User:Artemis Andromeda/sandbox/South Downtown

The South Downtown (Polish: Śródmieście Południowe) is a neighbourhood, and a City Information System area, in Warsaw, Poland, located within the district of Downtown.

As a suburban area (until 1791)
In the 18th century, in the area of modern South Downtown begun being developed suburbian towns, located near the towns of Old Warsaw and New Warsaw. They legally functioned as the jurydyka suburban towns in the Warsaw agglomeration, established with royal decrees, and independent from Old Warsaw itself, including free from paying taxes and following its laws. They were Bożydar-Kałęczyn in the area of modern Jerusalem Avenue, established in 1702, southern portion of Bielino, in the area of modern Wilcza Street, established in 1766 and Nowogrodzka, in the area of Nowogrodzka Street, established in 1767.

In 1768, in the area of South Downtown and Ujazdów, from the initiative of king Stanisław August Poniatowski, begun being developed the Stanisław Axis, the urban layout made of five squares and roads, connecting the city with the Ujazdów Castle. The five squares were: Crossroads, Saviour, Three Crosses, Union of Lublin, and University of Technology. The main route of the area was the Royal Road, which connected the Ujazdów Castle to the Wola Election Field where took place the royal elections. It was placed along the Piaseczno Cannal. The other main streets of the urban layout were modern streets of Nowowiejska, Niemcewicza, Prądzyńskiego, and Wyzwolenia Avenue.

In the past, through the area flowed Żurawka river, until it was channelised in the 18th century, to flow underground, underneath modern streets of Żurawia, Three Crosses Square, Czerniakowska, and Okrąąg Street. It begun at the swamps near modern Starynkiewicz Square and ended in Vistula, and due to the large amount of flowing water, was the most important river in southern Warsaw.

In 1774, in Bożydar-Kałęczyn, then owned by August Kazimierz Sułkowski, was established the neighbourhood of Nowa Jerozolima (lit. from Polish: New Jerusalem), inhabited by the Jewish population. It was located between the modern Artur Zawisza Square and the Kaliska Street. It existed in violation of the privilege to not tolerate Jews, a law which forbid Jewish people, from living in Old Warsaw, and in 2 mile (3.2 km) radius from it. As such the city hall of Old Warsaw had sued Sułkowski, demanding the neighbourhood to be destoryed. Despite protests of the Jewish population, the neighbourhood had been destroyed on 23 January 1776, with its inhabitants displaced, their trading goods confiscated, and the houses being torn down.

In 1776 prince Kazimierz Poniatowski founded two garden complexes, Na Książecem and Na Górce, which would eventually form the Na Książęcem Park and Frascati Gardens. They were located to the east of the Three Crosses Square, in the area of the current Książęca Street. The Na Książęcem Park also included the Elizeum, an underground rotunda with corridrs and caves.

https://www.warszawa1939.pl/obiekt/koszykowa-palac

In 1784, from the initiative of king Stanisław August Poniatowski, in the area of modern Nowowiejska Street, was built the settlement of Nowa Wieś (lit. from Polish: New Village), to which were settled the inhabitants of the village of Ujazdów, who were displaced due to construction of the Ujazdów Castle there. It consisted of 12 houses, symmetrically placed in two rows along the Royal Road (also known as Wolska Avenue), located between modern Saviour Square and University of Technology Square. The village also owned 106 hectares (1.06 km² or 0.4 square miles) of farmlands, which were very profitable.

As a part of the city, prior to the Second World War (1791–1939)
In 1791, in accordance to the Free Royal Cities Act, the towns of Bielino, Bożydar-Kałęczyn, and Nowogrodzka, together with other suburban towns, as well as towns of Old Warsaw, and New Warsaw, were combined into a singular entity, forming the city of Warsaw. The execution of the act was blocked by the Targowica Confederation, which delayed the incorporation to 1794.

