Looking through postcards, booklets and other souvenirs brought from Poland, you can see that everywhere there is an image of a majestic building with a spire soaring into the sky. This grandiose high-rise building is one of the ten tallest buildings in the entire European Union. The Palace of Science and Culture in Warsaw was built in 1955 and to this day is the hallmark of not only the capital city, but the whole country.

The idea of ​​building a skyscraper in the center of Warsaw had political significance and came personally from I. V. Stalin. Initially, it was assumed that the Palace of Science and Culture would be erected 120 meters high. This project was approved by the Polish government, but then, at the insistence of the Soviet architect Lev Rudnev and his Warsaw colleague Joseph Sigalin, it was decided to almost double the size of the building. As a result, the Palace of Science and Culture grew in height by 42 floors, which, together with the spire, amounted to 237 meters.

Since the building was a gift to Poland from the USSR, the Soviet side took over the financing of the project, as well as the construction work. IN total 3,200 people have been involved in construction sites since 1952. After Stalin's death, by decision State Council and the Council of Ministers of the Polish People's Republic The Palace of Science and Culture was named after the Soviet leader. A proposal was considered to install on the square, even a competition was announced for best sketch monument. But then they decided to abandon this idea.

Combination of social realism and history

Preparations for construction began in 1951. led by Lev Rudnev came to Poland and with a group of local colleagues visited several villages to study the styles of the country's historical architecture. As a result, the project was taken as the basis for the construction of the Moscow State University them. Lomonosov, but taking into account local specifics. It was decided that the Palace of Science and Culture should be "socialist in content but national in form".

The building was built in the place where unkempt houses once crowded in disorder. The magnificent Palace has become a symbol new era, a unique object of modern construction, designed to rid the capital of ugly forms of architecture. From the upper floors, impressive views of the changed landscape open up. last years cities. The silhouette of the building emphasizes the beauty of the surroundings from the old districts to high-rise residential complexes, green parks and sports stadiums. The Palace of Science and Culture will become a symbol of socialist Poland. Approximately this content was published in local newspapers to coincide with the opening of the building in 1955.

Polish "colossus" in facts and figures

The Palace of Science and Culture in Warsaw, whose address has not changed over the past six decades, is located on Paradov Square, 1. This is the tallest building not only in the capital, but throughout Poland. The building has 42 floors with total area 817 thousand m 2. The architecture of the building combines elements social realism, Art Deco and Polish historicism.

On the 30th floor there is Observation deck with a panoramic view of Warsaw. Since 1956, a number of suicides have been committed from this site, located at an altitude of more than 100 meters, after which metal fences in the form of protective bars were installed here.

In 1989, after the cooling of relations between Soviet Union and Poland removed from the central vestibule a sculpture embodying the friendship of peoples. In the 1990s there were calls from some politicians Poland to demolish the building as a symbol of "Soviet domination over a free country".

In 2000, a huge clock face was erected on the facade of the upper floor, which made the Palace the tallest clock tower in the world at that time.

In 2007, the building was listed in State Register architectural monuments Poland.

The structure and purpose of the building

Today, the Palace of Science and Culture in Warsaw, the photo of which you see in this publication, is run by the city hall. The building houses various companies and institutions, including the Polish Academy of Sciences.

The vast interiors of the palace house several stage venues, museums, bookstores, offices and business centers. Cinemas, libraries, a swimming pool, a post office are at the service of citizens and guests of the capital.

There is also concert hall for 550 spectators and a congress hall designed for 2880 seats. Every year, conferences, meetings, exhibitions, forums and festivals of both national and international level are held within the walls of the Palace.

Disputes about the expediency of the existence of the structure

Despite the fact that the Palace of Science and Culture has long become a symbol of Poland and performs many useful features, from time to time in political circles there is a controversy regarding the ethical background of the presence of the building Soviet era on Polish soil. Opinions on this matter differ sharply, someone believes that today the Palace has no political significance, others insist on the demolition of the building, and still others propose to turn it into a museum.

