Wilanów Palace
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wilanów Palace at Wilanów in Warsaw is, together with its park and other buildings, one of the most precious monuments of Polish national culture. It survived the time of partitions and wars and preserved its authentic historical qualities. It was built for the Polish king Jan III Sobieski in the last quarter of 17th century and later was enlarged by other owners. It represents the characteristical type of baroque suburban residence entre cour et jardin (between the court and garden). Its architecture is very original – it is a merge of European art with Old-Polish building tradition and its elevation and palace interiors that, using antique symbols, glorifies the Sobieski family, especially military triumphs of the king.
After the death of Jan III Sobieski in 1696, the palace was owned by his sons and later (1720) - by famous magnate families: Sieniawscy, Czartoryscy, Lubomirscy, Potoccy and Braniccy. Between 1730 and 1733 it was a residence of August II the Strong, also a king of Poland. Every owner changed the interiors of the palace, as well as the gardens and surrounding, according to the current fashion and needs.
In the year 1805 the owner Stanisław Kostka Potocki made a museum (one of the first public museums in Poland) in a part of the palace. Besides European and Oriental art, the central part of the palace was showing the exposition about the king Jan III Sobieski and the glorious national past. After the war, the palace was renovated, most of the collection robbed by Germany in the World War 2 was repatriated and in 1962 it was reopened to the public.
The palace and park in Wilanów is not only a priceless testimony of the splendour of Poland in the past, but also a place for cultural events and concerts, including Summer Royal Concerts in the Rose Garden and the International Summer Old Music Academy.
[edit] References
Literature:
- Ciołek, Gerard. 1947. Ogród w Wilanowie. Badania i zagadnienia konserwatorskie [The Wilanów Park. The research and conservation issues]. Biuletyn Historii Sztuki i Kultury, Year IX (1947). no. 1-2, [22 illustrations].
- Ciołek, Gerard. 1962. Odbudowa ogrodu [w Wilanowie] [Restoration of the Wilanów park]. Ochrona Zabytków, Year XV (1962), no. 3. [20 illustrations].
- Ciołek, Gerard. 1978. Ogrody polskie [Gardens of Poland]. Revised edition of the 1954 publication under the same title, updated and expanded by Janusz Bogdanowski]. Warszawa: Arkady. pp. 296. [photographs, plans].
[edit] External links
[edit] Gallery
 Wilanów Palace |
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 Potocki Mausoleum |
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 Wilanów Palace front |
 Detail north wing |
 Detail south wing |
 Fountain and north wing |
 Sundial at parkside |
 Park, east side |
 St. Anne's church |
 Stanisław Kostka Potocki Mausoleum |
