Stary Służew

Stary Służew is a neighbourhood, and a City Information System area, located in Warsaw, Poland, within the district of Ursynów.

The area is dominated by single-family housing with an additional presence of multifamily housing. It includes the historical portion of the neighbourhood of Służew, including 19th-century Krasiński Palace, Catholic St. Catherine's Church, and Fort VIII if the Warsaw Fortress. There is also located the campus of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences.

Służew dates back to at least 13th century, when it was a small farming community. In 1238 there was founded the St. Catherine's Church (later rebuiltin thr 19th century), with its parish becoming the oldest parish within current boundaries of Warsaw. In 1245 the village became property of knight Gotard of Służew, whose descendants formed the Służewiecki family of the Radwan heraldic clan, whom owned this land until the 17th century. In 1776 there was constructed the Krasiński Palace. Służew was incorporated into Warsaw in 1938. In 1956, there was established the campu of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, which was then furtherly expected in the 1960s, 1970s, and 2000s.

History
In the area of Warsaw Escarpment and Służewiec Stream, were found signs of human settlements from the Stone Age (4000 BCE and 2000 BCE), Bronze Age (3300 BCE to 1200 BCE), and of the Lusatian culture (1300 BCE to 500 BCE).

By 1065, the area was inhabited by the Catholic monks of the Order of Saint Benedict. They also had there their missionary centre. In 1238, there was established the Catholic Parish of St. Catherine, founded by duke Konrad I of Masovia, ruler of the Duchy of Masovia, and erected by bishop Paweł II of Bnin. It is the oldest parish within modern boundaries of Warsaw. At the same time, neaby was founded the Służew Old Cemetery. Archaeological findings suggest, that prior to that, there was a place of worship of Slavic paganism, with signs of fire that burned constantly for several-hounded years. It is unknown how the first church built there looked like. In 13th century, in its place was built a wooden church, which was later replaced by a brick church.

By 1238, there was located the village of Służewo (later known as Służew), placed near Sadurka river, and owned by the Catholic Order of Canon Regulars of St. Augustin from Czerwińsk nad Wisłą. In 1240, it was acquired by duke Konrad I of Masovia, who then gifted it to his knight and count, Gotard of Służew, on 27 April 1245. His descendants became the Służewiecki family of the Radwan heraldic clan, whom owned this land until 17th century.

The St. Catherine's Church was again rebuilt in 1742, and in 1848, in Romanesque Revival style.

In 1776, in Służew was built the Krasiński Palace. It was commissioned by princess Elżbieta Izabela Lubomirska as a gift for her daughter Aleksandra Lubomirska, and son-in-law Stanisław Kostka Potocki. In 1822, it became property of Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz, who organised there a library collecting rare and valuable books. He renamed his estate after himself to Ursynów, which inspired the name of the modern city district of Ursynów. The palace was rebuilt in 1860 in the Renaissance Revival style. In 1857, it was acquired by the Krasiński family. Its last owner, Edward Bernard Raczyński had donated it to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Public Education in 1921.

Between 1818 and 1821, Stanisław Kostka Potocki had established the Gucin residence near the Church of St. Catherine. Following his death in 1821, his wife, Aleksandra Lubomirska had founded there the garden complex of Gucin Grove, developed between 1821 and 1830. At the turn of 19th century, there were also built catacombs.

In the 1880s, the Fort VIII had been built near Służew, as part of the series of fortifications of the Warsaw Fortress, built around Warsaw by the Russian Imperial Army. It was decommissioned in 1909, and partially destroyed, including all its concrete structures.

On 27 September 1938, Służew was incorporated into the city of Warsaw.

Between 1945 and 1947, near the St. Catherine's Church, the Security Office had buried in unmarked graves bodies of political prisoners murdered in the Mokotów Prison. It is estimated that around two thousand bodies were buried there. They were later exhumated, and moved to the nearby Służew Old Cemetery. In 1993, there was placed the Monument to the 1944–1956 Communist Terror Martyrs, commemorating the victims.