It remains to be hoped that common sense will triumph, and political troubles will not become a reason for the destruction of a magnificent architectural monument, which is the House of Science and Culture in Warsaw. Reviews ordinary people who have been in this building, never touch the ideological aspects. AND locals, and numerous tourists admire the scale of the building, the consistency and originality of the architectural style.

Attractions in the vicinity of the palace

Guests Polish capital First of all, the building itself attracts, from the observation platforms of which you can see the whole city at any time of the day. A recreation and entertainment center is located within walking distance from the square.

Nearby is the shopping center "Golden Terraces" - the largest shopping mall Warsaw. Nearby there are hotels and hostels. The windows of the most comfortable rooms offer a view of the towers of the Palace of Science and Culture sparkling with lights.

Turned 60 in 2015 famous building in Warsaw, which has become a symbol and hallmark of the capital of Poland. This is the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw, which is often called the Stalin skyscraper. In Polish, the name of this majestic building is Pałac Kultury i Nauki, abbreviated as PKiN.

The address of this palace is Warsaw, Paradov Square, 1.

The construction of this masterpiece of architecture began with the construction of a special quarter with a developed infrastructure
(cinema, swimming pool, canteens, club, etc.) 3.5 thousand workers took part in the construction. Construction lasted more than 3 years from May 1952 to July 1955. During the stand, 16 workers died. The chief architect of the project was Lev Rudnev.

Characteristics of the Palace of Science and Culture. I.V. Stalin (as it was originally called) is amazing. 3288 rooms, floor space over 123 thousand sq. square meters. The height of the building is 237 meters (with a spire). The financing of the entire project fell entirely on the shoulders of the USSR.

IN Lately the question of the demolition of this building is raised, as an artifact of the communist past of Poland. In particular, in 2009 this issue was initiated by Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. He declared that the Poles should destroy this building, like the Germans the Berlin Wall. However, the Poles themselves reacted to this idea more than cool. Without a doubt, the building is a grandiose and majestic structure. Since 2007, the Palace of Culture and Science has been included in the register of architectural monuments.

Observation deck

The building, at a height of 114 meters, has a viewing terrace, the entrance to which is paid. The ticket price is PLN 20, for a group visit PLN 15. The view of Warsaw from the terrace is simply amazing! It is possible to look at Warsaw from a height and at night. The cost of such a ticket will be 22 PLN.

The terrace is currently fenced off following a series of suicides in 1956 that occurred after it opened. In a short period of time, one Frenchman and seven Poles took their own lives.

The huge internal area of ​​the building of the Palace of Science and Culture made it possible to place an incredible amount of everything there. Here are the offices of commercial and state companies, many museums, restaurants, theaters, shops, including many bookstores, research institutes, exhibition spaces and even swimming pools.

Photo of the building of the Palace of Science and Culture:

To annoy a Pole, sometimes it is not enough to troll him with the phrase “Bialystok is ours” or ask about the coefficient of resistance of the Polish president’s torso to Smolensk trees. Therefore, to enhance the effect, you can still ask how to get to the main decoration of Warsaw - the majestic Palace of Culture and Science, which was built in the center of the Polish capital by the Leader of the Peoples. In this case, there is a great chance to hit in the face with a strong Polish fist ... with the smell of English toilet cleaner.

Of course, the whole huge Warsaw is not only the Soviet Palace of Culture and Science. These are dozens of exciting beer places, each of which will become an adornment of your Instagram. What is one Royal Palace worth! However, the damned Stalinist skyscraper in the very heart of the capital still remains the dominant architectural form that even the skyscrapers built around it could not absorb - and after all, they were erected precisely in order to set off the Palace of Culture and Science. But - it didn't work out. The gloomy Stalinist Empire style is still the tallest, most massive building in Poland, and the shining glass skyscrapers around it look like a bunch of thin-legged smoothies, among which an old, but still strong and evil, Stalinist wormed his way.

