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The zoo – not just a sanctuary for animals During the Nazi occupation of Warsaw, Jan Żabiński, the Warsaw Zoo's director, and his wife, Antonia, saved about 300 Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto and Nazi death camps. The Żabiński family turned the zoo into a pig farm, which was to be used so the German forces could be fed. Jan Żabiński befriended a few Nazi officials and was granted access to the Warsaw Ghetto so he could gather left over scraps to feed the pigs, to study the Ghetto's park system, and for any other imaginable reason. His real reason for going to the Ghetto was to smuggle Jews out and safeguard them at the zoo by hiding the Jews in the cages and animal exhibits at the zoo. Diane Ackerman wrote The Zookeeper's Wife, which details the story of the Żabińskis, focusing particularly on Antonia's story. |
- Warsaw Zoo (Warszawskie Zoo), ul. Ratuszowa 1/3, ☎ +48 (0/22) 619 40 41 (fax: +48 (0/22) 619 58 98), www.zoo.waw.pl. Open daily from 9AM until 7PM (Tickets sold until 6PM). A relatively small zoo, but with some interesting species, including a pack of wild and rambunctious monkeys that seem to fascinate every visitor. Other Zoo residents include lemurs, giraffes, elephants, hyraxes (the elephant's strange looking relatives that weigh only 2 - 5 kilograms compared to an elephant's weight of 3,000 - 6,000 kilograms), lions, tigers, zebras, and jaguars that live in a glass enclosure that allows you stand only centimeters away from the beasts. The Warsaw Zoo is a great place to spend time for adults or children. Admission: Adults zł 12, Children zł 6, Children under three years are free.
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- Saint Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church (Cerkiew św. Marii Magdaleny), pl. Wileński (Lies about a block east of Praski Park). One of two Orthodox churches in Warsaw nowdays. (52.245,21.033)
- The Memorial of the Brotherhood of Arms at the intersection of al. Solidarności and ul. Targowa, maliciously nicknamed "the four sleeping guys" (czterech śpiących).
- 19th Century Houses around pl. Weteranów 1863 r., ul. Kłopotowskiego and ul. Okrzei, in particular The Jewish Mikvah built in 1840 at ul. Kłopotowskiego 31. See also the list of all historic buildings in Praga Północ www.praga-pn.waw.pl/pragapn/content/download/2979/14413/file/wykaz_zabytkow%2009.08.2005.rtf (RTF).
- Ząbkowska Street (ul. Ząbkowska) www.zabkowska.waw.pl
- Praski Park (Park Praski), (Across the street from the Zoo's entrance). A park that's good for a stroll. There's a large sculpture of a giraffe and a playground for children within the park's grounds. Near the entrance to the Warsaw Zoo, there are a few eateries that serve up ice cream.
- Saints Michael & Florian Cathedral (Katedra św. Michała Archanioła i św. Floriana), ul Floriańska 3, ☎ +48 (0/22) 619 09 60, www.katedra-floriana.wpraga.opoka.org.pl.
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