Wilanów Castle
It takes no more than half an hour to get, from Warsaw's City Centre to the Wilanów Castle, one of the most beautiful Polish baroque buildings. Its construction was ordered in 1677by king Jan III Sobieski who decided to establish his residence here. The structure combines elements of a Polish noble manor, an Italian country villa and a French palace in the style of Louis XIV. During decades, the palace belonged to many Polsih noble families and in the years 1730-33, it became the home of the king August II the Strong. In 1805 Stanisław Kostka Potocki opened his art collections and the private apartments of king Jan III Sobieski to the public. The Wilanów Castle became thus one of the first museums in Poland and Europe. Apart the royal apartments, one can see there the Polish Portrait Gallery and works from the XVI-XIX centuries.
Left wing - detail
A detail of the castle on the gardens side
A detail of the external decaration
The garden - detail
The garden - detail
An eagle in stone in the park
Queen Maria Kazimiera's room
King Jan III Sobieski's work cabinet
A sleeping room which hosted president Jimmy Carter
The queen's room
The dining room
A gallery with, in the end, king Stanisław August Poniatowski's portrait
A statue of king Jan III Sobieski
Copyright (c) 2005-2007 by Michel Zacharz