Description of the attraction
The palace in Kielce is the summer residence of the bishops of Krakow. The architecture of the palace is a unique blend of Polish and Italian traditions and reflects the political ambitions of its founder. Currently, the palace houses a branch of the National Museum with a gallery of Polish painting.
The palace was founded by Bishop Yakub Zadzik in 1637-1644. The architect of the palace was Tommaso Poncino Lugano, the author of numerous buildings in Krakow and Warsaw. An exquisite Italian garden was laid out behind the palace building, surrounded by a wall with two bastions. One of the bastions was later converted to the Powder Tower.
The main accent of the facade is the loggias, decorated with columns of black marble. The palace in Kielce was built according to “the principles of Italian symmetry,” and the towers and decorations are a Dutch feature. In the 18th century, the palace was slightly modified and expanded. The garden has been renovated in a trendy French style, with greenhouses, a stable, a barn and a brewery.
After the nationalization of the bishop's estate in 1789, the palace was the seat of various institutions: the country's first technical university, the mining academy, and then a municipality for local authorities. From 1919 to 1939, as well as in the post-war years, the military administration was located in the palace.
In 1971, by decision of the regional branch of the National Council, a museum was opened in the palace. In September, the grand opening of two exhibitions took place: the gallery of historical interiors and the Nine Centuries of Kielce. In 1975, the palace was given the status of the National Museum.
The museum's permanent exhibitions include Western European painting of the 17-18th centuries, Polish painting of the 17-20th centuries, applied arts, archeology, and numismatics.