In 1956, the Council of Ministers have given a plot of land in Służew, as well as in nearby Natolin, Wilanów, and Wolica to the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. Acquired area included the Krasiński Palace and a vocational school, which were adopted into the university campus, and located near Nowoursynowska Street. It was further developed with new faculty buildigns throughout the 1960s and 1970s. In 1989, the Krasiński Palace became the seat of the university authorities. Between 1999 and 2002, it was expanded with the construction of a new campus, that became one of the most technologically advanced in Europe. In 2003, all remaining faculties and inspirations of the university were moved to Służew. Since 1983, the university hosts annually the Ursynalia, one of the largest music festivals in Poland.

In the 1970s, around the Fort VIII was constructed a neighbourhood of single-family housing for the officers of the Polish People's Army. In 1981, in the fort were constructed concrete-enforced trenches.

In 1994, Służew was divided into two parts, separated by the Dolina Służewiecka Street. The southern, historical part of the neighbourhood became part of the municipality of Warsaw-Ursynów, while the rest to the north, part of the municipality of Warsaw-Centre. In 1998, Ursynów was subdivided into the City Information System areas, with the neighbourhood becoming part of the area of Stary Ursynów (translation from Polish: Old Ursynów). In 2000, it was renamed to Stary Służew. In 2002, the municipality was replaced by the city district of Ursynów.

In 1996 in the woodland and swamp on the Warsaw Escarpment in northeastern portion of Stary Służew was established the Ursynów Escarpment Nature Reserve.

In 2019, the Fort VIII was renovated, and turned into the Fort 8 shopping centre. Next to it was opened privately owned recreational Eight Park (Polish: Ósmy Park). To the north, around Fort Służewiec Street were also constructed several multifamily residential buildings.

Characteristics
The residencial areas of Stary Służew are contained within its northern portion. It is dominated by single-family housing, located to the east of Nowoursynowska Street, and with a few houses also located near the Fort VIII. The west of Nowoursynowska Street is also located a small neighbourhood of multifamily residential buildings.

Between Dolina Służewiecka Street and Nowoursynowska Street is located the Fort VIII, a historical decommissioned fortification from the 19th century. Currently, it houses the Fort 8 shopping centre. Next to it is also located the privately owned recreational Eight Park (Polish: Ósmy Park).

At 17 Fosa Street is located the Catholic St. Catherine's Church, built in the 19th century, which is the seat of the oldest parish in Warsaw, dating to 1238. Thetr is also the Służew Old Cemetery, which was founded in the 13th century. Additionally, next to the church is placed the Monument to the 1944–1956 Communist Terror Martyrs by Maciej Szańkowski and Sławomir Korzeniowski, which is dedicated to the political prisoners executed by the communist regime between 1945 anf 1956.

The southern portion of Stary Służew contains the campus of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. Among buildings there, at 166 Nowoursynowska Street, is the Krasiński Palace, a historical 19th-century palace, which currently serves as the seat of the university authorities. Additionally, the campus hosts annually Ursynalia, one of the largest music festivals in Poland.

The northeastern portion of Stary Służew includes the Ursynów Escarpment Nature Reserve. It consists of a woodland and swamp on the Warsaw Escarpment. There is also the historical remains of the Gucin Grove garden complex, including the catacombs.

Location and administrative boundaries
Stary Służew is a City Information System area located in Warsaw, Poland, within the northeastern portion of the district of Ursynów. To the north, its border is determined by Dolina Służewiecka Street; to the east, by Wilanów Avenue, Fosa Street, Służewiec Stream, Arbuzowa Street, and around campus of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences; to the south by Ciszewskiego Street; and to the west by Jana Rodowicza "Anody" and around possessions on Chłapowskiego Street.

It borders Służew, and Stegny to the north, Błonia Wilanowskie to the east, Ursynów-Centrum to the south, and North Ursynów to the west. Its northern an deastern boundaries form the border of the district of Ursynów, bordering districts of Mokotów and Wilanów.