Wilanów Palace

Wilanów Palace

Attraction Introduction    Originally a manor, Wilanów Palace was purchased between 1677 and 1696 by King John III Sobieski, who commissioned Italian architects to build it. In the 18th century, it came into the possession of Princess Izabela Lubomirska. In 1805, her son-in-law, Stanisław Kostka Potocki, established Poland’s first museum and library within the palace, and expanded the surrounding area into a French-style park. During the Nazi occupation, the artifacts were looted, and the park and its structures were destroyed. It was reconstructed between 1955 and 1965. The entire building has a rectangular layout, with the main structure being two stories high. Later, southern and northern wings were added—the southern wing houses a portrait gallery, while the northern wing includes an antechamber, study, bedrooms, clock room, library, and the Royal Chapel. The palace features exquisite sculptures, including reliefs depicting the king in battle and in triumph, as well as portraits of King Sobieski and his wife. The palace is surrounded by gardens, along with a Chinese-style summer pavilion and Roman Bridge built in 1806. Nearby the southern wing, there is a Chinese-style and a French-style small garden respectively. The summer palace also once served as lodging for visiting foreign heads of state, including Charles de Gaulle, Richard Nixon, and the beloved Premier Zhou Enlai. Features    Wilanów Palace is the summer residence of Polish kings and now serves as the site of the State Guest House. Located in Wilanów, on the outskirts of Warsaw, it is a collection of uniquely styled Baroque buildings adorned with exquisite sculptures. In 1945, it was turned into a branch of the National Museum, housing precious historical relics.

Auschwitz, Poland