Żoliborz (Polish pronunciation:[ʐɔˈlibɔʂ]) is one of the northern districts of the city of Warsaw. It is located directly to the north of the City Centre, on the left bank of the Vistula river. It has approximately 50,000 inhabitants and is one of the smallest boroughs of Warsaw. Despite its small size, the district has many green areas and mostly consists of low-rise architecture. Historically an upscale neighborhood and home to Warsaw's intelligentsia prior to World War II, Żoliborz is the second most expensive residential district in Warsaw after Śródmieście.[2]
History
In the 18th century the area belonged to the Piarists of a monastery in the nearby city of Warsaw. The monks started to parcel the grounds and allowed for the creation of various settlements on their fields, which were parceled between several villages. One of them was named Joli Bord (Beautiful Embankment in French, which was later transcribed to Polish language as Żoliborz). After 1831, the area was confiscated by Russian authorities, who erected the Warsaw Citadel there. The area was mostly unpopulated and even after the ban on construction of brick-made houses was lifted, it retained much of its rural character.
After Poland regained its independence in 1918, the city of Warsaw started to grow rapidly and new areas were needed. In the 1920s, the area of Żoliborz was converted into a borough of Warsaw and the construction of new houses started. Until the late 1930s part of today's Żoliborz was built-up with houses notable for their modernist architecture. Open areas, parks and squares built there are regarded as fine examples of good urbanist architecture. Also, a so-called Żoliborz Oficerski (Officers' Żoliborz) was built up with villas for the officers of the Polish Army and other notable people of the epoch. Several star-shaped squares were built along the main axis of the borough, with the Plac Wilsona as the borough's centre and main transport hub.
Plac Wilsona in 1960s
During the Warsaw Uprising, one of the first struggles took part in Żoliborz. After the Polish resistance was defeated by Nazi German forces, Żoliborz was spared the fate of the rest of Warsaw and survived the war with less damage than many other areas.
The district has traditionally been where the intelligentsia live. The names of its estates: Żoliborz Dziennikarski (Journalists’ Żoliborz), Żoliborz Oficerski (Officers' Żoliborz), Żoliborz Urzędniczy (Clerks’ Żoliborz) are derived from the former inhabitants professions.
Żoliborz has a lot of beautiful architecture: charming old villas and colonies - properties built in the 1930s by the socialist Warsaw Housing Cooperative (WSM), which used to have common laundries, kindergartens and dining-rooms.
The monument of the Sub-district II of Żoliborz „Żywiciela” at ks. J. Popiełuszki Street
Mural at Marii Kazimiery Street commemorating David Bowie visiting Żoliborz. The British artist stayed in Warsaw in 1976 during a trip from Zurich to Moscow. Unnoticed by the crowd, he bought a vinyl record of the Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble at Wilson Square (then Plac Komuny Square). That was an inspiration for the song Warszawa from the album Low. After the musician's death, a mural was created to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the visit.
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