Casimir Park

Casimir Park
The pond in the Casimir Park in 2020.
Type	Urban park
Location	Warsaw, Poland
Coordinates	52°14′29.436″N 21°01′14.52″E / 52.24151000°N 21.0207000°E / 52.24151000; 21.0207000
Area	4 ha
Created	1641 (original establishment) 1960s (reestablishment in the current form)

The Casimir Park (Polish: Park Kazimierzowski) in an urban park in Warsaw, Poland. It is located in the district of Downtown, between the University of Warsaw, Visitationist Church, Karowa Street, Stanisław Markiewicz Viaduct, Browarna Street, and Dynasy Street.

The Casimir Park (Polish: Park Kazimierzowski) is named after the nearby Casimir Palace (Polish: Pałac Kazimierzowski), which in turn was named after king John II Casimir Vasa (Polish: Jan II Kazimierz Waza), who resided there in the 17th century.^[1]

In the 17th century, king Władysław IV Vasa designed the area as the animal husbandry garden. Between 1636 and 1641, king John II Casimir Vasa built his residence there, the Casimir Palace, and developed the nearby lands as the recreational garden. It was one of the most prestigious garndens in Warsaw, and included various fountains, sculptures, altane, gazebos and grottos. It was severely destroyed in the 18th century, during the Swedish invasion on the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, known as the Deluge. It was rebuilt between 1728 and 1731.^[1]

In 1765 the area became the property of the Corps of Cadets, and remained undeveloped until 18th century. During this time the area was used for cattle grazing. In 1809 it became the botanical garden of the nearby Medical Academy, which in 1816 became the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Warsaw.^[1]

The Casimir Park in its current form was established in the 1960s.^[1] In 1984, it was given the status of the cultural property.^[2]

On 9 November 2000, in the park was unveiled the Monument to the Underground Education Teachers by sculptor Antonina Wysocka-Jonczak. It is dedicated to the teachers of the underground education during the German occupation of Poland, from 1939 to 1945, in the Second World War.^[3]

The Casimir Park is located between the University of Warsaw, Visitationist Church, Karowa Street, Stanisław Markiewicz Viaduct, Browarna Street, and Dynasy Street. The park is partially located at the base of the Warsaw Escarpment, with the Casimir Palace placed at its top. The park has the total area of 4 ha.^[1][2]

In the park is place the Monument to the Underground Education Teachers by sculptor Antonina Wysocka-Jonczak. It is dedicated to the teachers of the underground education during the German occupation of Poland, from 1939 to 1945, in the Second World War.^[2]

There is also a pond, which is one of the last habitats of the European green toad in the city.^[2]