Hotel Europejski in Warsaw

The Hotel Europejski, now known as Raffles Europejski Warsaw, is one of the most luxurious hotels in Warsaw, with a history dating back to the years 1855–1877. Designed by Henryk and Leandro Marconi, it was the city's first modern hotel, equipped with central heating and a passenger elevator, which began operation in 1877. The hotel stands on the site of earlier buildings, including the 18th-century Ogiński Palace and the Gerlach Hotel, giving it a rich architectural and historical context. Over the years, the hotel housed the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts and the popular Lourse patisserie. Significant events in the hotel's history include the execution of pastry apprentice Emilian Chodakowski in 1863 for his involvement in the assassination of a tsarist agent, and the suicide of Major Ludwik Eydziatowicz in 1918. During the interwar period, the hotel boasted 250 rooms and enjoyed a prestigious reputation. After wartime destruction, the building underwent numerous changes, including conversion into the Military-Political Academy, and later, it was managed by the Orbis group. Renovation attempts were made in 1989 but did not yield the desired results. The hotel was reactivated in 1993, and a new chapter began in 2018 following a comprehensive renovation and expansion, which sparked controversy. Today, the hotel combines the functions of a luxury accommodation and office space, emphasizing its history and role in Warsaw's cultural and social life. The Hotel Europejski is not only architecturally significant but also culturally important, with a rich history that spans centuries and continues to attract tourists and guests from around the world.