A bit of history. The huge building began to be built in 1952 as a "gift" Soviet people residents of Warsaw. The word "gift" is in quotation marks because the present did not look desirable - the Psheks were simply confronted with a fact. The situation was reminiscent of the birth of St. Petersburg: “There will be hail here!” Peter the Great suddenly squealed on the banks of the Neva, which scared the local beavers to death. So it was with the Palace of Culture and Science, with the only exception that the Polish beavers could only show universal approval and even exultation.

The degree of "necessity" of the Palace against the background of Warsaw cut down under a semi-box. Photo: FoKa/Forum

Interestingly, the Poles themselves were practically not invited to the construction of the skyscraper. One thing was required of them - the actual territory of 3 hectares and resources. All other fundamental decisions are up to Moscow:

• The building must be built in the “Stalinist” style (or we will shoot everyone);
• Lev Rudnev was appointed chief architect (or we will shoot everyone, and Rudnev too);
• The construction is financed and carried out by the USSR (or we will shoot everyone);
• Soviet materials will be used in the construction process, and Soviet builders will be invited to carry out the work (or we will shoot everyone);
• Construction work will begin in the middle of 1952 and will last 2.5-3 years (and then we will shoot everyone).

Batushka, Bölzer and Behemoth in Krakow. With the deepest disrespect for the believers

The appearance in completely catalyzed Poland of the Behemoth team, terrifying on believers around the world, in itself is amazing. But, what is more remarkable, the example turned out to be contagious (demonstrative).

The Polish government was only required to determine the final construction site, as well as the further scope. Those. we will build a 235-meter building for you in war-torn Warsaw, and then you think what to do with this burdensome (the Palace consumed as much electricity as needed for a city of 30,000 souls) beauty.

Despite the fact that the construction was carried out at an accelerated pace (and in those glorious times for employers, “coffee breaks” meant “to go out to shoot one of the workers”), it was not possible to complete the Palace during Stalin's lifetime. Probably, having learned about this, the Leader of the Peoples himself would also have ordered someone to be shot, but by the year the grandiose “people's” construction was commissioned, he had already been in the mausoleum for two years, with his team leader. By the way, the legendary phrase about “the damned Stalin reached out” is also applicable to this building - 16 workers died during the construction of the Palace. But since they were all communists, they continued to work in three shifts even after their death and as a result were solemnly built into the walls, to the sounds of an orchestra. A lie, of course, but the Palace is really built on bones.

On July 22, 1955, the Palace of Culture and Science was presented to the public, and, presumably, under powerful and prolonged applause. The Poles had little idea For what that’s all for them, but hundreds of tons of concrete and steel didn’t need any questions - they just were, and nothing could be done about it.

The first timid attempts to voice the very “why” appeared in the late 50s. The Poles SUDDENLY realized that instead of all this, it was possible to build a lot of other things. Criticisms of architects appeared in the press, and even some dissatisfied reviews of workers. Further more. The deeper Stalin's corpse burrowed into the ground, the bolder the Poles became. It got to the point that Pekin (from the Polish "Beijing", the abbreviation PKiN - Pałac kultury i nauki) suddenly began to be called a "gigantic freak", and in the 90s even a "monument to communism". And today the positions of those who want to demolish this Palace are strong. The schizophrenic ruling Polish party Law and Justice is bombing the loudest on this topic:

“(…) The idea of ​​holding a referendum in Warsaw during the elections to the authorities is now being discussed. local government(Fall 2018). Varshavians should be given the right to make their assessment of the Stalinist skyscraper, since the Civic Platform party is going to get their opinion on the monuments dedicated to the Smolensk catastrophe.”
inosmi.ru

But, in fact, it is unlikely that something seriously threatens this building. Still, the Palace has been part of the history of Poland for half a century, its business card even in an era of slightly hysterical decommunization that has been going on in Warsaw in recent years. Yes, the Palace seriously “weights” its historical center, gives it certain meaning and inevitably reminds of its communist past. However, when you go inside, you understand that the Poles got used to this building a long time ago and turned it into a huge museum of communism and have been making money on it for a long time. The terrace on the 30th floor is always crowded with tourists, there is a brisk trade in souvenirs in the hall, and exhibitions are also held - in general, all fangs have been broken off the communist bear for a long time and they are shown for zlotys for the amusement of the public. Isn't it more beautiful and funnier than the demolition of a huge building? ..

