Cytadela – A place to meet the Polish history

This place was built by Tsar Nicholas I after the November Uprising of 1830. The 10th pavilion, which is open to public and which you can now visit, was a place where political prisoners were kept. Cytadela was also a place where many of them were killed later on for their revolt against the Russian repression.

I suggest to take some time to walk about, read the names on the board in the Gate of Killings and try to understand the overall atmosphere.

I always come here on a foggy morning when it’s cold and windy and rainy when you can expect no one else there. Because this place is huge and there are not many watchmen, you can feel as if you were really in the prison, and not just visiting. Probably this is a huge oversimplification but I just don’t feel visiting this place on a sunny afternoon would be appropriate.