Warsaw University Library

Warsaw


The stunning copper-clad building that houses the university library was awarded top prize by the Association of Polish Architects in 2000. The main facade, curving down ul Dobra, is lined with 7m-high book-shaped slabs, decorated with classical texts in the Sanskrit, Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, Russian Cyrillic and Latin alphabets.

To the rear of the building is the univeristy garden, with a ground-level section open year-round and the 2000-sq-m rooftop garden open April to October. Step inside the main entrance corridor to view the interior decoration that includes classic Polish posters, originals and copies of which you can buy from Galeria Plakatu Polskiego w BUW, Warszawa.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Warsaw attractions

1. Warsaw University Library Garden

0.03 MILES

Measuring over a hectare, the rooftop garden atop Warsaw University Library provides a lush perch from which to admire the city skyline with views over…

2. Museum on the Vistula

0.12 MILES

Poland's largest painting, measuring 1600 sq m, by Sławomir Pawszak covers the exterior of a pavilion designed by Austrian architect Adolf Krischanitz…

3. Copernicus Science Centre

0.14 MILES

The fully interactive, push-the-buttons-and-see-what-happens Copernicus Science Centre pulls off that tricky feat of being both hugely fun and educational…

4. Elektronia Powiśle

0.19 MILES

Keep your eyes peeled for new openings, including a boutique hotel, bars, cafes, restaurants and shops in the early-20th-century power plant that has been…

5. Heavens of Copernicus Planetarium

0.2 MILES

You may well find yourself wanting to make multiple visits to this far from average planetarium. A packed repertoire of films is projected across a 16m…

6. Kazimierz Palace

0.21 MILES

In its 380-year history this building, which is currently part of Warsaw University, has been remodelled several times. In the early 19th century it…

7. Discovery Park

0.23 MILES

Pilates lessons (11am to 2pm Saturday and Sunday), telescopes to observes the night skies and a free outdoor summer cinema (9pm Friday) are among the…

8. Vistulan Boulevards

0.26 MILES

Running for around 5km along the west bank of the Vistula between the Poniatowski and Gdańsk bridges, these boulevards have been brilliantly landscaped…