On 9 August 1783 was opened the Holy Cross Cemetery, operated by the Catholic parish of the Holy Cross Church. It was located near then settlement of Koszyki, outside of city boundaries, between cureent Marszłkowska Street, Nowogrodzka Street, Plater Street, and Wspólna Street. Following the Third Partition of Poland in 1795, the Prussian administration had forbidden burring deceased in the city, resulting in large increase in popularity of the cemetery. By 1820, it was overcrowded, and in total, there were burried over 130,000 people. It was closed for new burrials on 29 July 1831, and fully closed on 17 March 1836. By 1851, the unmaintained cemetery fell into decay, and 1859, the city authorities had decided to demolish it. The families were give possibility to move their relatives to the Powązki Cemetery until 1 January 1860, after which the remaining bodies were removed and placed into mass graves. In the following five years, the remains of cemetery were removed and in its place were planted trees and bushes. In 1866, the chappel at current 68 Wspólna Street, near the former cemetery was turned into the St. Barbara's Chappel. Between 1883 and 1885, nearby, at the current 51 Nowogrodzka Street, was constructed larger Catholic Church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul.

In 1818, the farmlands outside of the urban area were bought by the city, to organize there the military exercises, with the area being later known as the Mokotów War Field. From around 1825, it became the cavalry drill site. In 1916, the area of the Mokotów War Field had been incorporated into the city of Warsaw.

In 1825, was opened the St. Aleksander's Church, located at the Three Crosses Square.

In 1827, in the area between Piękna Street and Róż Avenue, was opened the Swiss Valley Park.

In the first half of the 19th century, at the Mokotów War Field had been constructed a horce race track, thanks to the efforts of Ivan Paskevich, Viceroy of Poland. On 20 June 1841, there took the first horce race to be formally organised in the Kingdom of Poland. In the following years, there were sporadically held various horce races and exhibitions, until they were outlawed 1861. The ban was lifted in 1880. As such, in 1887, at Polna Street, was opened the Mokotów Field Horce Race Track. In 1895, there was held the first annual Great Warsaw Race, which became the most prestigious horce race in Poland. The venue was closed down in 1938, and its events moved to the Służewiec Horse Racing Track, located to the south.

The major development in the area of South Downtown begun in the second half of the 19th century, due to the construction of the Vienna Station in 1845, which was the main Waraw railway station of the Warsaw–Vienna railway line. It was located at the crossing of Jerusalem Avenue and Marszałkowska Street. Along both streets were build luxury tenements. By 1912, entire area, all the way up to the Union of Lublin Square was developed. In the area were also present many restaurants, stores, and services. On 8 June 1898, in the area was also opened the Warsaw University of Technology.

In the late 1894, the area around Ujazdów Avenue, became a luxurious neighbourhood mostly inhabited by a wealthy Russian population. In 1894, at 12 Ujazdów Avenue and next to the Crossroads Square, was opened the Russian Orthodox Church of the Archangel Michael, which mainly served Russian soldiers and civilians living in the neighbourhood. Following the retreat of the Imperial Russian Army from Warsaw in 1915, the Russian population mostly fled the city, and the building remained mostly unoccupied and unused, and begun deteriorating. It was eventually torn down in 1923.

In 1909, at 61 and 63 Koszykowa Street was opened a large Market hall known as the Koszyki Hall.

In 1910, at the Mokotów War Field was also established the Mokotów Aerodrome by the Awiata Warsaw Aviation Association. It was the first aerodrome in the city. Until the outbreak of the First World War, it was a popular civil and sports airfield. Following the beginning of the war in 1915, it begun being used by the Imperial Russian Air Service, which stationed there six fighter planes to defend the city. In August of the same year, the aerodrome was captured and used by the German Air Combat Forces. The infrastructure was ipdated and expanded, and there were constructed 21 hangars, including for the Parseval airships. After the end of the war, and establishment of the independent Second Polish Republic, in 1919, the aerodrome became a base for growing military and civilian aviation industry. Since 1920, there were chartered international passenger flights, and in 1929, it became the headquarters of then-established national LOT Polish Airlines. It was also a venue for numerous air shows, parades, and international aviation tournaments. In 1934, the passenger traffic was moved to the Warsaw Chopin Airport in Okęcie.

In 1918, it was decided to adapt the abandoned building of the all-female high school, located at Wiejska Street, to house the Legislative Seym of the Poland. Following the renovations, on 10 February 1919, took place the first meeting of the Legislative Seym in the building. In 1922, the nearby abandoned lazaret building, was adopted to house the Senate of Poland. Between 1925 and 1935, the complex had been furtherly expanded forming the Seym and Senate Complex.

In 1927, next to the Saviour Square was opened the Catholic Church of the Holiest Saviour.

In 1925, the area around the Frascati Street, Warsaw|Frascati Street and the Frascati Gardens, located to the south from the Three Crosses Square, were build villas, forming the neighbourhood of Frascati. In the 1930s, in was futher developed with luxury tenements.

