Castles and Palaces

     The Podkarpackie province, encompassing lands, which formerly were the property of the noted and influential Polish families, is proud of many of their magnificent castles and properties. Even the most demanding tourist will find these buildings interesting. Royal castles, splendorous noble palaces, old Polish mansions hidden in ancient parks, and the majestic ruins of old–time residences – these are some of the attractions, which await tourists exploring nooks and crannies of the Podkarpackie province.

 The most interesting are the royal castles in:

• Przemyśl – built around 1340 by king Casimir the Great. It was often remodeled and lost its gothic nature. It owes its current look to the prefects of the Przemyśl District – Piotr Kmita (in the years 1514–1553 he gave the castle its renaissance appearance) and Marcin Krasicki (in the years 1616–1631 he reconstructed the castle, transforming it into a fortress and a residence). Now, the wonderfully restored building houses the headquarters of the Towarzystwo Dramatyczne im. Aleksandra Fredry „Fredreum” (the “Fredreum” – Aleksander Fredro’s Dramatic Society) – the oldest amateur theater in Europe. Recently, in the courtyard, the foundations of a Roman rotunda with an apse and a pallatium have been found.
• Sanok – like the fortress in Przemyśl, it was built by king Casimir the Great, and the reconstruction in XVI century gave it a Renaissance look. Currently, in the renovated castle, there is the Museum of History, where you can see the magnificent collection of over 700 Carpathian icons dating from XV to XIX century.

     When visiting this part of Poland, it is also worth seeing the wonderful private castles and luxurious mansions, which once belonged to noted Polish families, such as Czartoryski, Leszczyński, Lubomirski and Potocki. Some of them are true showpieces of the Podkarpackie:

• the castle in Baranów Sandomierski – one of the prettiest in Poland, called “the Little Wawel”, constructed at the end of XVI century by the Brześć Governor (pl: wojewoda), Andrzej Leszczyński. This huge, quadrilateral building with cylindrical corner towers hides a courtyard, surrounded with Renaissance galleries. There are original stuccos by Italian artist Falconi. Currently it is managed by the Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu SA (the Industry Development Agency), which performed general renovation, bringing the castle back to its former splendor. Apart from touring the castle, it is possible to organize a conference here, a symposium, or to spend a lovely weekend and take part in gaudy feasts.
  
• the mansion of Krasicki and Sapieha families in Krasiczyn – a painstakingly restored castle, called „the Pearl of Polish Renaissance”, currently property of the Agencja Rozwoju Przemysłu SA (the Industry Development Agency) in Warsaw. The castle was constructed at the turn of the XVI and XVII century for Marcin Krasicki, the Governor of Podole, and the favorite of king Sigmund III Vasa. The giant quadrilateral is graced by cylindrical corner towers – Szlachecka (the southeastern Nobel Tower), Królewska (the northeastern Royal Tower), Papieska (the northwestern Papal Tower) and Boska (the southwestern God Tower). In the western elevation, there is the protruding Clock Tower, connected with the rest of the building with a stone gangway. The northern and the eastern wings housed living quarters, and all the others form huge screen walls, crowned with magnificent Renaissance attics. The sgrafitta – magnificent and rich wall paintings, covering almost 2.47 acres – are especially valuable. By the castle, there is an outbuilding and an old guardhouse, where the museum exhibits, an exclusive hotel and a restaurant have been accommodated. In 2000, the castle was admitted to the elite European Castle Hotels and Restaurants association, which proves the high level of services offered here. The castle is surrounded by a beautiful park with many unique tree specimens, mostly from XIX century, preserved in excellent condition.
  
• the noble mansion in Łańcut – one of the most impressive and the best–preserved in Poland, constructed in the years 1629–41 for Stanisław Lubomirski, governor of the Ruthenian and Krakow Provinces. The mighty walls and strongholds of the fortress stood up even to the Swedish army. In mid XVIII century, thanks to Isabella Lubomirska (family name Czartoryska); the castle was transformed into an impressive palace–garden complex, which was inherited by the Potocki family, through the marriage of Isabella’s daughter, Julia. In the Palace Interiors Museum, you can see a beautiful collection of works of art, collected by the Potocki family. In the old carriage–house, there is the largest carriage and horse harness exhibition in Europe. Around the park, there is the preserved, superbly maintained park, filled with sculptures, fountains and countless alleys, shaded by ancient trees. This is a compulsory target for all history lovers and old castle fans, but also a place to organize a conference, a symposium or a seminar.

Those less known castles are just as lovely:

• the castle complex in Dubieck from the end of XVI century, constructed by the Stadnicki family, and enlarged in 1611 by Marcin Krasicki. It owes its present–day look to Konarski family, who transformed it into a Neo–Gothic palace in XX century. The only remains of the old castle are the dungeons and the gothic portals in the basement. Remains of XVII–century stockade are also preserved. Around the palace, there is a park, where you can admire magnificent species of trees – monuments of nature, some of which are 300 years old.
  
