It stands on the Vistula River on the site of a 14th century stronghold and trading center.

這個 14 世紀的堡壘和貿易中心， 就座落在維斯瓦河的河畔。

Warsaw has for centuries been a center of refinement and knowledge.

幾個世紀以來， 華沙一直都是精緻工藝和文化的中心。

It’s strategic position has also made it one of the most invaded countries in Europe.

而波蘭的戰略位置 也使其成為歐洲最常被侵略的國家之一。

This is a city that resonates with a powerful spirit of reinvention,

這個城市一次又一次地 遭受侵略

a spirit that has been forged from a history

並被推向毀滅的邊緣。

that has pushed it to the brink of destruction time and time again.

這樣的背景，也造就了華沙 強大的重建力量和不服輸的精神。

Today’s Warsaw has been largely shaped by two of history’s most defining events,

今日華沙的面貌 受到歷史上兩個重大事件的影響：

World War Two,

第二次世界大戰，

and the closing of the Iron Curtain.

以及鐵幕的降臨。

But Warsaw is a survivor,

然而，華沙是勇敢的生存者，

and from the ashes of war and the shackles of Communism,

走過了戰爭， 擺脫了共產，

the city has risen again.

這個城市再次浴火重生。

Tributes to this heroic history are dotted throughout the city,

這些歷史的足跡 遍及整座城市，

but there is a youthful rebirth here too. With a burgeoning fashion scene,

當然，也有新的創造。 藉由蓬勃發展的時尚圈、

stylish shopping malls and edgy art installations,

造型前衛的購物中心， 以及新進的邊緣藝術，

Warsaw has opened its arms to the world.

華沙張開雙臂與世界接軌。

The true heart of Warsaw is its Old Town

而華沙真正的心臟，

a stunning tribute to the city’s will to survive and rebuild.

還是它的舊城區， 這裡也是華沙生存意志的象徵。

This is where, in the dying days of the second world war,

舊城區也是在 第二次世界大戰時，

brave locals launched the Warsaw Uprising,

當地義勇人士

one of the most heroic resistance actions ever seen against the Nazis.

發動歷史上有名的「華沙起義」， 對抗納粹的起源地。

In retaliation,

而為了鎮壓和報復，

the Nazis almost completely destroyed the city.

納粹發動攻擊， 幾乎將這座城市夷為平地。

The opulent Royal Castle,

城堡廣場上

in Castle Square which served as the seat of power

華麗的皇家城堡， 是多個世紀以來

for Polish Kings for many centuries was one of the countless buildings

波蘭國王親政的 權力中心所在，

that were systematically destroyed,

也被數枚炸彈轟炸

many by dynamite.

而摧毀殆盡。

Before the detonations, however,

然而，某些博物館工作人員

and at enormous personal risk,

以及平民百姓，

museum staff and civilians managed to save a number of the castle’s treasures.

在上述的攻擊發生之前， 冒著生命危險設法就出了許多城堡裡的寶藏。

After the war,

在戰後，

much of the Old Town was painstakingly rebuilt

以 18 世紀的畫作為參考，

using 18th century paintings as a reference.

華沙得以重建大部分的舊城區。

In front of the castle is King Sigismund’s Column.

西吉斯蒙德圓柱 就豎立在城堡的正前方。

Badly damaged but restored, at the end of the war,

圓柱在戰爭後期 受到嚴重的破壞，

this is another symbol of the city’s resurrection.

這也是華沙浴火重生的另一個代表性地標。

One of the few statues not destroyed by the German army,

而附近的美人魚雕像 是少數於戰爭中

is the nearby Syrena or mermaid statue.

沒有受到德軍破壞的雕像之一。

The symbol and protector of Warsaw,

數個世紀以來，

the mermaid has been on the city’s coat of arms for centuries.

這座美人魚雕像被視為 華沙的象徵以及守護神。

The Old Town is also home to some of Warsaw’s beautiful cathedrals.

華沙的許多美麗教堂 也都座落在舊城區。

Visit St Johns Cathedral and St Anne’s Church,

聖約翰大教堂和聖安娜大教堂的內部

whose interior miraculously survived the war.

奇蹟似的安然渡過了戰爭。

From the tower at the top of the stone stairs,

爬上石梯，登上塔樓，

the Warsaw skyline spreads out before you.

華沙的天際線就在您面前蔓延。

On the northern side of the Old Town Square is the Warsaw Museum,

華沙博物館就位在 舊城廣場的北側，

a keeping place of the city’s dramatic stories.

裡面紀錄著這個城市壯烈的歷史。

Visit the beautiful Warsaw University

您也可以參觀曾經是

which served as military barracks for the German army.

德國軍營， 美麗的華沙大學。

During the occupation, education was mostly outlawed,

在占領期間， 人民被禁止接受教育，

but an underground “secret university” emerged.

不過，一所「秘密大學」 卻悄悄的成立。

More than 3,000 students continued their lessons throughout the occupation

整個城市有超過 3000 名學生 在占領期間躲在家中，

in homes around the city,

繼續他們的學習，

but many paid the ultimate price.

但許多人也因此付出了沉痛的代價。

Their fate was shared by millions of Poles during the Second World War

在二次世界大戰期間， 有數百萬的波蘭人都面臨相同的命運，

and Warsaw has a number of powerful monuments honouring the nation’s loss.

而華沙也豎立的數不清的紀念碑， 追悼這個國家的損失。

The POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews

波蘭猶太人歷史博物館

is built on the site that was once the infamous Warsaw ghetto.