In 1927, on Nowogrodzka Street were built two railway stations. They were the Warszawa Marszałkowska EKD of the Electric Commuter Railways, located at between Marszałkowska Street and Poznańska Street, and Warszawa Chałubińskiego WKD of the Warsaw Commuter Railway, located between Chałubińskiego Street and Plater Street. They were closed in 1957 and 1963, respectively.

From 1927 to 1938, at the current 3 Jerusalem Avenue, was build the new building of the Warsaw National Museum. Some portionsof the museum where opened to the public years before the end of the final construction. In 1933, in the eastern wing of the building was opened the Polish Army Museum, where it remained until 2023, when it moved to the Warsaw Citadel.

In 1934, at 45 Nowogrodzka Street, was opened the Telecommunication Systems Centre, which housed the Central Telecommunications Office. It was the first builing in Poland to be built with the steel frame construction.

Second World War (1939–1945)
On 1 September 1939, the Nazi Germany had invaded Poland, beginning the Second World War. During the Siege of Warsaw, the Mokotów Aerodrome in the South Downtown was used as the Polish Air Force base housing fighter and planes used in the air defence. The city of Warsaw had capitulated to the invading forces on 28 September 1939, becoming part of the occupied territories of the General Government. The aerodrome was captured and used by the for the anti-aircraft defence.

Between October 1939 and April 1940, as part of the Intelligentsia mass shootings, the members of Polish intelligentsia, including teachers, priests, physicians, and other prominent members of Polish society, had been executed by the occupants, in the gardens of Seym building. It remains unknown how many people were killed, however historians estimate the number between a few hundreds and a thousand people.

In the portion of the South Downtown, were established the Police District, with Ujazdów Avenue, Szóstego Sierpnia Street (now Nowowiejska Street), Klonowa Street, and the Flory Street making its boundries. The main route of the district was Szucha Avenue, which was renamed to Police Street (German: Strasse der Polizei). The district was designated only for German population, with other ethnicities being banned from entering it. The Goverment District located in the area of the Piłsudski Square in North Downtown, which housed goverment buildings had same restrictions. Since April 1942, both areas were connected with each other via tram line no. 0, which also was designated only for German passengers.

The Police District was originally planed to be part of the bigger German District, which would be limited only for the German population. It was planed for it to occupy most of the area of the South Downtown and big portion of Mokotów. The plan was never realised, as, there was not enough people interested in settling in the area.



The area had been transformed to house offices of occupant law enforcement structures, and the apartments for their employees. The most important building in the district was the building of the former Ministry of Religious Affairs and Public Education located at the 25 Szucha Avenue, which was reformed into the Commander in Chief of Security Police Office of the Warsaw District, and housed the headquarters of the Security Police and Gestapo (Secret State Police). The building employed around 300 people, with their offices being located at the second and third floors. At the first floor and in the basement were located holding cells and interrogation rooms, where were held people suspected to be connected to the Polish resistance movement. To force the confessions, the officers brutally tortured the prisoners, which caused many of them to die. Around 100 people were interrogated there every day.

Other notable buildings in the area were:
 * the headquarters of the commander in chief of the Order Police, located in the Supreme Audit Office Building at the 23 Szucha Avenue;
 * the headquarters of the SS and Police Leader of the Warsaw District, located in the Gawroński Villa at the 23 Ujazdów Avenue;
 * the headquarters of the Criminal Police, located at the 7/9 Ujazdów Avenue (currently 11 Ujazdów Avenue);
 * the Garrison Officer Casino Building located at the 29 Szucha Avenue, which operated as the casino for Polish population collaborating with the occupying forces;
 * the Re-education Labour Camp of the Security Police, located at the 14 Litewska Street, which, from Autumn 1943 to 1944, operated as a labour camp for the Polish prisoners convicted of light crimes.

The Police District was protected by security forces, stationing around its boundries, including two battalions of the Order Police, which stationed in the Sejm and Senate Complex at the Wiejska Street.

