Poland Wilanów Palace

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Lloyd De Jongh

This wing was once a Gothic gallery, designed by Christian Aigner, an Italian-trained Polish architect.On the wall above is a mysterious composition, Death removing Cupid’s wings.

This wing was once a Gothic gallery, designed by Christian Aigner, an Italian-trained Polish architect.On the wall above is a mysterious composition, Death removing Cupid’s wings.

Lloyd De Jongh

34mm1/400sf/10ISO 200
This monumental gravestone, a stone sarcophagus on a raised platform, is dedicated to Aleksandra and Stanisław Potocki. Aleksandra Potocki inherited the palace from her mother, Izabela Lubomirska.After the death of King Sobieski, the palace was inhabited by many aristocratic families: the Sieniawskis, Czartoryskis, Branickis and the Potockis. Numerous upgrades were supervised by the best architects.The couple owned Wilanów from 1799 to 1821. They designed the decorative garden we'll see today and restored the former glory of the palace. This mausoleum was built at the request of their son Alexander in 1836.It resembles the tomb of King Casimir the Great at Wawel Cathedral in Krakow. The sarcophagus case is decorated with 16 pointed arches, signifying the virtues, interests, and actions of Count Potocki. The tomb is decorated with family crests and orders awarded to him, including The Order of the White Eagle, The Order of St Stanislaus and The Legion of Honour.The canopy is supported by 12 columns. In 1843, the lions holding the the coats-of-arms of the Potocki and Lubomirski families were placed at the corners.

This monumental gravestone, a stone sarcophagus on a raised platform, is dedicated to Aleksandra and Stanisław Potocki. Aleksandra Potocki inherited the palace from her mother, Izabela Lubomirska.After the death of King Sobieski, the palace was inhabited by many aristocratic families: the Sieniawskis, Czartoryskis, Branickis and the Potockis. Numerous upgrades were supervised by the best architects.The couple owned Wilanów from 1799 to 1821. They designed the decorative garden we'll see today and restored the former glory of the palace. This mausoleum was built at the request of their son Alexander in 1836.It resembles the tomb of King Casimir the Great at Wawel Cathedral in Krakow. The sarcophagus case is decorated with 16 pointed arches, signifying the virtues, interests, and actions of Count Potocki. The tomb is decorated with family crests and orders awarded to him, including The Order of the White Eagle, The Order of St Stanislaus and The Legion of Honour.The canopy is supported by 12 columns. In 1843, the lions holding the the coats-of-arms of the Potocki and Lubomirski families were placed at the corners.

Lloyd De Jongh

34mm10/20000sf/4ISO 360
The Palace CourtyardThe courtyard was once a work area with granaries and stables. A decorative fence with a central gate led to the honour court where King Jan would greet guests and parades were held. This 19th-century courtyard design is by Potocki.The guardhouse on your right holds museum offices, though was once where the palace guard and sentries lived. The coffee shop is in the former kitchen annexe, built by Izabela Lubomirska, owner from 1778-99. In her time, it had a bakery, coffee roastery, kitchens, pantries, stores and more.To the right of the main gate, by the small guardhouse, is a well in the form of a shrine. Immediately to the left of the gate, is the King's Linden tree.This Wilanów Linden is a national monument. To earn protected status, it had to be the right size. This Linden is 21 metres tall, with a circumference of 20 metres at the crown.It's a valuable honey plant, important to bees and beekeepers. It is a softwood tree and excellent for use in the production of musical instruments.Linden trees were important culturally. In Middle Ages villages they were the centre of public life. People gathered under them to dance and celebrate. This is where legal matters took place, judgements were made, and public punishments delivered.

The Palace CourtyardThe courtyard was once a work area with granaries and stables. A decorative fence with a central gate led to the honour court where King Jan would greet guests and parades were held. This 19th-century courtyard design is by Potocki.The guardhouse on your right holds museum offices, though was once where the palace guard and sentries lived. The coffee shop is in the former kitchen annexe, built by Izabela Lubomirska, owner from 1778-99. In her time, it had a bakery, coffee roastery, kitchens, pantries, stores and more.To the right of the main gate, by the small guardhouse, is a well in the form of a shrine. Immediately to the left of the gate, is the King's Linden tree.This Wilanów Linden is a national monument. To earn protected status, it had to be the right size. This Linden is 21 metres tall, with a circumference of 20 metres at the crown.It's a valuable honey plant, important to bees and beekeepers. It is a softwood tree and excellent for use in the production of musical instruments.Linden trees were important culturally. In Middle Ages villages they were the centre of public life. People gathered under them to dance and celebrate. This is where legal matters took place, judgements were made, and public punishments delivered.