There are only nine Stalin skyscrapers in the world. "Seven sisters" dance in Moscow, one in Riga and one - outside the USSR, in Warsaw. Conventionally, this group can also include the hotel chopped off by Khrushchev in Kyiv, as well as the "horizontal" Stalinist building in Bucharest. However, if a "baby" of 107 m was built in Riga, then the Warsaw one is powerful and full-sized, on the scale of Moscow State University (237 m with a spire versus 240 m). In addition, the Warsaw one was built earlier than the Riga one, so it can be considered the eighth, and the Latvian one - the ninth. For two years (1955-1957), the Warsaw skyscraper was the tallest building in Europe, outside the USSR. But even now it is among the ten highest European buildings, again, counting outside of Russia.
Below is a story about this most interesting architectural structure, Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki, or PKiN for short)*
*reasonable and meaningful clarifications are welcome

Warsaw. Palac Culture and Science

2. This is how I first saw the Warsaw skyscraper close up, leaving the suburban railway station. Previously, I saw her only from the train, passing through, and from afar.

3. Centrum metro station is located near the high-rise. The name speaks for itself - this is really the very center of the city, the intersection of Marshalkovskaya and Jerusalem Alleys. Previously, at this place, where the metro and the square behind it, stood the Vienna railway station (1845-1932).

4. The "centrality" of this place is also symbolized by a massive 4-sided stele with direction indicators to all cardinal directions.

5. This is how the Palace appears from the street. Marshalkovskaya, i.e. from the east. For now, these facades are visible and have an open space in front of them, but over the next 5-7 years the situation may change. However, more on that below.

The Palace itself was built as a gift from the USSR to fraternal Poland (built entirely with Soviet money and by Soviet builders, the author of the project is Lev Rudnev) and put into operation in 1955. Initially, he bore the name I.V. Stalin - who was the author of the idea and made a fundamental decision on the construction, however, after local de-Stalinization in the fall of 1956, his name was removed.
.

6. View of the skyscraper from the side of the Central Station.
From this angle you can see its largest extension - the Congress Hall, the largest in Poland (2800 seats).

Since I was at the station many times, and filmed in different times, let's see how the Palace changes from day to night and what kind of evening lighting it has.

7. At sunset.

8. At the beginning of the "regime" time (twilight).

9. In dark time days. Please note that it is illuminated in a very non-standard by our standards - lilac light, which turns into a purple hue at night. The lighting scheme is very stylish and produces great impression. I watched several times in the evening, from the station stairs, how tourists come out in schools and take pictures of the Palace for whatever they want, from DSLRs to iPhones.

10. Assembly Hall closer (built as part of the Palace on the western side).

11. Let's see other extensions of the Palace. It is very multifunctional, and - oddly enough - still fulfills its original function of the Palace of science (enlightenment) and culture. Here (northeast) is the theater.

12. Theatrical extension and a massive lantern.

13. Southeast - cinema.

14. Southwest - technical museum(for some reason I didn’t take a picture of the northwest, although I walked around the Palace).

15. Ship propeller at the foot of the technical museum.

16. View of the Palace from the Technical Museum.

17. The upper part of the skyscraper. As you can see, unlike our skyscrapers, it has a clock. Initially, they were not here - they appeared between 1995 and 1999, becoming a short time the tallest tower clock in the world, and now ranked second only to Tokyo's NTT DoCoMo Yoyogi clock.

18. The time zone of the skyscraper is closer. On the clock is the gilded emblem of the city of Warsaw.

One more thing can't be said important property of this building: it generates the most bitter disputes in Poland, about "demolish or leave". The period of uncertainty of its fate lasted as much as 17 years (1990-2007), from the moment Jaruzelski left and until February 2, 2007, when, after an epic battle between "nationalists" and "rationalists" (with a slight preponderance of the latter), it was officially included in the list of protected monuments architecture.