Throughout the war, the Polish resistance movement had organized a few attacks aimed at the occupants in the Police District. On 19 May 1942, members of the Polish Socialists, disguised as customers, had planted a bomb a casino building at 29 Szucha Avenue, which served Poles who collaborated with occupants. The explosion had killed 7 people, and wounded a few more. On 5 October 1943, in the Operation Milke, the Agat squad of the Home Army had attempted to assassinate Alfed Milke, collaborator and officer of Gestapo. The assassination did not happen, as Milke did not come to the place of planned attack. However, portion of the squat, who were meant to cover the assassinators, placed at the Szucha Avenue, were spotted by walking by Protection Squadron officer. He was immediately shot by them, after which, the entire squad had retreated without any own casualties. The killed office was Joseph Lechner, the Obersturmführer (senior storm leader) of the Security Service, and chief of office of the Security Service and Security Police of the Warsaw District. On 1 February 1944, in the Operation Kutschera, the Pegaz (peviously known as Agat) squad of the Home Amy had assassinated Franz Kutschera, the SS and Police Leader of the Warsaw Distict, responsible for the summary executions of about 5000 people in Warsaw. It was the most important successful operation of the Home Army, aimed against high-ranking occupant officer during the war. On 6 May 1944, in the Operation Stamm, at the Szucha Avenue, the Pegaz squad had attempted to assassinate Walter Stamm, the Sturmbannführer (assault unit leader) of the Protection Squadron, and the chief of Gestapo. The operation ended with failure, with squad losing eight people, and not managing to kill the target. It was both one of the biggest and the bloodiest operations carried out by the Home Army during the war.

On 1 September 1944, at 5:00 PM (in the event known under codename W-Hour) the Polish resistance Home Army had begun the Operation Tempest against occupying German forces across Warsaw, which begun the Warsaw Uprising. One of the targets of the operation was the Police District, with the key target there being the headquarters of the Security Police. It was attacked by Ruczaj Battalion and Jeleń Division, which were poorly equipped.

During the first phase of fighting, partisans had managed, with huge casualties, to capture the casino building, the portion of ruins of former General Inspector of the Armed Forces building, and the car workshops on Bagatela Street. They had also unsuccessfully attempted to capture the headquarters of the Security Police, which was protected b around 800 well-equipped police and Gestapo officers, commanded by Paul Otto Geibel, the Oberführer (senior leader) of the Protection Squadron, and the SS and police leader of Warsaw District. Partisans had also shoot at the building from the mortar, which forced Geibel to hide in the underground shelter. After two hours of fighting, when partisans had runed out of the ammunition, the German forces had went into the offensive. They had managed to cut off the portion of partisans of the Ruczaj Battalion in the casino building, commanded by lieutenant Zygmunt Manikowski (codename "Kosma"), from the rest of their forces, after which, Manikowski and his squad were killed. The rest of partisans were pushed back to their starting positions. The wounded and captured partisans were executed.

In the afternoon of that day, in ravange of the attack, German forces had entered houses at 5 and 9 Flory Street, in the area previously occupied by participants, followed by forcing all male inhabitants above thr age of 14, and executing all of them.

On 1 September 1944, the Bełt Battalion of the Polish resistance forces managed to occupy portion of the Jerusalem Avenue, between Marszałkowska Street and Bracka Street. In the first days of the uprising, to foryfy their position, the Bełt and Kiliński Battalions built a barricade between buildings with numbers 17 (now no. 23) and 22, between Marszałkowska Street and Krucza Street. It became an important line of communications, as the only connection of partisans between the south and north portions of the city. The barricade was under daily attacks and artillery and arial bombardment from German forces, who tried to capture and destory it. Despite that, the partisans managed to keep their positions there until the end of the uprising.

After the Second World War (1945–present)
The Mokotów Aerodrome remained operational until 1947.

From 1950 to 1952, in the area along Marszałkowska Street, from Wilcza Street to the north, and Union of Lublin Square to the south, was built new housing estate of the Marshal Residential District. It was designed in the socialist realistic style, and consisted of the multifamily residential buildings. The estate was constructed mostly in place of buildings destroyed during the Second World War, though it also incorporated several surviving tenements, mostly in its southern potion. It also incorporated partially surviving Saviour Square, located in its southern section, next to which was rebuild the historic Church of the Holiest Saviour. In its nothern portion was build the Constitution Square. Between 1953 and 1957, the Marshal Residential District was expanded to the southeast, with the housing estate of Latawiec.

In 1952, to the south of the Marshal Residential District was built the People's Army Avenue, which would later become part of the Baths Route, an expressway build between 1971 and 1974, which connects city centre with the east side.

