The year 2025 marks exactly one hundred years since Podkowa Leśna, a unique garden city that was one of the most interesting examples of modernist urban planning in pre-war Poland, appeared on the map of Poland. Its history is a story of vision, courage of investors, love of nature and architecture, and a place that has retained its unique character over the decades.
Podkowa Leśna – a vision of a city among trees
The symbolic moment of birth of Podkowa Leśna is April 9, 1925. It was then, in the building of the Warsaw mortgage office, that the documents establishing the company “City-Garden Podkowa Leśna” were signed. The signatories were Janusz Regulski and Tadeusz Baniewicz, associated with the “Siła i Światło” concern, and Stanisław Wilhelm Lilpop – the owner of the land on which the settlement was planned to be built. The idea of a garden city was inspired by the then developing concept of harmonious co-existence of architecture and nature. The urban design was commissioned to the architect Antoni Jawornicki, who proposed a concentric layout with streets radiating out like rays from a central point, i.e. the EKD electric railway station, today known as the Warsaw Commuter Railway.
Architecture and culture – elegance among greenery
From the beginning, Podkowa Leśna attracted intellectuals, artists and representatives of the official and academic elite. The houses were designed by leading architects of interwar Poland, such as Maciej Nowicki, Bohdan Lachert, Józef Szanajca or Lucjan Korngold. This gave the city not only an aesthetic flair, but also a unique identity. It is worth mentioning the Stawisko villa, built to a design by Stanisław Gądzikiewicz, which became the home of Anna and Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz. Today, it houses a museum dedicated to the memory of the writer and his wife, and is the cultural heart of Podkowa.
Difficult years – war and resistance
During World War II Podkowa Leśna, like many other towns near Warsaw, became a shelter for Jews in hiding and refugees from Warsaw. After the fall of the Warsaw Uprising, thousands of people flowed into the town, including representatives of the Home Army. For this reason, the area became known as ‘Little London’. It was here, in one of the houses, that the only Home Army radio station that survived the insurgent destruction operated. It was operated by Zofia and Stefan Korboński, later heroes and witnesses of history.
Post-war activity and rebellious spirituality
After the war, Podkowa Leśna retained its independence and social activity. In the 1960s and 1970s, St Christopher’s parish, led by Father Leon Kantorski, became a place for meetings, prayers for the homeland and a space for independent culture. It was here that the first performance of the so-called “beat mass” in Poland took place – liturgy accompanied by rock music. During martial law, the church was a point of resistance, with hunger strikes organised in defence of political prisoners and numerous meetings with oppositionists and historians.
The green pearl of Mazovia
Today Podkowa Leśna is a witness to history and an important place on the map of Mazovia. Surrounded by forests, with three nature reserves and many natural monuments, it has retained its villa-like, peaceful character. The Linden Alley with almost a hundred century-old lime trees, old villas and palaces, a modernist church with a unique sacred interior or the aforementioned Stawisko – all this creates a unique atmosphere in the town. The town is also a popular destination for weekend trips for Varsovians, who, thanks to the WKD railway, can quickly find themselves among the greenery and tranquillity.
Podkowa Leśna – heritage and future
Since 1981, Podkowa Leśna has been listed in the register of historical monuments, which was a controversial decision at the time, but ultimately allowed many valuable buildings to be protected from uncontrolled redevelopment. Today, the city authorities and residents try to take care of this unique character by nurturing greenery, supporting culture and opening their gardens during the annual Open Gardens Festival. On the 100th anniversary of Podkowa Leśna, it is worth not only remembering its rich history, but also looking to the future with the hope that it will continue to be a place where nature, culture and the human community form a harmonious whole.
Source: Mazovian Voivodeship Historic Preservation Officer
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Estate | Urban Planning | Monument | History