Lloyd De Jongh

16mm10/20000sf/4ISO 140
The Polish Eagle. Bought in 1858 by August Potocki, it was destroyed during the German occupation.The Eagle is the emblem of Poland - for patriotism, Polish identity and connection to their homeland. In Greek mythology it was a divine bird, symbolising power and strength, and a symbol attributed to Zeus, the Thunderer. The Roman Emperor carried a scepter topped with a Golden Eagle, and it topped the banner carried by Roman legions.Wilanów has 22 objects identified as “terracotta” German garden ceramics, bought from “Tonwarenfabrik Ernst March & Söhne” in Charlottenburg, near Berlin. These date from 1842 to 1859.Ernst March was a ceramic master born in Panknin, now Pękanino, Poland. Today the village has a population of 40.The factory specialised in terracotta. During several experiments, March developed a new off-white ceramic material called “Chausseestaub”.Made by famous German sculptor Christian Daniel Rauch, what remained of the original was the trunk without head, wings or claws. After years of research, a breakthrough came when two similar sculptures were found in Germany in 2011. It became possible to reconstruct the Eagle.Today, the column is crowned with a ceramic white-tailed eagle made using the same technique.

The Polish Eagle. Bought in 1858 by August Potocki, it was destroyed during the German occupation.The Eagle is the emblem of Poland - for patriotism, Polish identity and connection to their homeland. In Greek mythology it was a divine bird, symbolising power and strength, and a symbol attributed to Zeus, the Thunderer. The Roman Emperor carried a scepter topped with a Golden Eagle, and it topped the banner carried by Roman legions.Wilanów has 22 objects identified as “terracotta” German garden ceramics, bought from “Tonwarenfabrik Ernst March & Söhne” in Charlottenburg, near Berlin. These date from 1842 to 1859.Ernst March was a ceramic master born in Panknin, now Pękanino, Poland. Today the village has a population of 40.The factory specialised in terracotta. During several experiments, March developed a new off-white ceramic material called “Chausseestaub”.Made by famous German sculptor Christian Daniel Rauch, what remained of the original was the trunk without head, wings or claws. After years of research, a breakthrough came when two similar sculptures were found in Germany in 2011. It became possible to reconstruct the Eagle.Today, the column is crowned with a ceramic white-tailed eagle made using the same technique.

Lloyd De Jongh

16mm10/12500sf/4ISO 100
Built between 1805 and 1812 by Potocki, it was a meeting point, and an element of park symmetry.It is raised on 8 brick columns to support its roof, with a lantern crowned with 2 crescents and a Turkish cap.References to Turkey at Wilanów are distinctive, they relate to King Sobieski's defeat of Turkish forces in Vienna. It was his greatest military victory, and one of Europe's most famous battles.On the roof are frescoes painted between 1806 and 1809 by Antoni Dąbrowski and his assistant, Stankiewicz.19th-century Europe had a fascination with objects of Far East art and culture, which had appeared in the Polish Commonwealth in the 1600s. King Jan liked Chinese art, he created a Chinese room in the palace with a collection of exotic items brought from China.King Augustus II also had a similar interest. He collected the objects made of Eastern lacquer seen in the palace.

Built between 1805 and 1812 by Potocki, it was a meeting point, and an element of park symmetry.It is raised on 8 brick columns to support its roof, with a lantern crowned with 2 crescents and a Turkish cap.References to Turkey at Wilanów are distinctive, they relate to King Sobieski's defeat of Turkish forces in Vienna. It was his greatest military victory, and one of Europe's most famous battles.On the roof are frescoes painted between 1806 and 1809 by Antoni Dąbrowski and his assistant, Stankiewicz.19th-century Europe had a fascination with objects of Far East art and culture, which had appeared in the Polish Commonwealth in the 1600s. King Jan liked Chinese art, he created a Chinese room in the palace with a collection of exotic items brought from China.King Augustus II also had a similar interest. He collected the objects made of Eastern lacquer seen in the palace.

Lloyd De Jongh

16mm10/2000sf/4ISO 250
About this spot
Wilanów Palace is Poland's Little Versailles, the home of its greatest King, Jan III Sobieski, a legendary man of many virtues, talents and interests.

Classically educated, he was a writer, a formidable warrior, a leader, statesman, gardener, and patron of the arts, science and culture. He was a man who loved his family, God and country and sought peace to develop and uplift his people during his golden era.

Yet when peace was threatened, he was a man with a talent for war.

There is so much to know about the early history of Wilanów, its majestic landscape, its artistry and deep symbolism, and the legendary battle that shaped European history and established King Jan as a truly heroic figure; the man that embodies the spirit of the Polish nation and inspires his people today.

King Jan loved nature, which is why he built his home here, away from busy Warsaw's Royal Palace. Come to know for yourself the natural beauty he cared about so much; walk the paths he walked, see what he saw as we look out over the landscapes he loved, cherished and celebrated during his life.

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Essential Information

Web links

https://www.wilanow-palac.pl/palace.html

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