Honestly, when I started reading the information about this epic on the 4th day in Warsaw, I really went crazy from the intensity of the battle. It was in no way inferior to our, domestic, disputes about Stalin, the pact or boiled sausage. Conservative nationalists cursed this building as a symbol of "Soviet enslavement of the Commonwealth and humiliation Polish people"and demanded that it be completely demolished, and the rationalists, with no less foam at the mouth, defended its uniqueness for Poland:

"This is an outstanding example of socialist realist architecture. Even in former USSR it is difficult to find such high quality objects. Inside it are works Polish artists; wall paintings and furniture were created by D. Boguslavsky, ceramics, chandeliers and sconces of Polish metallurgical enterprises are also located there".

"Whether we like it or not, this is the spatial dominant of the city, present on postcards, photographs, films and television programs. Unfortunately, we must admit that we cannot now do anything comparable to this structure. This is a palace of a grandiose scale, and such objects are in world unit.Now it is impossible to reproduce the details of its decoration on such high level how it was done. It is a symbol of history and must be protected, even if it is associated with the Soviets".

The decision of February 2, 2007 caused an angry howl and indignation of conservatives who cannot come to terms with this five years later:

The Poles had to destroy the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, just as the Germans destroyed the Berlin Wall. This was stated by Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski. “Let's raze the symbol of Stalinism to the ground and build a park in the center of the capital in its place,” Sikorski urged.
In his opinion, Poland, 20 years ago, after the victory over communism, did not have enough "a moment of catharsis," the Foreign Minister said, adding that then it was necessary to destroy the Palace of Culture. In an interview with Radio ZET, he stated that this building is not environmentally friendly, consumes too much energy, will soon require overhaul. According to the minister, the Poles will face a choice - to repair it, invest hundreds of millions of zlotys or build a park in its place, where the Varsovians could go for picnics.

Some hate PKiN, others admire him - but everyone agrees that without him Warsaw will not be the same...
He stands in the very center of the capital, and the city partes, but does not let him in, and shied away, as foreigners who come to Warsaw shied away from him. This is what "we" gave "them". PKiN has always been perceived by "us" as our own - which cannot be said about "them". For the Poles, it is above all a symbol of communist enslavement, a tombstone on the dream of independence, which was paid so dearly for, and an indication that the Russians never give up their imperial ambitions...
They wanted to blow him up more than once (and they even did it, albeit on the screen, in a hilarious comedy about the years of martial law "They're listening in on you", and then they almost blew it up again in the third part of the series "Extradition" - about the struggle of the fearless Polish commissar Khalsky with - Russian, of course - the mafia, but then it suddenly turned out that the surrounding houses "may not withstand" - and the monument to the "gloomy era" of Stalinism (besides, estimated by realtors at $ 900 million) remained standing.

* * *
I will tell you my opinion about the place of the building in the spatial fabric of Warsaw.
I watched it from six of the eight main points at a distance from it, including from the Prague bank of the Vistula, and I can say that I fully agree with the definition of the conservatives there - "the cosmic axis that runs through the very heart of the capital." Yes, this is indeed the absolute dominant of the capital and its semantic axis - it can be seen from everywhere and everywhere full and instant recognition is ensured.

And in this sense, it must be admitted, yes, that Stalin managed to do what the Russian tsars failed to do. If the monumental Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which dominated the center before the revolution, was destroyed by the Poles "at the moment of catharsis" in 1921-23, when they had a passionate Pilsudski; then it was not possible to take the "eighth sister" impudently in this way. The skyscraper does not look Polish, and immediately evokes clear associations, for all its perfect beauty. Namely, in the center of the West Slavic civilization, a grandiose symbol of the East Slavic civilization, its Soviet subspecies, was approved. This is exactly what the conservative enemies of the building are aiming at, and I understand their anger.
This is a really bright symbol of the USSR, which for many reasons turned out to be impossible to destroy. And he calls all the time popbol devout nationalists. And it will be called for another 40 years, until the generation of "Solidarity" and the peers of Walesa finally leaves for the next world.

