Pole Mokotowskie, Warsaw

Pole Mokotowskie is a broad urban park whose past is far more active than its open lawns suggest. From 1818 until World War II, much of this area served as an airfield, and Warsaw’s aircraft works operated here. The grounds also hosted horse racing from 1884 to 1939, while the city’s airport remained here until 1934.

On May 17, 1935, Józef Piłsudski’s funeral took place across these fields. The park you see today emerged during the 1970s and 1980s. Its landscape includes paths, ponds, fountains, and spaces used for recreation, with bars among its well-known features.

The Polish National Library and a memorial to Polish pilots killed during World War II are also within the park. Look at the water features and planted areas as you move through the grounds: modernization from 2021 to 2024 reduced paved surfaces, introduced reed-filled water systems, and added timber platforms, bridges, and seats. The park is also a lively habitat.

Twenty-one beetle families have been recorded here, and Asian ladybirds make up almost two-thirds of the individuals found. Pole Mokotowskie carries the formal name Józef Piłsudski Park and has been entered in Warsaw’s municipal heritage register since 2019.