Chłodna Street in Warsaw

Chłodna Street, located in the Wola district of Warsaw, boasts a rich history dating back to the 17th century, when it began as a rural road connecting Mirowski Square to the village of Wola. After being incorporated into the Saxon Axis in 1713, it gained significance as a major transportation route toward Poznań and Wrocław. In the 19th century, especially following the establishment of the Congress Kingdom, Chłodna experienced intensive development with numerous architectural landmarks, including the neoclassical Wola Tollgates designed by Jakub Kubicki and elegant tenement houses built by renowned architects such as Antonio Corazzi and Fryderyk Albert Lessel. During this period, breweries also emerged, with industrialist Wincenty Norblin standing out—his bronze workshop became one of the key enterprises. The street was also the site of significant historical events, including Frédéric Chopin’s passage in 1830 and the boundary of the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II. In 1942, a wooden footbridge was erected over the street, which was later dismantled. During the Warsaw Uprising, a significant number of Chłodna’s residents lost their lives, and most of its buildings were nearly completely destroyed. After the war, as part of reconstruction efforts, the area lost its original transportation importance in favor of new arterial roads. Today, the street features revitalized buildings, such as the Under the Clock Tenement House and the Footbridge of Memory, commemorating the history of the ghetto. It is also worth mentioning notable residents like fable writer Stanisław Jachowicz and the blessed priest Jerzy Popiełuszko. Chłodna Street gained fame in popular culture as a setting in Roman Polański’s film *The Pianist*. Today, Chłodna blends historical richness with modernity, preserving the memory of important events and figures that have shaped its legacy.