About This Location
The Jan Kiliński Monument stands by the Old Town defensive walls on Podwale Street, close to the Barbican. The figure is caught mid-stride, coat flying, sabre raised high, with a pistol tucked at the belt. It is a heroic pose, but it honors someone who started as an ordinary craftsman. Jan Kiliński was a Warsaw shoemaker and a respected city burgher. In 1794, during the Kościuszko Uprising, Warsaw rose against the Russian garrison. Kiliński became one of the most visible leaders of the city fighters. On 17 April, townspeople stormed key positions, including the Russian embassy residence that once stood near this part of the Old Town. That moment turned Kiliński into a symbol of civic courage - a person from the streets who stepped into history. The monument itself has had a restless life. It was unveiled in the 1930s, removed during the German occupation, saved from destruction, and returned after the war. Later it was moved here, to the edge of the Old Town, where the walls and gates fit the story of a city defending itself. Just nearby is the Model of the Old Town of Warsaw, a detailed miniature that shows the Old Town’s plan, its walls, and key landmarks like the Market Square and the Barbican. It is a quick way to understand how this tight maze of streets was also a fortress - and why this spot is a good place to remember people who fought for the city.