Gestapo HeadquartersFree: Thursdays

The building of the Gestapo Headquarters was originally built as a centre of religious beliefs. When the Nazi came into power, it became the most feared establishment in Poland. This imposing building was were prisoners were held prior to interrogation. Tortures and killings were not uncommon tactics employed by the Nazis to break the Polish opposition. Today, the former Gestapo Headquarters building houses the Ministry of Education with a small museum within. The structure is left rather untouched. The cell prisons have been left largely as they were. The bullets marks scarring the walls serves as a memory of what the prisoners had to go through. English language tape that plays and also torture instrument that are in display tell a vivid story on how the prisoners were subjected to savage beatings, dog attacks and electrocution. Children under 14 are not admitted. The free entry ticket to the Gestapo Headquarters also admits you to the Pawiak Prison Museum.

Address: Al. Szucha 25, Warsaw
Opening hours: Wed – Sun 10am – 5pm; Closed Mondays & Tuesdays
Direction: Tram 1/7/9/10/11/14/15/17/25/31/33 to Metro Politechnika Stop; Bus 222 to Pl. Na Rozdrozu Stop; Metro M1 to Politechnika Station
Phone: +48 22 629 49 19
Website: www.muzeum-niepodleglosci.pl/mauzoleum_szucha

Photo credit: Henryk Poddębski, Adrian Grycuk