In my last blog post, Top 10 Warsaw I briefly mentioned the lovely Wilanów Palace. This week I want to go more in depth as it is so beautiful and the history behind it is so interesting. It is a gem you won‘t want to miss especially with it being just outside the heart of Warsaw.
As you take a 10-minute stroll to the palace from the parking lot you walk by symbols and structures that set the tone for this magnificent residence. Even when you come upon the palace, you are reminded that Sobieski was king as his chosen colors of regal gold and yellow are everywhere.
This palace holds particular importance because of its history. It was built in 1677 by the ruler Jan III Sobieski as a modest summer home and was one of the only buildings to survive the WWII bombings of Warsaw. After the completion of the home, generous additions were made because the queen wanted to emulate the beauty and style of Versailles. The Baroque masterpiece is spectacular for its construction alone but also houses many beautiful gardens and an impressive museum that contains items owned by Sobieski and successive rulers.
The palace owners have changed hands over the centuries and eventually ended up with to Stanislaw Kostka Potocki. Thanks to his efforts, one of the first museums in Poland was opened in the Wilanów Palace in 1805. The collection housed here is an impressive European and Oriental art collection. Sobieski himself was an avid traveler and art lover so many of the pieces were acquired by the ruler himself. Some of the vases alone are thousands of years old. There are also amazing masterpieces done by the Masters such as Rembrandt and Van Dyck on display here.
Its architecture is original and is a blend of European art with distinctively Polish building traditions. Much of the palace interior glorifies the Sobieski family, especially the military triumphs of the king.
Here are some rooms in the palace you definitely don’t want to miss:
The White Hall is the most extravagant in the Palace, partly because it appears to be even larger due to great wall mirrors facing the windows. You can see portraits of the family, especially the King, all over the walls (which kind of brings a “family” feeling to the palace in an odd yet warm way). During renovations, an original fresco was discovered and returned to its original state, which is quite remarkable, especially because it was uncovered by accident! Spend some time looking at the Statue of Jan III Sobiesk showing him mounted on his horse as the triumphant vanquisher of the Turks. The plaster statue was made around 1693 by an unknown royal sculptor and is definitely a highlight.
King’s bedroom
As one might expect, the room is was fit for a king. The ceiling is adorned with a large mural depicting element of summer and the mirror frames are also decorated with summer motifs. The walls are lined with velvet from the 1700s and the furniture is from the same time period. The most interesting piece to me was the original tapestry – obviously centuries old but still beautiful to look at.
Realm of the Queen
This room is one of the most spectacular Baroque interiors in the Palace. The ceiling is decorated with a painting depicting the elements of spring. The Regency mirror frames are decorated with symbolic spring motifs similar to the king’s bedroom. The walls are covered in patterned velvet from the early 1700s and many of the personal items in the room were actual original objects belonging to the Queen.
King’s Library This used to be Jan III’s refuge where he read and worked. He was a very educated man and took pride in his well-organized library. It boasts of having the oldest authentic floor in the Palace, made of three-colored marble tiles that look like a modern-day optical illusion (it is very well preserved as well). The ceiling was decorated by the king’s court artists with paintings depicting the sciences of the 17th century surrounded with medallion portraits of eminent scholars and artists. The room is decorated with several dozen paintings by Flemish, Dutch, French and German artists – exactly as it was in the times of King Jan III. A beautifully decorated cabinet is a highlight in this room – it was a gift from the Pope to the King.
Just outside of the palace is St Anne’s Church – you wouldn’t expect such a large church to be just outside the garden but somehow it fits. A church has stood on this exact site since the 14th century although between 1857 and 1870, Aleksandra’s son August and his wife extended the church and added a lovely dome, transforming it into a Neo-Renaissance look. The church suffered damage during both world wars and was even used as an internment camp by the Nazis, who also looted and damaged it. The church bells dating from 1723 and 1777 survived the attacks thanks to the bravery of the local people who hid them.
An integral part of the palace, almost since its beginning, is the garden – and is said to have been the King’s favorite part of the palace. Be sure to spend time to thoroughly walk the various palace gardens and park – they are massive – 111 acres in total! Made up of a series of individual gardens, the park includes a two-level Baroque garden, a Neo-Renaissance rose garden, a classical English landscaped park and the English Chinese landscape park.
The lower garden is somewhat modern as light formations have been installed. They looked impressive during the day but I can only imagine how they would appear at night – must be spectacular!
Walking the palace and royal grounds made for a wonderful day with only a short ride outside of Warsaw. It is definitely not one to rush through though and is therefore a perfect little day trip if you want to get out of the heart of Warsaw.
Thanks so much for your lovely comment! I enjoyed the places we visited and love to share -- special bonus when someone enjoys too 😊
Such beautiful photos!!! Love your IG too!