A very short set of pictures from a conference visit to Warsaw in early July.

Originally the Joseph Stalin Palace of Science and Culture (the Stalin reference has subsequently been erased), this 1955 “gift” from Russia to Poland is the tallest building in the country (231 m).

The dominating (and arguably oppressive) nature of the Palace of Science & Culture has now been offset by a number of skyscrapers, such as the Lebeskind-designed Złota 44 tower on the left.

The Old Town Market Place was deliberately destroyed by the Nazi’s following the Warsaw Uprising. It was rebuilt to its original form in the 1950s, giving it a slightly strange theme park quality.

Catholic chapel in the excellent Warsaw Uprising Museum. There wouldn’t be many museums in Western Europe with a chapel attached!

Warsaw