For as long as I can remember, every school kid from Warsaw and its neighbourhood had to visit Żelazowa Wola. A similar duty was to visit the Royal Palace or National Museum. From early schooltime visits in museum halls I mainly remember races in famous felt slippers and the gloomy faces of museum staff trying to shelter museum pieces from the groups of bratty kids. In general, I do approve of the idea of showing to the youth our cultural and historical heritage, but a few years ago the way the knowledge was presented did not comply with the interests of young visitors. Fortunately, our world is changing and visiting boring museums is changing as well. Even last year my daughter's class' visit to Łazienki Palace was a very exciting event due to the engagement of a professional youth leader. From my visit to Żelazowa Wola almost 30 years ago I remember only the very sad and completely empty inside building, high-soundingly named 'the manor house'. I remember a tatty park surrounding it as well. The one and only dubious advantage of this trip was that we could get out of school. It was a very boring experience and what's more we were obliged to write a report of the visit.

2010 was the 200-year anniversary of Fryderyk Chopin's birthday. It was full of concerts festivals and artistic events popularizing the composer's work. Many Warsaw and neighbouring places connected with his life gained something from it. After modernization, the Fryderyk Chopin Multimedia Museum in Ostrogscy Castle was opened. In stylish interiors were gathered museum pieces documenting the composer's life and works: letters, personal remembrances, photos, paintings, jewellery, drawings and graphics. Even though there is a kid's hall in the museum, I recommend that older school classes and teenagers visit the museum.

In 2010 there was placed a special marking at Warsaw Chopin airport as the airport of the composer's city. On Królewski Trakt were placed 15 multimedia benches playing parts of Fryderyk Chopin's compositions, and there was also a pedestrian crossing with a clavier motif on Emili Plater street close to The Palace of Science and Culture and Złote Tarasy shopping centre.

I visited Żelazowa Wola with my whole family 3 years ago. I knew about the revitalization of the park and the adaptation of the whole building to the 21st Century, but the high quality was a really nice surprise. You enter the park through modern building with tills, a movie projection hall, a souvenir shop and toilets. You can borrow audio guides in many different languages so the visit gains new quality and freedom.

In 2015 a new exposition was opened in the manor house. It is no longer an empty building. There is a collection of Chopin's family memorabilia and other original things from that time, all of which is presented for the first time in Chopin's birth house The park has a new look as well.  The greenery has been refreshed and many places have been rearranged. You can listen to Chopin's music coming over the loudspeakers hidden among the plants. The park looks particularly beautiful in Autumn, and picturesque and romantic corners are very popular for wedding photo sessions. On Saturdays and Sundays there are public Chopin concerts, which have a particular atmosphere and mood in this environment.

I think that this trip may be for everybody. You do not need to be a music lover to listen to the music in such a trim and beautiful environment, or take a walk far away from the noise of the city.  With total responsibility and pride I can recommend this trip also to foreigners who are visiting our beautiful country.