Franciszkańska
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| This article does not cite any references or sources. (February 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
| This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (February 2008) |
Franciszkańska (Franciscan Street) is a street in the city centre of Warsaw, linking the New Town with Nalewki street. In 19th century it was inhabited primarily by Jews, who converted the street into a large open-air marketplace. The name itself was derived from the Saint Francis' Church owned by the Franciscans.
The street was destroyed during World War II, as was most of the New Town and Old Town. The Franciscans were able to rebuilt the St. Francis church, as well as their adjoining monastery. The church was finally completed with the completion of the main altar in mid-1970's. The street itself, with one exception (an apartment building that survived the war and, although dilpidated, remained occupied until late 1970's, when it was torn down and a new building built in its place) was rebuilt in, what was at the time a "model" socialist housing style, in 1949 and most buildings occupied in 1950. They were occupied by the workers of PWPW, the state printing concern a few blocks over, where money was being printed before the war as well after. Ironically, because PWPW was build to include the government bunkers in case of war, it was literally impossible to tear down after the war. Today, Franciszkanska is a residential street in a very desirable part of town.

