Warsaw, Poland - This walking tour explores the Old Town, called Stare Miasto in Polish. During the Warsaw Uprising in August 1944, more than 85% of the old town was destroyed by Nazi troops but it has been restored to its former glory and is now the most picturesque part of Warsaw.

After meeting your guide, you start your tour in Castle Square. In the center of the square you see the Zygmunt Column which celebrates the man he helped move the capital of Poland from Krakow to Warsaw. On one side of the square are delightful Old Town Houses and on the other, the Royal Castle.

Your guide will lead you on a private tour of the castle which was the official residence and offices of the Royal Monarch for centuries. It too was destroyed in the war but was reopened as a National Monument and Museum in the 1980s. Today is the symbol of Polish statehood.

After visiting the castle, you walk to the Old Town Market Place which is the heartbeat of the area. Some of the most beautiful buildings in Warsaw are found in this square which dates back to the 13th century. In days past merchants and guilds would meet in the Town Hall. Likewise public markets and even executions took place here. Today you find locals and tourists who enjoy the many restaurants, caf̩s and shops.

Next your guide will take you to the small streets of the Old Town where you can marvel at the medieval architecture, the city walls and Cathedral of St. John, one of the oldest churches in Warsaw.

You end your tour near the fortifications known as the Barbican. When the entire city was surrounded by walls, this was once one of the main entries into the Old Town. The fortification is built on a semicircular design so that neither arrows nor cannonballs could penetrate the multiple doors. Today, this is a top draw for tourists.

After visiting the Barbican, your tour ends outside the old town at the entrance to the New Town. This is also a popular spot in Warsaw with many caf̩s to enjoy. Depending on the timing, your guide may take you through some of the new town as well.

Mobility: NO wheelchairs