的所在位置 曾經是華沙惡名昭彰的貧名區。

Here, more than 400,000 men, women and children

在這裡，超過 400,000 名

were incarcerated in just less than one and a half square miles.

男人、女人和小孩，通通擠在 800 平方公尺不到的空間裡。

Nearby, the Warsaw Uprising Monument and the Warsaw Rising Museum

鄰近的華沙起義紀念碑和 華沙起義博物館，

pay tribute to one of the bravest chapters of the city’s long history.

敘述著這個城市的歷史上 最勇敢的一頁。

The Palace of Culture and Science,

文化科學宮

is a remnant from a slightly later era;

則是教後期的建築，

it was a gift to the Polish people from Stalin at the height of the Cold War.

也是史達林在冷戰時期 送給波蘭的禮物。

Travel a little further back in time with a stroll along the Royal Route.

慢步在皇家路上， 將時光倒回。

This path was once used by Polish Kings traveling from the Old Town to the Wilanów Palace.

這條路曾經是波蘭國王從 舊城區前往維拉努夫宮的道路。

Today it is a popular tourist walk, studded with historical sites.

如今，道路上歷史景點林立， 是旅客們最愛的散步地點。

As you head along Nowy Swiat Street,

往新世界街走，

you’ll pass the monument to Polish astronomer,

您會經過波蘭天文學家

Nicolaus Copernicus, who on his deathbed in 1543,

尼可拉‧哥白尼的雕像。

revolutionised science with his theory that the earth orbits the sun.

哥白尼在 1543 年臨中前， 提出了地球繞著太陽轉的理論，震撼了科學界。

A little closer to the river is the Copernicus Science Centre

再往河的方向走， 您會看到哥白尼科學中心，

whose mission is to inspire people to observe, experiment and challenge conventional wisdom.

這裡的展出鼓勵人們 多觀察、實驗並挑戰我們所知道的一切。

In the Holy Cross Church,

在聖十字教堂中，

lies a very personal reminder of another of Warsaw’s famous sons,

有著另一個紀念碑， 奉獻給有名的華沙市民 - 蕭邦

composer and pianist, Fryderyk Chopin.

這位偉大的作曲家和鋼琴家。

This musical genius so loved the city of his birth that he requested

這位音樂天才 深愛著他的出生地，

his heart be returned to Warsaw when he died.

也因此，他要求在他死後 把他的心臟運回華沙。

You can see where it now resides here.

您可以看到蕭邦心臟的安息之地。

During the summer months,

在夏季月份，您可以在

Chopin’s music floats through Lazienki Park,

華沙最大的公園 - 瓦金基公園內，

the largest park in Warsaw.

不斷聽到蕭邦的曲子。

Lazienki Palace started life as a bathhouse but in the 18th century,

瓦金基宮原本是澡堂， 直到 18 世紀時，

the last Polish King converted it into his summer residence.

最後一任的波蘭國王 將其改造為他的夏宮。

The last stop on the Royal Route is Wilanow Palace.

皇家路的最後一站是 維拉諾夫宮。

With its luxurious artworks and formal garden,

擁有奢華的藝術品和大花園，

it is an outstanding testament to Poland’s early wealth and magnificence.

讓您可以一瞥波蘭早期的 富裕和興盛。

But even as Warsaw honours its past,

雖然華沙以其過去為榮，

this city of rebirth is creating new stories.

這個重生的城市也積極的創造新故事。

Since the fall of the Iron Curtain,

鐵幕瓦解之後，

Poland’s economy has boomed.

波蘭的經濟也跟著起飛。

That economic success is reflected in the luxury malls that have sprung up,

經濟的復甦 可以在金色梯田購物中心，

such as Zlote Tarasy

或者 KITKAC 百貨公司，

and the VITKAC department store.

這樣的豪華商場中得到應證。

Other areas in Warsaw are also being transformed.

華沙的其他地區也開始有所轉變。

A number of former industrial areas are now serving up cutting edge spaces and hip restaurants.

許多原本的工業地區 也開始出現新潮的店家和餐廳。

Visit Praga, on the right bank of the Vistula River to discover venues like the Soho Factory.

造訪維斯瓦河右岸的布拉格， 您可以探索蘇活工場等場所。

Once an ammunition factory,

這個往昔的彈藥工廠，

it is now home to a range of stylish shops and museums such as the Neon Museum.

如今變身為時尚商店和博物館的所在， 例如：霓虹燈博物館。

This exhibition is dedicated to preserving the iconic signs from Warsaw’s Soviet era,

這個展出是為了保存 華沙於蘇聯時期的經典招牌，

many of which were produced by some of Poland’s most famous artists.

而許多招牌更是出自 波蘭最有名的藝術家之手。

These reclaimed urban areas are perhaps the perfect reflection of Warsaw today.

這個新興的都會區可以說是 最能完美反映出今日華沙的地區。

Just like the people of Warsaw,

就像華沙人一樣，

these young and innovative areas are creating new life and beauty amidst the remnants

這些年輕又創新的地區， 背負著諸多悲慘壯烈的歷史，

of an often tragic history.

活出新的生命和精彩。

Warsaw today shines like a beacon to the the world.

今日的華沙讓全世界都看到它美麗的光芒。

It reminds us that, no matter how dark a city’s past,

這個城市提醒著我們，不論過去多麼黑暗，

the spirit of hope will always triumph in the end.

只要懷抱希望，都能迎來嶄新的未來。