19. In post-war socialist Warsaw, the Palace was the only dominant (photo from the time of Poland).

20. But even now it stands out sharply among other high-rise dominants. View almost from the beginning of Jerusalem Alleys (from the east).

21. From the west, from the former Warsaw-Vienna-Tovarnaya freight station (then abandoned Warsaw-Glavnaya).

22. Since the "cosmic axis of Warsaw and the symbol of enslavement" could not be taken in a bold manner, the authorities of the Polish capital after 2007 headed for the "environment" of its modern skyscrapers in order to reduce the spatial influence of the Palace.

23. Or here, also a good example.

24. There is even a project that provides for the complete suppression of the majestic panoramas of the Palace and the development of open spaces surrounding it with parallelepipeds and towers. How relevant it is now, I do not know (sent vilnews ):

25. View from the east, in the rear "new" towers.

26. However, in the public, "pop" cultural space The palace has firmly established itself as a familiar Warsaw symbol. This is well evidenced, for example, by the market of souvenir magnets, which is not regulated by any institutions of national memory:

27. Here's another. The symbolism of the Palace is adapted for both children and sports fans; it is a familiar and beloved part of the urban space.

28. At the end of the story - a short walk through the external details, from the east side.

29. Main entrance.

30. He, from a diagonal angle. The colonnade is especially well emphasized here.

31. Around the building - sculptures of scientists and cultural figures. According to the name of the building.

32. Please note: under the new sign of the building, you can also see the old one, carved in stone.

33. We go along the facade to the north.

34. A whole bunch of sirens, put here for Euro 2012.

35. When you walk for a long time, after a while it begins to seem, associatively, something from the Roman Empire.

36. The sculptures already have broken noses, and in general "old age and meritoriousness."

37. In the niches - sculptures symbolizing different directions art.

38. Commemorative plaque about the Warsaw ghetto.

39. Art Deco windows.

40. Lanterns.

41. Columns.

42. Okay... let's look upstairs again before we go inside.
The building is so full of details that I have not told you even a thirtieth part of what can be shown.

43. ... and let's enter this door.

Our way is to the XXX floor, where the high-altitude observation deck is located.
Let's see the city from above and the Palace from the inside.

To be continued.

A representative of the ruling party, who wished to remain anonymous, admits that there have long been people in its ranks who dream of demolishing the skyscraper that Stalin gave the Poles in the 1950s. Our interlocutor believes that this is completely natural and urges not to be surprised public discussion, because for some this building is a part of history, and for others it is a symbol of communism.

“Colleagues say that the idea of ​​holding a referendum in Warsaw during the period of elections to local governments (autumn 2018) is being discussed. They say that the people of Warsaw should be given the right to give their assessment of the Stalinist skyscraper, since the Civic Platform party is going to get their opinion on the monuments dedicated to the Smolensk disaster, ”adds another source.

The Palace of Culture can be blown up by the army

The demolition group in the Law and Justice party is quite strong, however, it has not spoken publicly before. She announced herself the other day through the mouths of four ministers and the Deputy Speaker of the Seimas.

The head of the Ministry of Culture and Deputy Prime Minister Piotr Gliński was the first to speak. On the radio station RMF FM, he admitted that the idea to demolish the skyscraper for the centenary of Poland's independence exists. He himself does not deal with this issue, but he has nothing against such an operation if it is carried out meaningfully so that after the Palace of Culture in the city center there is no huge pit left.

He was quickly joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Development Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. At the solemn ceremony of summing up the results of two years of work of the Law and Justice government, he stressed that he had been dreaming of the demolition of the high-rise building for the last 40 years, that is, since childhood.

Then the Minister of the Interior and Administration, Mariusz Błaszczak, spoke. In an interview with Polskie Radio, he stated: “The Palace of Culture and Science is a symbol of Soviet domination, and the symbols play important role, because they form the worldview, first of all it concerns the youth”.