In 1964, at 12 Waryńskiego Street was opened skyscraper Riviera, which became a dormitory for students of the Warsaw University of Technology. With the height from base to the roof equal 67 m (219.8 ft.) and the total height of around 80 m (262.5 ft.), it was the second tallest building in the city, after the Palace of Culture and Science. It kept said title until 1969.

In 1974, was opened Novotel Warszawa Centrum (originally known as Hotel Forum), located at 94/98 Marszałkowska Street. With total height of 111 m (364.1 ft.), it was the second tallest building in the city until 1975.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the area of the former Mokotów Aerodrome eas developed into a large urban park, known as the Mokotów Field. Its construction begun in 1977, and it was opened in sections, that were finished in 1983, 1986, and 1991.

In 1975, in the area of the crossing of Jerusalem Avenue and Chałubińskiego Street, begun the construction of the building complex of skyscrappers, multistorey stores and appartment buildings named the West Wall. The futher development of the investment was stopped in 1989, leaving only the two first two buildings to be constructed. The first of them, located at 8 Chałubińskiego Street, was the Chałubińskiego 8, (originally known as Intraco II), was finished in 1978, with the hight from the base to the roof equal 140 m (459.3 ft.), and the total height of 150 m (492.1 ft.). The second building, located at 65/79 Jerusalem Avenue, was finished in 1989, was LIM Center, with the height from its base to the roof equal 140 m (459.3 ft), and the total height of 170 m (557.7). Upon the end of construction, both buildings held respectively the title of the second highest building in the city, with the latter keeping it until 1998.

On 7 April 1995, in the neighbourhood was opened the Politechnika station of the M1 line of the Warsaw Metro rapid transit underground system. It is located at the crossing of Waryńskiego Street and People's Army Avenue.

In 2013, was opened skyscraper Plac Unii, located at 2 Puławska Street near the Union of Lublin Square. The building has the total height of 90 m (295.3 ft). Within it was opened the shopping centre of the same name. It is located within the City Information System area of Old Mokotów, at the boundary with South Downtown.

In 2016, at 61 and 63 Koszykowa Street was opened new Koszyki Hall, which was built in place of the former historical building that was deconstructed in 2009. In its construction were preserved fragemtns of the previous hall, including its entraces.

Public spaces
In the southwestern portion of the neighbourhood, between People's Army Avenue, Waryńskiego Street, Batorego Street, and Independence Avenue, is located the Marshal Józef Piłsudski Park, which is part of the Mokotów Field park complex

In the northwestern portion of the neighbourhood, in the area of the Warsaw Escarpment are also located two other parks. Between Jerusalem Avenue and Książęca Street, is located the western portion Na Książęcem Park, and to the south from it, between Książęca Street and Górnośląska Street, is located a small northwestern portion of the Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły Park.

There are also located five main urban squares, which are:
 * Crossroads Square located at the crossing of Koszykowa Street, Szucha Avenue, People's Army Avenue, Ujazdów Avenue, and Wyzwolenia Avenue;
 * Saviour Square, located at the crossing of Marszałkowska Street, Mokotowska Street, Nowowiejska Street, and Wyzwolenia Avenue;
 * Three Crosses Square, located at the crossing of Bracka Street, Hoża Street, Książęca Street, Prusa Street, Mokotowska Street, New World Street, Ujazdów Avenue, Wiejska Street, and Żurawia Street;
 * Union of Lublin Square, located at the crossing of Bagatela Street, Boya-Żeleńskiego Street, Klonowa Street, Marszałkowska Street, Polna Street, Puławska Street, and Szucha Avenue;
 * University of Technology Square, located at the crossing of Lwowska Street, Noakowskiego Street, Nowowiejska Street, Polna Street, and Śniadeckich Street.

Culture
In the South Downtown, at 3 Jerusalem Avenue, is located the Warsaw National Museum, which is the largest museums in the city, and one of the largest in Poland. In the neighbourhood are also located the Mausoleum of Struggle and Martyrdom at 25 Szucha Avenue, Museum of the Earth of the Polish Academy of Sciences at 20/26 Na Skarpie Avenue, Museum of Life in the Polish People's Republic at 28/34 Piękna Street,, and Warsaw University of Technology Museum at 22 Nowowiejska Street. There also are two branches of the Warsaw Rising Museum. One of them is located in the building at 51 Jerusalem Avenue, which houses the Warsaw Fotoplastikon, a stereoscopic device based on the Kaiserpanorama system, operating there since 1905. The other, is the Security Office Prison Cells, located in the basement of the Ministry of Justice building, at 11 Ujazdów Avenue. The musem is dedicated to the prison operated there by the Ministry of Public Security from 1945 to 1954.

