities of the region Film crews will find more historical urban architecture in Masovia because almost all small towns kept its old character.

Płock is one of the oldest towns in Poland. It is happily situated on high banks of Vistula river. Historical monuments and museums here are neighbors of the biggest refinery in Central Europe. Radom, on the other hand, is the biggest city of the region next to Warsaw, and it is known for its industry and for its stylish, art nouveau, bourgeois buildings. Significantly smaller Pułtusk shows other qualities with its rectangular market of almost 400 meters length and considered to be the longest in Europe.

Apart from valuable monuments and modern architecture, you can also find here in Masovia the atmosphere of a quiet cul-de-sac, provincial behaviors and lifestyle which form ready-made film sets.

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Otwock

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Radom, Photo M. Strudziński, Urząd Miasta Radomia

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Dom Gąsi i Esterki Radom, fot. Ewa Jasińska

Radom, Photo M. Strudziński, Urząd Miasta Radomia

Petrochemia Płock, Photo Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Mazowieckiego

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Radom Village Museum, Photo Urząd Marszalkowski Województwa Mazowieckiego

Radom, Photo M. Strudziński, Urząd Miasta Radomia

Mazovia Manor houses and cottages You can come across many cottages (rustic houses) in Masovia.

Typical country architecture remained preserved mostly in heritage parks, where farmers’ houses with thatched roofs stand next to working windmills and watermills. These ready-to-use decorations are used in film productions focused on detail and authenticity.

Nevertheless manor houses of Polish nobility are the biggest pearl of the region.

They are of typical structure, authentic or rebuilt, mostly wooden, beautifully situated, surrounded with gardens and orchards. Manor houses are also a symbol of film adaptations of the romantic era.

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Museum of the Countryside, Sierpc

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Random Village Museum, Photo Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Mazowieckiego

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Borkowy Dom Skansen Nowa Sucha

Modrzewiowy manor house

Żelazna Wola

Skansen Sierpc, Photo Urząd Marszałkowski Województwa Mazowieckiego

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Modlin Fortress, Photo K. Wiech

Polish Army Museum in Warsaw

Mazovia, Warsaw Military structures Dramatic past of the Masovia left its footprint of military structures.

Masovia also hosts two grand, monumental military buildings, both raised in 19th century - Cytadela in Warsaw, important tsarist prison and Modlin fortress, located 30km away from Warsaw. Modlin Fortress is one of the biggest and best preserved Polish fortresses, European phenomena, composed of e.g. the longest building in Europe of 2,8 km length. Modlin Fortress has been used as a film set in over 50 domestic productions, and also, on many occasions, by reconstruction groups during battle staging. In Masovia you can also find many fortifications, forts, bunkers, military training grounds and well equipped museums.

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Film set in Modlin, Photo K. Wiech

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Photo K. Wiech

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Modlin Fortress, Photo K. Wiech

Staged battle

Modlin Fortress granary, Photo K. Wiech

Armored train, Photo Muzeum Kolejnictwa

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Cathedral in Płock, Photo K. Kaliński

Information: Capital City: Warsaw Official language: Polish /English language is widely spoken/ UNESCO Word Heritage site: The Old Town in Warsaw Airport: Warsaw Chopin Airport Warsaw Modlin Mazovia Airport Currency: PLN/Polish zloty

Panorama of Warsaw, Photo E. Petryka, Urząd m.st. Warszawy

Population: 1,7 million in Warsaw 3,0 million in the metropolitan area 5,2 million in the Mazovia Region

Area: 35.598 km2 Mazovia Region 519 km2 City of Warsaw Another cities: Radom, Płock, Siedlce, Ciechanów, Ostrołęka

© 2014 Mazowieckie Centrum Kultury i Sztuki Mazovia Region Centre of Culture and Arts Director: Aleksandra Kielan Project coordination: Anna Spisz, Michał Kosmala Editorial consultant: Krzysztof Wiech Graphic design, typesetting: Adam Dymek English translation: Marta Kuczewska ISBN: 978-83-63427-37-5 Printing: Drukarnia Braci Grodzickich

Mazovia Warsaw Film Commission Mazovia Region Centre of Culture and Arts 12 Elektoralna Street, 00-139 Warsaw, Poland phone: 48 22 586 42 58, fax: 48 22 624 70 01 e-mail: info@mwfc.pl www.mwfc.pl

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Photo M. Sułek

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PKiN, Photo P. Jagiełło