The route of industrial Wola from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries

The Warsaw Gas Works (Gazownia Warszawska) is one of the best-preserved industrial architecture complexes of the 19th and 20th centuries, consisting of: production buildings, two gas tanks, a water tower, a fire station, a coach house, as well as office and residential buildings. The former gas shelter and compressor station is the seat of the Gas Museum, but at present, visitors are not allowed to enter it – renovation works are underway in this part of the complex. It promises to be a completely new tourist attraction in the district.

Through Alojzy Pawełek park we reach two gas tanks at Prądzyńskiego Street. The higher rotunda was built in 1888, the lower one in 1900. The tanks are unique on a European scale – similar ones can only be found in Vienna.

Then we go along Prądzyńskiego Street to the footbridge over the railway tracks and reach the former factory of Lilpop, Rau and Loewenstein from 1904. This factory was famous, among others, for the production of steam locomotives, trams and cars. Before the war, the plant occupied over 22 hectares and employed 3,500 people. During the Warsaw Uprising, the Germans deported to the Reich all machines, devices, company and employee documents. After the war, only a few buildings remained, which now house service premises, offices and a music club.

Going further along the footbridge over Prymasa Tysiąclecia Avenue, after turning left, we reach Armatnia Street. The unique atmosphere here is created by the brick houses of the Warsaw-Kalisz Railway workers from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Until recently, the place looked as if time had stopped here, now a modern housing estate is being expanded in the area. Just behind the last house you will find the brick viaduct of the Warsaw-Kalisz railway from 1902. It is one of the oldest reinforced concrete structures in Warsaw.