The building of the Bank of Poland in Warsaw

The Bank Polski building, located at 10 Bielańska Street in Warsaw, was constructed between 1907 and 1911 according to the design of Leonty Benois for the Russian State Bank. It was an important element of the city center's architecture, built on the site of the Warsaw Mint complex. After Poland regained independence in 1918, the building housed the Polish National Loan Fund, and from 1926, the Bank Polski Joint Stock Company. During World War II, the building was used by the Warsaw Branch of the Emission Bank, and during the Warsaw Uprising, it served as an insurgent stronghold and the site of intense fighting. After the war, in the 1960s, a significant portion of the damaged building was demolished, leaving only a fragment of the facade, which was later listed as a historical monument. In the post-war period, the building was used by the Ministry of Finance, and there were plans to house the Warsaw Uprising Museum there, though this ultimately did not come to fruition. In 1993, the building was sold, and after 2010, the modern Senator office building was erected in its place, while preserving some historical elements. The building stands out for its historic architecture, which remains a testament to Poland's turbulent history and is an important landmark in the cultural consciousness of the capital. Many photographs document its heritage, including images from the occupation period and preserved fragments that recall its former glory. Interestingly, the original part of the building, despite its destruction, witnessed many key historical events, making it a place rich in history.