Hiding and Rescuing: Saska Kępa and Grochów during the Holocaust (Spacerownik)

Discover the history with the Echoes app

Praga Południe, a district in Warsaw, holds forgotten stories of people who lived here during World War II – Jews seeking shelter and Poles risking their lives to help them. Our project, Spacerownik, offers a unique opportunity to uncover these extraordinary tales that forever changed the face of this neighborhood.

Spacerownik is an interactive guide to locations that play a crucial role in the history of Grochów and Saska Kępa. By using the Echoes app, you will embark on an audio journey that not only tells the stories of those who lived here but also brings the atmosphere of the places where the past meets the present.

What does the Spacerownik offer?

 ◉Audio tour: The Echoes app provides an audio trail that leads you through historic places. You’ll hear witness accounts, sounds from the past, and stories that have long been forgotten.

 ◉ Interactive map: The map helps you discover the places where Jews sought refuge and where Polish families extended help, often at great personal risk.

 ◉ Free e-book: Spacerownik is available as a PDF in both Polish and English. Download it to explore the stories of those who fought for survival in wartime Warsaw.

 ◉ Education and remembrance: This project is not just a guide. It’s also an educational tool that deepens understanding of daily life during the occupation and the realities of the “Aryan side” of Warsaw during WWII.

Download the Echoes app, put on your headphones, and set off on an unforgettable journey through Praga Południe. Listen to stories that cast new light on daily life during World War II. Discover forgotten histories and places that deserve to be remembered.

Scan the QR code and join the walk in the Echoes app

What is the ECHOES platform ? 

Echoes.xyz allows for an immersive, sonic experience of a space. The website and app – free, compatible and easy to use – allow any interested person to create and experience sounds assigned to specific locations.

How it works?

All you have to do is download the app and select one of the sound walks available in the catalog. Thanks to the geolocation service, the app will indicate all the walks nearby. It is possible to save them in the app’s memory and listen to them later without an internet connection, or to load a particular walk by scanning a special QR code.

Individual sounds are anchored in specific locations and visible on the map in the form of geometric shapes, as well as provided with a name and a brief description. Each sound is activated by the listener’s movements (thanks to the aforementioned geolocation service). Entering a designated area results in the activation of the recording assigned to it – within the selected sound walk. Depending on individual preference, it can resound directly from the phone’s speaker or from the headphones worn.

Allowing ourselves to be guided along the path laid out by the walk’s designers, we can explore the surrounding space in a completely non-obvious, multi-sensory way.

Due to the immersive nature of the experience, special care and attention to the surroundings is recommended when using the app – especially near pedestrian crossings, busy streets or intersections.