• the castle–park complex in Mniszchów in Dukla from the first half of XVIII century, built based on XVI–century Jordan family castle, developed a century later into a defensive stronghold. It consists of Baroque, 3–level palace covered with a mansard roof and two annexes, built on remains of the old ramparts. Surrounded by a magnificent, vast landscape park with ponds. Currently, it houses the Museum of History.
• the former Kmita family castle in Lesko from the second half of XVI century, repeatedly reconstructed by subsequent owners – Stadnicki and Krasicki families. Finally, it was given the shape of a romantic palace with preserved elements of an old defensive construction. It obtained its current image during the reconstruction in 1830’s, managed by Wincent Pol. The Classicistic palace, with a column porch hiding the front stairs, is topped with a round corner tower from XVII century. Currently, it is used as a hotel.
  
• the count Feliks Antoni Łoś palace in Narol constructed in 1770, a Classicistic palace with a horseshoe outline. The main construction is a large, storied building, adorned in its central part with gorgeous projections. The entrance is graced with four columns. On both sides of the palace are the parallel, openwork guardhouses, forming the arms of the horseshoe. They end with square annexes, covered with a mansard roof. Formerly, the mansion was surrounded with an Italia style park. The park, ruined during the Second World War, was saved in 1995 by the „Pro Academia Narolense” foundation, referring to Art School for Nobility, which existed here in the times of Felix Łoś. The wonderfully restored palace is supposed to become a R&D art center, assembling musicians, art historians, writers, theater experts, antique restorers; especially the Central European youth.
  
• the Rey family Neo–Gothic palace in Przecław, wonderfully restored, with parts of the Renaissance defensive manor house from late XVI century preserved, constructed by Andrzej Koniecpolski. The present palace, English Neo–Gothic in style, was built in mid XIX century for Mieczysław Rey, the descendant of the famous poet, Mikołaj. It is open for tourists – among others, the Mikołaj Rej Hall has been reconstructed, as well as the old Ball Room, music room and crest room. Part of the building houses a hotel.
  
•  the palace–park complex in Przeworsk, constructed in early XIX century by Henryk Lubomirski, in place of a mansion, which existed here earlier on. It is English Neo–Gothic in style, surrounded with a beautiful park with an orangery, and it was formerly the quarters of Przeworsk Governors. In 1974, the Lubomirski Family Palace–Museum was established here.
  
• the former Lubomirski stronghold castle in Rzeszów from XVII century, constructed by the famous architect Tylman van Gameren. The mighty stronghold defenses and the 6–level tower over the entrance gate are preserved. Those are the characteristic elements of the castle. The rest of the castle was reconstructed in 1906, losing it Baroque style. Currently, in the refurbished interiors of the former Lubomirski stronghold, there is the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Court, and the Museum of Law.
  
• the palace–park complex in Sieniawa from XVIII century, the former Sieniawski family mansion, completely reconstructed by the dukes of the Czartoryski family. Nowadays, the painstakingly restored building, covered with a beautiful mansard roof houses a stylish hotel.

In the Podkarpackie, there are many other noble mansions, in various conditions. Some of them are:

• an old Polish mansion in Żarnowiec from XIX century, a gift for the poet Maria Konopnicka, who spent the last years of her life here. Currently, the stylish interiors house the Maria Konopnicka Museum.
  
• the defensive mansion of Sandomierz District Prefect Hieronymus Mielecki in Skrzyszów from XVI century, transformed into a Neo–Gothic style building in 1915. It is made of stone and brick, storied, built on a square layout, covered with a four–slope roof with Neo–Roman windows and a Romantic bay on the first floor.
  
• the residential–defensive tower in Rzemień from XV century, the only one of its kind preserved in the Podkarpackie, most probably constructed by the Tarnowski family. In XVI century, the rugged body of the mansion was adorned with Renaissance elements, such as the stone window portals. Later, the Lubomirski family reconstructed it again in XVII century. Currently it is private property.

     Because the lands of the Podkarpackie province were situated close to the border, most constructions were defensive in character. This is why there are so many ruins of medieval castles, many in very picturesque locations. Especially worth visiting are the castle ruins in Odrzykoń by Krosno, praised by the Polish Moliere, Aleksander Fredro, in his famous “Zemsta” (“the Revenge”) comedy, referring to the ancient dispute over the walls of the castle.
     Old castle ruins can also be found in Sobień, where fragments of a XIV century Kmita family castle are preserved (the Polish king Władysław Jagiełło [Ladislaus Jagiello] with his fourth wife Elżbieta Granowska visited the castle), as well as in Białoboki, Sośnica, Dąbrówka Starzeńska and Fredropol.