Deputy Defense Minister Bartosz Kownacki volunteered to lead the operation and immediately outlined a plan on Radio ZET: he would call in the military and they would blow up the building.

“I stand for the restoration of the real Warsaw, as it was in the 19th century, and the return of the pre-war appearance of the square on which the Palace of Culture is located.” This is the statement of the Vice-Speaker of the Seimas Ryszard Terlecki, who added that the skyscraper ... threatens the health of citizens. "It's built of asbestos, the Geiger counters next to this building are going crazy," he explained.

Ryszard Markowski, who has been responsible for the technical condition of the Palace for many years, retorted: “We regularly check the building, and although asbestos was used during construction, it does not threaten health. I have not heard that people with Geiger counters are circling around the skyscraper. I don't know where the vice-speaker of the Seimas got such information from. How realistic is it to blow up the Palace? “This is a powerful structure lined with ceramic panels. It will be very difficult to destroy it with the help of explosives,” says Markovsky and adds: Of course, you can blow up anything, even Earth. The only question is why?

Context

Warsaw plays the anti-German card

Warsaw vs. Paris, Lithuania is waiting

Warsaw switches the switch

Our sources say the demolition group was inspired by Jan Pietrzak, a right-wing bard and "change for the better" singer. “He went around the media with this topic, it all started with him,” one of the Law and Justice members told us anonymously.
Petjak is an influential person in the circles of the party of Jarosław Kaczynski (Jarosław Kaczyński), where they adore his reprises on political topics. The TVP channel even arranged a benefit performance for the satirist in Opole, trying to show his performance in such a way that no empty stands could be seen.

Petrzak actively joined in the preparations for the celebration of the centenary of Poland's independence. The patriotic society he created promotes the idea of ​​building in the capital triumphal arch in honor of the victory over the Bolsheviks in 1920. The society enjoys the support of the ruling party, and among its honorary members is, in particular, Minister Glinsky.

A variety of sites were proposed for placing the arch, recently Pietzhak made a proposal to put it on the Vistula (not the city, but the state manages the river). He wants the arch to become a new symbol of Warsaw, which will eclipse the Palace of Culture. There were even thoughts that she should surpass him in height.
“Until now, we were ruled by elites who honored the memory of Stalin,” the satirist explained on TVP Info. “It was important to someone that Stalin’s palace towered over Warsaw.”

The palace received a conservation status thanks to "Law and Justice"

Not all representatives of the ruling party support attacks on the Warsaw skyscraper. Some of our interlocutors believe that this topic serves as a distraction, and the authorities are seriously preparing for the celebration of the centenary of independence. “We want to show our national liberation traditions, there were no plans for the Palace of Science and Culture,” one of our informants said. “A political decision on the skyscraper has not been made,” added another.

The topic of the demolition of the building is raised regularly in Kaczynski's party. In 2007, the Palace of Culture and Science was included in the register of architectural monuments, however, before this happened, many high-ranking officials from Law and Justice managed to deal with its issue. Voivode Wojciech Dąbrowski tried to block the entry of the building into the register of monuments, and his successor Jacek Sasin was looking for incriminating documents related to the Palace.

The whole situation was somewhat delicate for Law and Justice: the idea to give the skyscraper a protective status appeared due to the fact that the director Bolshoi Theater in Warsaw (who was in a trusting relationship with the mayor of the capital, Lech Kaczynski), decided to arrange a musical theater in the Congress Hall of the Palace.

The skyscraper has had problems before. The attention of an influential member of the Warsaw City Council, Maciej Maciejowski, was attracted in 2012 by an inscription on one of the sculptures in the Congress Hall. The name of Marx, Engels and Lenin was engraved on the book, which the worker was holding in his hands.

“These are the creators of the theoretical basis of the communist ideology and the bloody criminal who personified it. The administration of the Palace, demonstrating the aforementioned sculpture in public space, is committing an act that can be qualified as illegal,” he wrote. However, the names were not removed from the book.

The materials of InoSMI contain only assessments of foreign media and do not reflect the position of the editors of InoSMI.