Page 717 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

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The impressive Neoclassical facade of Wilanów Palace, designed for King Jan III Sobieski
q Łazienki Park archi tecture in Poland. It beautiful formal gardens, was
Łazienki Królewskie, Agrykola 1. Tel now houses an architecture actually designed as a private
022-506 00 24. @ 116, 166, 180, 503. museum. The king enjoyed retreat for King Jan III Sobieski,
Park: Open daily until dusk. Palace on the palace only for a few years: who valued family life above
the Water: Open mid-Apr–mid-Oct: after the Third Partition of material splendor. The original
11am–6pm Mon, 9am–6pm Tue–Sun Poland, he was forced to property, known as Villa Nova,
(mid-Apr–mid-Oct: to 8pm Thu–Sat). abdicate, and left Warsaw on was purchased in 1677 and
Closed days after public hols. & January 7, 1795. Upon their within two years had been
∑ lazienki-krolewskie.pl withdrawal, the Nazis set fire rebuilt as a mansion, designed
to the palace. It was rebuilt by royal architect Augustyn
This huge park, studded with by 1965. Locci. The elaborate facades
monuments, palaces, and were adorned with sculptures
temples, dates from the and murals, while the interiors
Middle Ages, when it belonged were decorated by Europe’s
to the Mazovian dukes. By the finest craftsmen.
early 17th century, it was Enlarged over subsequent
owned by the Polish crown, and years by its many different
housed a royal menagerie. In owners, the palace gained two
1674, the Grand Crown Marshal large wings, a pair of towers,
Stanisław Herakliusz Lubomirski and a first-floor banqueting hall.
acquired the park, and Tylman The north wing comprises
of Gameren designed its 19th-century rooms, formerly
hermitage and bathing pavilion. Solomon’s Hall in the Palace on the Water, used as living quarters and as a
The pavilion gave the park its Łazienki Park gallery. The largest room, the
name, as łazienki means “baths.” Great Crimson Room, is used
In the 1700s, the park was w Wilanów Palace as a venue for entertaining
owned by King Stanisław August VIPs. The south wing includes
Poniatowski, who commissioned and Park the late Baroque Great Dining
Karol Agrykola, Karol Schultz, S.K. Potockiego 10–16. Tel 22-544 27 Room, designed for King
and Jan Schuch to lay it out as 00. @ E2, 116, 163, 180, 317, 725. August II Mocny, as well as
a formal garden. A number of Palace: Open daily. Closed Jan, Tue Princess Izabela Lubomirska’s
buildings were added during (in winter). & 8 Park: Open apartments, which feature a
this time, and the pavilion was 9:30am–dusk daily. & (free Thu). 8 bathroom dating from 1775.
redesigned, by Dominik Merlini, ∑ wilanow-palac.art.pl The most interesting rooms
as a royal summer residence. in the main part of the palace
Known as the Palace on the Although it was a royal are the Neoclassical Great Hall,
Water, this is one of the finest residence, Wilanów Palace, with marble detailing and
examples of Neoclassical which is set within parkland and allegorical friezes, and the
ornate King’s Bedchamber,
with its 17th-century Turkish
bed canopy. There are also
apartments once occupied by
King Jan III Sobieski and his wife
Marysieńka, which retain many
of their original 17th-century
features, as well as a fascinating
portrait gallery. Outside the
palace, in the old riding school
building, there is an interesting
The enchanting Palace on the Water, Łazienki Park poster museum.

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