WWII Rail Wagons

Mariusz Chwedczuk from the Nadwiślańskie Urzecze (The Vistula River Basin) association, which discovered the rail wagons, said: “They were probably used to transport rubble from the demolished Warsaw Ghetto, which was later repurposed to reinforce the riverbanks.”

Jacek Boborycki from the Milion Explorers Team, dedicated to uncovering historical artifacts, added: “These wagons are riveted, which means they are indeed old. There are still identification plates on them that we hope will provide more details.”

A winch dated 1929, believed to have been used on river barges, was also recovered during the excavation.

Fragments of a Royal Palace Resurface

The Vistula’s receding waters have also revealed remnants of Villa Regia, a once-grand 17th-century palace that stood on the site of today’s University of Warsaw campus.

A stone slab, confirmed as part of the Villa, was discovered close to the same location where a Swedish shipwreck was found two years ago.

“This stone slab has been identified with 100% certainty as a piece of Villa Regia,” said one of the team members involved in the excavation.

Built between 1637 and 1641 as a suburban residence for King Władysław IV Vasa, Villa Regia was a symbol of the Polish monarchy’s prosperity and ambition.

After the palace was dismantled during the Swedish invasion of 1656, its remains were looted and transported down the Vistula towards Gdańsk.

However, the treasure-laden Swedish boats were sunk by their own crews as Polish forces closed in on Warsaw, submerging the palace's valuables along with their transport.

Monika Żebrowska, curator of the Polish History Museum, said: “As John II Casimir’s army advanced into Warsaw, the Swedish forces intentionally sank their loot to prevent it from falling into Polish hands.

“The fragment of Villa Regia is just one of many treasures that have remained hidden in the Vistula ever since.”