Praga's Vistula Shore – A Story Strengthened by Water | European Heritage Days

About the event

During a walk with Kasia and Monika, we will explore how water (the river, floodplains, and hydrotechnical systems) has influenced the history, development, and identity of the Praga district of Warsaw. Our journey will begin in Praski Park, established on the former floodplain areas of Warsaw. These floodplains have shaped the landscape and lives of the residents of the right bank of the Vistula for centuries. The next stops will take us to places where water and humans have continuously intersected. From historic bridges connecting Praga with left-bank Warsaw to the area of the former Praski Port, which was intended to become a modern center of trade and transport. We will also learn why water supply and sewage systems only reached Praga at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries and how this changed the daily lives of its residents. Nature-related themes will not be missing either. We will pause at Warsaw's floodplains, visit Rusałka Beach, which offers a panoramic view of the Old Town and the Vistula River. The walk will be an opportunity to look at Praga through the lens of water, a force that has shaped the rhythm of life, engineering challenges, and the unique character of this district for centuries. The walk will be led by: - Kasia Szatanek – storyteller at the Museum of Warsaw's Praga, conservator of monuments, gilder, and guide who passionately leads tours of historical Warsaw. Fascinated by history, art, and architecture, she can turn any story into a colorful journey through the ages. From medieval walls to modernist tenements, from old residences to hidden corners full of secrets. - Monika Pyszna – nature educator, landscape architect, and florist who has been exploring the world of plants in its various forms for years. "My goal is to show you that plants are not just a backdrop – they are the heroines of everyday life, which can be noticed if we just stop and look more closely." Together, Kasia and Monika form the guiding duo Natura Miasta. 📅 When: 13.09 | 15:00 – 16:30 📍 Meeting point: entrance to Praski Park (by the big bear) Participation is free and does not require a ticket. The walk is part of the two-year project "Opowiem Ci Historię" by the Museum of Warsaw's Praga, carried out with adult volunteers – enthusiasts of storytelling. "Opowiem Ci Historię" is a project that has been conducted for two years by the Museum of Warsaw's Praga. We collaborate with volunteers who are passionate about storytelling. Often, they are not professional guides to Warsaw but ordinary residents who feel connected to the right-bank districts and want to share their stories with others. Photo: Vistula floodplains near the Stadion Dziesięciolecia, Edward Hartwig, between 1993 and 2001, Warsaw, collection of the Museum of Warsaw