There are also several theatres, including the Contemporary Theatre at 13 Mokotowska Street, Roma Musical Theatre at 12 Świętej Barbary Street, Studio Buffo at 6 Konopnickiej Street, and TR Warszawa at 8 Marszałkowska Street. At 28 Marszałkowska Street is also located the historic Kino Luna cinema which operates since 1962.

There are also numerous monuments and memorials, such as the Monument in Memory of the Fallen Polish Aviators in 1939–1945, the Monument to the Millennium of the Polish Cavalry, and the Monument to the Polish Underground State and Home Army, There is also the famous art instalation Greetings from Jerusalem Avenue.

Higher education and science
In the South Downtown are located the faculty builings of the Warsaw University of Technology. The Main Building is located at 1 University of Technology Square, while the university conplex which contains most of the builing is contained in a section determined by Koszykowa Street, Noakowskiego Street, Nowowiejska Street, and Independence Avenue. Additionally the Faculty of Architecture is located at 55 Koszykowa Street, and the Faculty of Chemistry at 3 Noakowskiego Street.

In the neighbourhood, at 188B Independence Avenue, is also the National Information Processing Institute of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

https://pl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C5%82%C3%B3wna_Biblioteka_Komunikacyjna

https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ho%C5%BCa_69

Government buildings
In the South Downtown, at 4, 6 and 8 Wiejska Street, is located the Seym and Senate Complex, which houses the Seym and Senate of the Parliament of Poland.

In the neighbourhood are also present the headquarters of other numerous government agencies. This includes:
 * the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund at 190 Independence Avenue;
 * the Central Statistical Office at 208 Independence Avenue;
 * the Financial Supervision Authority at 20 Piękna Street;
 * the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology at 3 and 5 Three Crosses Square;
 * the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 23 Szucha Avenue;
 * the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy at 2 and 4 Wspólna Street;
 * the Ministry of Infrastructure at 4 Chałubińskiego Street;
 * the Ministry of Justice at 11 Ujazdów Avenue;
 * the Ministry of National Education at 25 Szucha Avenue;
 * the Ministry of Science and Higher Education at 1 and 3 Wspólna Street;
 * the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland at 188/192 Independence Avenue;
 * the National Development Bank at 7 Jerusalem Avenue;
 * and the Warsaw Regional Court at 82 Marszałkowska Street.

Public transit
In the neighbourhood is present the Politechnika station of the M1 line of the Warsaw Metro. It is located at the crossing of Waryńskiego Street and People's Army Avenue.

Religion
In the South Downtown are located three Roman Catholic churches. They are: the Church of the Holiest Saviour at 1 Saviour Square, the St. Alexander's Church at the Three Crosses Square, and the Church of St. Apostles Peter and Paul at 51 Nowogrodzka Street. Among other notable religious buildings there also are the Chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at 7 Wilcza Street, and the St. Barbara's Chappel at 68 Wspólna Street.

Additionally, at 31 Wilcza Street, is located the Chapel of the Divine Mercy of the Polish-Catholic Church of the Republic of Poland.

Administrative boundaries and subdivisions
The South Downtown is located within the south-eastern portion of the district of Downtown, in the city of Warsaw, Poland, and it is a City Information System area. To the north, its borders are determined by Jerusalem Avenue; to the east, by Ujazdów Avenue, Piękna Street, Górnośląska Street, Szucha Avenue, and the peaks of the Warsaw Escarpment; to the south, by Batorego Street, Boya-Żeleńskiego Street, and around the Union of Lublin Square; and to the west, by Independence Avenue, and Chałubińskiego Street.

It borders Mirów to the north-west, North Downtown to the north, Powiśle to the north-east, Solec to the east, Ujazdów to the south-east, Old Mokotów to the south, and Filtry to the west. Its southern and western boundaries form the border of the district of Downtown, bordering districts of Mokotów to the south, and Wola and Ochota to the west.

The Downtown district is also subdivided into nine municipal neighbourhoods, each governed by a neighbourhood council. The area of the South Downtown includes Koszyki, Krucza, Oleandrów, and Powiśle-Solec.