Warsaw Fotoplastikon

The Warsaw Fotoplastikon is a stereoscopic photo theatre dating from 1905, located at al. Jerozolimskie 51 in the Śródmieście district of Warsaw, Poland. It is one of very few such devices in the world that still operates in its original form. The machine is a large circular wooden drum with viewing stations around its edge, each with two eyepieces. Visitors sit at a station and look at a rotating series of paired photographs that merge into three-dimensional images. Subjects range from pre-war Warsaw streets and landmarks to views of other European cities and historical events, including photographs documenting the city's destruction. The slides are changed in rotation so every viewer sees the same set of images in turn, and a full cycle lasts about 12 minutes. A short soundtrack of music or narration accompanies the viewing. The Fotoplastikon is a branch of the Museum of Warsaw, and its interior retains the atmosphere of early 20th-century entertainment, with dark panelling and period fittings. The entrance is easy to miss because it lies in a courtyard behind a gate rather than on the main street, so visitors should look for the passage at Aleje Jerozolimskie 51. A visit usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, which makes it a good short stop near Warszawa Centralna station, about five minutes away on foot. Tickets cost about 10 PLN full and 6 PLN reduced, and entry is free on Thursdays, which can lead to queues because the number of seats is limited. Opening days and hours are reported differently across sources, so visitors should confirm them with the Museum of Warsaw. Weekday mornings are usually quiet.