Back to the Past

I invite you on a journey through Poland – not only on the map, but also in time. You will see places that have bravely endured the passage of time over the past 100 years, and even longer. Today they look almost the same as decades ago. However, not all places were so lucky. It is worth taking a look at what has changed and why in them. Feel free to play with the differences and similarities.

Created by:

Renata Pernak

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Guess what these places are
Find the differences and similarities

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PLACE 1

Guess what place it is, find the differences and similarities

Negative 13/18

National Museum in Szczecin

We start our journey in the north of Poland, at the Hay Market in Szczecin

The word "market" refers to a square in the city center where trade used to take place. The term "hay" reminds us that hay was once sold here. On the market there is a town hall. It's the tall, quite narrow building on the right side.

Negative 13/18

National Museum in Szczecin

The municipal officials vacated its interiors at the end of the 19th century, moving to another larger building. At that time, various companies rented the premises in the town hall. In the black and white photograph, we see a sign with the German word "Möbel," meaning furniture. In addition to a furniture warehouse and store, there was also a wine bar located there. Currently, the building serves as the headquarters of the Szczecin History Museum.

Negative 13/18

National Museum in Szczecin

In the black and white photograph, the building on the left side also stands out. It is the former stock exchange, which was a place where important commercial transactions took place. The building was destroyed during bombing in World War II. Today, residential blocks stand in its place.

Negative 13/18

National Museum in Szczecin

PLACE 2

Guess what place it is, find the differences and similarities

Photographic print

National Museum in Szczecin

Photographic print

National Museum in Szczecin

Let's now move to the street of Korsarzy in Szczecin

We will walk along this street from the city center to the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes. Along the way, we will come across the Bell Tower. Inside the tower, there is a bell that was cast 500 years ago! Interestingly, it is older than the tower itself by over 100 years. Therefore, it must have been located in another place before – most likely in the castle's church.

Photographic print

National Museum in Szczecin

Although this street measures just over 100 meters, it has witnessed many changes over the centuries. In the Middle Ages, it was a narrow path along the city walls, which is why it was called "Przy Murze Miejskim" (By the City Wall Street). In later times, it had various names: "Przy Fosie" (By the Moat), "Zamkowa" (Castle Street), and "Wielka Rycerska" (Great Knightly Street), before receiving the name "Korsarzy" after World War II.

Regardless of its name, the street has always captivated painters and photographers with its charm. The view from the presented photographs can be considered the most iconic view of the Szczecin Castle.

PLACE 3

Guess what place it is, find the differences and similarities

Pocztówka z widokiem Warszawy – ulicy Królewskiej

Museum of the history of Polish Jews

Straight from Szczecin, we move to Warsaw, to Królewska Street

In the black and white pre-war postcard, we can see a vibrant street. A tram full of passengers is passing between tall tenement buildings, pedestrians hurry to attend to their affairs. In our direction – towards Krakowskie Przedmieście – a horse-drawn carriage is heading ...

Pocztówka z widokiem Warszawy – ulicy Królewskiej

Museum of the history of Polish Jews

Nearly a hundred years later, it is completely different. The tenement buildings on the right side of the street have disappeared, and in their place, there is a neatly mowed lawn of Saski Garden. There is calm and silence, even though it is the very center of the capital.

What caused this change? During World War II, German soldiers received orders to level Warsaw to the ground. Over the course of six years of war, most of the magnificent buildings turned into piles of rubble.

Pocztówka z widokiem Warszawy – ulicy Królewskiej

Museum of the history of Polish Jews

However, there is a common element in both photos: it is the tenement building of the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts (Towarzystwo Zachęty Sztuk Pięknych), visible on the left side. By some miracle, it survived the war and to this day houses an institution related to art, Zachęta – National Gallery of Art.

Pocztówka z widokiem Warszawy – ulicy Królewskiej

Museum of the history of Polish Jews

PLACE 4