, 1875–1877. at Foksal 13 and 15, 1895–1898, following their restoration completed in 2020.
18th century The land now occupied by Foksal was originally held in the 18th century by the aristocratic
Czapski family, whose members erected a small suburban residence in its place. In 1746, Walenty Aleksander Czapski,
Bishop of Przemyśl and
Kuyavia, sold it to Maria Anna Brühl, who transformed it into a garden. Following her death, the land was acquired by a Warsaw banker of
Huguenot origin, Fryderyk Cabrit (Kabryt). Together with Franciszek Ryx, a courtier and butler of King
Stanislaus Augustus of Poland, they formed a
joint venture with an aim of creating a space for public exhibitions and displays. Ryx and Kabryt subsequently established the Foksal Gardens, a place of entertainment for the wealthy residents and burghers of Warsaw, which opened on 15 May 1776. The name was not coincidental and corresponded to the fashionable Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in London to attract attention. It became a site rented for
balls and concerts, with eateries and illuminated pavilions for the guests. On 10 May 1789, French inventor
Jean-Pierre Blanchard undertook Warsaw's first flight with an aerostatic
balloon over the gardens and its surroundings. Much later,
Jordaki Kuparenko repeated Blanchard's achievement on the same spot.
19th century The park continued to change hands and eventually disappeared over the course of the 19th century. Under the Przeździecki family, the property was partitioned, the former park alley was transformed into a street, and individual plots of land were sold. Between 1875 and 1877,
Konstanty Zamoyski erected an imposing
Renaissance Revival mansion at its far end. Designed by renowned Polish-Italian architect
Leandro Marconi, the building survived to this day. Another extant historical edifice is the Przeździecki Palace with its two-storey
arcaded colonnade, located at Foksal 6. It was rebuilt in its current Neo-Renaissance form between 1951 and 1953. Simultaneously, many city-style
tenements and urban architecture began appearing close to the intersection with Nowy Świat. The
Neo-Gothic house at Foksal 19 and Teatr Sabat at Foksal 16 are notable landmarks.
20th & 21st centuries Prior to 1939, the street was deemed prestigious and became inhabited by high society. Notably, Polish actor
Eugeniusz Bodo opened a fashionable cafe and resided at Foksal 17. Many of the edifices also hosted
social clubs and private associations. One of those clubs at Foksal 3 was often attended by politicians and military personnel. On 15 June 1934,
Bronisław Pieracki, Minister of Internal Affairs of Poland, was
assassinated by a Ukrainian nationalist and member of the
OUN whilst exiting the premises, near the gate. Pieracki died in hospital on the same day. Shortly after, the name of the street was changed to honour the deceased statesman. During the
Second World War and the
Warsaw Uprising in 1944, much of the street's built heritage was damaged or destroyed, though some important structures survived or were rebuilt. Nonetheless, the street maintained its historic appearance under the
Polish People's Republic. Today, it is a venue for pubs, bars and restaurants, some of which are open-air. In terms of residential aspects, the flats and apartments at Foksal are one of the most expensive in Warsaw, particularly at Foksal 13 and 15. Both buildings underwent a major restoration between 2016 and 2020 by
Ghelamco. ==See also==