Royal Castle in Warsaw
Warsaw, Poland
The Royal Castle in Warsaw is a former royal residence on Castle Square in the city's Old Town. Originating from a medieval stronghold of the Dukes of Masovia, it was rebuilt and expanded over the centuries and served as the official residence of Polish monarchs and the seat of government, including the Sejm parliament.
The castle was deliberately destroyed by German forces during the Second World War. It was painstakingly reconstructed between the 1970s and 1980s using surviving fragments and historical records, and now operates as a museum displaying period interiors, paintings and decorative arts.