Warsaw Tour Guide, Ela Rudniak

18/08/2026

Only today did I learn that this book hadn’t been translated into English… but thankfully, it eventually has.

It’s a non-fiction book and a memoir by Kazimierz Moczarski, who spent almost 10 months in a prison cell with Jürgen Stroop, the N**i commander responsible for the destruction of the Warsaw Ghetto.

A must-read for anyone interested in WWII, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising and unique first-hand experience.

Polish war hero Kazimierz Moczarski spent 255 days sharing a cell with an SS general. Nearly 50 years after it was published, an uncensored version of his account is appearing in English for the first time

01/08/2026

Today, 1 August, marks the 82nd anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising.

I'm going to take part in the commemorative march honoring those who fought and died for Warsaw's freedom.

As some of you know, at 5:00 p.m. CEST the city sirens will sound throughout Warsaw. It was at exactly 5:00 p.m. on 1 August 1944 - the famous "W Hour" - that the uprising began across the city.

I may start live-streaming from the march at around 4:45 p.m. (Polish time) on my YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/). As this is a large public event, however, whether I go live will depend on the circumstances.
(➡️📣NB In order to get a notification from YouTube, please subscribe to my YT channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxxHogx_Xt1zzu5PaTHot-g?sub_confirmation=1)

Every year, Warsaw comes to a standstill for one minute as people pause to remember the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of the insurgents and the civilians who fought and suffered for their city.

26/07/2026

The life of Fryderyk Chopin can be split into two main chapters: his youth in Poland and his emigrant years in Paris. Yet, it was in Poland where his musical style and unique sensitivity were truly born. Warsaw, in particular, is full of places linked to the great composer’s life.

Right now, I’m in Paris, tracing Chopin’s footsteps - visiting the places where he lived, performed, and spent his daily life. While many of these buildings no longer exist, Passage Jouffroy has survived the test of time. It’s a place where you can still buy vintage posters and postcards, and truly feel the atmosphere of old Paris.

At the end of the arcade sits the historic Hôtel Chopin, a homage to the neighborhood’s famous resident. There’s also a delightful Parisian legend. It says that Chopin and George Sand used to meet here in secret. Is it true? No documents confirm the story, so historians remain sceptical. But some legends are simply too beautiful not to be told. ❤️🎹

24/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined my livestream from this year’s March of Remembrance. ❤️

Some of you may have noticed that the livestream ended much earlier than expected. In previous years, the march lasted considerably longer, so I scheduled the stream for 1.5 hours. This year, however, the event started earlier than usual and concluded sooner than expected, with the programme ending in an artistic performance.

The March of Remembrance is held every year on 22 July, the anniversary of the beginning of the Great Deportation from the Warsaw Ghetto, when N**i Germany began the mass deportation of the ghetto’s Jewish population to the Treblinka extermination camp. Between 22 July and 21 September 1942, around 300,000 Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto were deported to Treblinka, where they were murdered.

This year’s march was dedicated to the women of the Warsaw Ghetto - caregivers, artists, educators, social activists and resistance fighters whose courage, resilience and determination helped preserve humanity in the darkest of times.

The march began at the Umschlagplatz Memorial and ended at Rachel Auerbach Square. Before the final performance, participants tied ribbons bearing the names of Jewish women onto an art installation created by Zuzanna Hertzberg. Each of us had received a ribbon at the beginning of the march, and together we transformed the installation into a collective act of remembrance. It was a simple yet deeply moving gesture, ensuring that these women would be remembered not as anonymous victims, but as individuals with names, lives and stories.

The commemorative programme concluded with an artistic performance.

Organised annually by the Jewish Historical Institute, the March of Remembrance ensures that the memory of the victims - and the stories of those who resisted, cared for others and documented the truth - continue to be passed on to future generations.

Thank you once again for walking online this path of remembrance with me.

13/07/2026

Some of you may have joined me for an online tour of Warsaw’s Royal Łazienki Park a while ago. The park was home to the magnificent summer residence of Poland’s last king. But the Palace on the Isle is much more than one of Warsaw’s most beautiful landmarks. It is a silent witness to Poland’s turbulent history.

This newly released ARTE documentary has just reminded me of the place, and how unique it is. Do find time to watch it. It will take you through the palace’s magnificent interiors, frescoes and gardens, accompanied by a wonderful performance of Chopin’s music by Alain Planès.

The documentary is also the story of a residence whose fate has closely mirrored that of Poland itself. If you’re interested in Warsaw, Poland’s and Warsaw’s dramatic history, architecture and music, this 44-minute film is well worth watching.

The documentary is available on ARTE until 16 October 2026. Enjoy! 🇵🇱🎹

W sercu warszawskich Łazienek wznosi się Pałac na Wodzie – dawna letnia rezydencja ostatniego króla Polski, dziś wyjątkowe miejsce sztuki i muzyki. ARTE oprowadza po jego salonach, freskach i ogrodach, a Alain Planès wykonuje na miejscu utwory Fryderyka Chopina. Muzyka kompozytora, pełna m...

07/07/2026

🎹 The beloved Chopin Concerts have returned to Warsaw’s Łazienki Park for their 67th season!

The official opening took place on Sunday, July 5, featuring two outstanding artists: world-renowned soprano Aleksandra Kurzak and Piotr Alexewicz, a laureate of the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. And I was there :)

This year the Chopin Concert season started late and so it runs until September 27. Free concerts are held every Sunday at 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM, with different performers appearing at each concert. If you're in Warsaw, don't skip it.

This year is especially significant, as the iconic Chopin Monument by Wacław Szymanowski has recently been restored and is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Mind you, the monument was destroyed in 1940 by German n***s. The reconstruction was completed in 1958. It's probably one of the best known Polish monuments in the world.

To summarise, the Sunday concerts are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a perfect blend of music, history, and nature in one of Warsaw’s most beautiful parks. 🌳🎶

Use the YouTube link below to see a Short from the first outstanding concert.
https://youtube.com/shorts/-GD98R_i_nc

02/07/2026

For nearly 66 years, Warsaw’s Palace of Culture and Science was Poland’s tallest building, until Varso Tower, the tallest building in the EU, took the crown on February 20, 2021, at 310 metres including its spire, pushing the Palace into second place at 237 metres.

As a Warsaw guide particularly interested in the history of the city, I’ve spent hours looking up at the Palace and contemplating its story. It’s one of those buildings that everyone in the city has an opinion about, yet it remains impossible to ignore. Love it or hate it, it has become part of Warsaw’s identity.

This time, however, I had the chance to see it from a completely different perspective. I took this photo from the top of Varso Tower, looking down at the Palace. Seeing Warsaw’s most iconic building from above is a strange and fascinating experience. For a moment, the giant that once towered over everything else seems almost shy and modest.

The city never stops changing, but some landmarks will always remain at the heart of its story.