Żagański Pałac Kultury

The Baroque palace was built on the site of a Piast castle dating back to the turn of the 14th century. It faces the city from the north and west, while from the south and east it is surrounded by an extensive landscaped park with the Beaver River flowing through it.

The Żagań palace and mansion became one of the more famous in Europe. During the years of the duchess's reign, a lot of modernization work was carried out at the palace. The current appearance of the palace was shaped during the Baroque period.

From Wallenstein to Duchess Dorothy

The first initiator of the construction of a new magnate seat in Zagan was the commander-in-chief of the imperial army during the 30-year war, Albrecht von Wallenstein. It was he who acquired the Duchy of Żagań from Emperor Ferdinand II Habsburg in 1627.

Work on erecting the mansion began around 1630, according to a design by Italian architect Vincenzo Boccaccio. Unfortunately, due to Wallenstein's death in 1634, work on construction was interrupted. In 1646 the duchy became the property of Prince Vaclav Eusebius Lobkowitz, who in 1670 resumed the interrupted construction. This time according to a design by the ducal master mason Antoni della Porta. In 1786 the Duchy of Zagan was purchased by the Duke of Courland and Semigallia, Peter Biron. The palace interiors underwent reconstruction and extensive renovation under the direction of architect Chrystian W. Schultze.

In 1842, the principality and the palace passed into the ownership of Princess Dorothy de Talleyrand - Périgord. In 1845-55 a lot of modernization work was carried out. The palace's spatial layout combined features inherent in French Baroque palaces (screen wing) and Italian (facing the courtyard towards the park).

During the time of Princess Dorothy, the Żagań palace was visited by prominent representatives from the world of politics, science and culture, among them: Alexander Baron von Humboldt, Ferenz Liszt, Prussian King Wilhelm I or Hermann Prince von Puckler - Muskau.

Ducal Park

The first mention of Żagań's park surrounding the palace appeared in the 17th century under Albrecht von Wallenstein. The greatest influence on the shape of the palace-park assumptions had the Duchess of Żagań Dorota de Talleyrand-Périgord. She included in the park area the grounds located in the Bozno Suburb (today's St. Dorothy's Hospital complex) and enlarged the Upper Park. The palace park was given a new romantic character, designed by Friedrich Teichert, the garden inspector. The park layout was divided into two parts: an inner part with numerous buildings and an outer part open to the surrounding countryside. The inspiration for the changes made was Muskauer Park.

Duchess Dorothea's work was continued by her son, Napoleon Ludwig, who funded free-standing statues or launched numerous fountains in the park, including the main fountain adorning the palace bailey.

The Żagań palace park is one of the highest-ranking buildings. Already considered before World War II to be the most beautiful in Silesia and one of the finest in Central Europe, it is one of the largest historic city parks in Poland. To this day, the park impresses with its beauty and is a favorite place for walks for city residents and tourists.
Today, among other things, the palace houses a cultural center.

Read More