Hotel Bristol, Warsaw

Hotel Bristol, Warsaw is a historic luxury hotel opened in 1901 located on Krakowskie Przedmieście in Poland's capital, Warsaw.

Hotel Bristol, Warsaw
Hotel Bristol, Warsaw (2010)
General information
LocationWarsaw, Poland
AddressKrakowskie Przedmiescie 42/44
OpeningNovember 19, 1901
OwnerTowarzystwo Akcyjne Budowy i Prowadzenia Hotelów, (1901-1928),
Bank Cukrownictwa (1928-1948),
City of Warsaw (1947-1952),
Orbis (1952-1977),
University of Warsaw (1977-1981),
Orbis (1981-2011),
Rosmarinum Investments (2011-)
ManagementMarriott International
Design and construction
ArchitectWładysław Marconi
Other information
Number of rooms168
Number of suites38
Website
www.hotelbristolwarsaw.pl

History
Hotel Bristol in 1901

The Hotel Bristol was constructed from 1899-1900 on the site of the Tarnowski Palace by a company whose partners included Polish pianist Ignacy Jan Paderewski. A competition was held for the design of the building, and architects Thaddeus Stryjeriski and Franciszek Mączyński won with their Art Nouveau design. However the builders decided to change the style to a Neo-Renaissance design, and brought in architect Władysław Marconi to design the final hotel. Some of its interiors were designed by the noted Viennese architect Otto Wagner Jr. The cornerstone was laid on April 22, 1899 and the hotel was dedicated on November 17, 1901 and opened on November 19, 1901.

Elegant cafe in the Bristol designed by Otto Wagner Jr., 1901

After Poland gained its independence in 1919, Paderewski became the Prime Minister and held the first session of his government at his hotel. Paderewski and his partners sold their shares in the hotel in 1928 to a local bank, which renovated the hotel in 1934 with modern interiors by designer Antoni Jawornicki.

Upon the German invasion in 1939, the hotel was made into the headquarters of the Chief of the Warsaw District. It miraculously survived the war relatively unscathed, standing nearly alone among the rubble of its neighborhood. Following the war, the hotel was renovated and reopened in 1945.

Hotel lobby
The façade of the hotel seen from Krakowskie Przedmieście

The City of Warsaw took over operation of the hotel in 1947 and it was nationalized in 1948 and joined the state-run Orbis chain in 1952, exclusively serving visitors from abroad. By the 1970s its outdated facilities had seen it demoted to a second class ranking by the government and the hotel was donated by Prime Minister Piotr Jaroszewicz to the University of Warsaw in 1977 to eventually serve as their library. It closed in 1981. However no work was done and the building languished through the waning days of the Communist government.

After the fall of Communism in 1989, the hotel was finally completely restored it to its former glory from 1991-1993, with the original interiors of the public rooms recreated to match the 1901 designs. The Bristol was reopened on April 17, 1993, with Margaret Thatcher in attendance, as part of the British Forte Hotels chain. From 1998 to 2013, the hotel was part of the Le Méridien hotel chain. The exterior was further restored in 2005, and the interior redecorated in 2013, after which the hotel joined The Luxury Collection.

Famous guests

Throughout its long history, the Hotel Bristol was visited by a number of prominent guests from all over the world, some of which include:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

  • Hotel Bristol on the corner of Karowa Street and Krakowskie Przedmieście
  • Hotel Bristol at night
  • Hotel Bristol in 2006 before renovation
  • Main entrance
  • A historic image of Hotel Bristol in Warsaw, 1910
  • A bust of Ignacy Paderewski
  • The Malinowa Hall

See also

References
  1. "Hotel nad hotele. Bristol to nazwa, która w głowach musuje jak szampan". Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  2. "Hotel Bristol w Warszawie dołączył do grupy The Luxury Collection! Mnóstwo zdjęć odnowionej architektury i architektury wnętrz". Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  3. "Hotel Bristol - przystań dla wielkich i sławnych tego świata". Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  4. ""Goście Honorowi" w Hotelu Bristol. Zobacz sławy stolicy na zaskakującej wystawie". Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  5. "Hotel Bristol został sprzedany". Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  6. "HISTORIA POLSKICH HOTELI. 100 lat tradycji warszawskiego BRISTOLU". Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  7. "Hotel Bristol, świadek historii Warszawy". Retrieved 2019-02-15.
  8. "Luksusowe hotele przedwojennej Warszawy i ich historia. W jednym z nich spał Napoleon, a trzy działają nadal". Retrieved 2019-02-17.

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