Lazienki Palace

Warsaw, Poland

The origins of today’s Łazienki Palace date back to the late 17th century. The Bathhouse was built at the behest of Prince Stanisław Herakliusz Lubomirski, one of the most important politicians, writers and philosophers of the time. The Baroque garden pavilion, designed by the Dutch architect, Tylman van Gameren, was intended as a place for resting, leisure and contemplation. The interiors of the Bathhouse were stylized on a grotto with a spring which symbolized the Hippocrene, a fountain on Mount Helicon in ancient Greece, which was the source of poetic inspiration for the Muses.

In 1764, when looking for a place in which to build his summer residence, King Stanisław August purchased the Bathhouse together with the Ujazdowski estate. Thanks to two architects – the Italian born Domenico Merlini and Johann Christian Kammsetzer, who was born in Dresden – the King transformed the Baroque Bathhouse pavilion into the neoclassical Palace on the Isle. Modelled on Italian architectural solutions, such as the Villa Borghese, Villa Albani, Villa Medici and Villa Ludovisi, it was intended to symbolize the dream of an ideal, modern and sovereign state.

Stanisław August transformed the Palace on the Isle into a villa museum in which he displayed the most valuable paintings from his collection of 2,289 works of art by some of the most distinguished European artists of the seventeenth and eighteen centuries. Dutch artists were the best represented; the finest paintings among them were those executed by Rembrandt van Rijn. Girl in a Picture Frame and Scholar at His Writing Table, were purchased from the King’s heirs in 1815 for the Lanckoroński collection and thanks to the donation from Karolina Lanckorońska made in 1994, they now hang in the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

Today, 140 works of art from the King’s collection are on display in the Palace on the Isle, and are exhibited in line with eighteenth-century principles. The most important works are: Anton R. Mengs’ Portrait of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams – English ambassador to Russia and friend of King Stanisław August – Jacob Jordaens the Elder’s Satyr Playing a Flute, Jan Victors’ Jacob and Esau, and Angelica Kauffmann’s Portrait of Princess Giuliana Pubblicola Santacroce.

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Address

Warsaw, Poland
See all sites in Warsaw

Details

Founded: 17th century
Category: Palaces, manors and town halls in Poland

Rating

4.8/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Oliwia R (6 months ago)
Such beautiful architecture! Surrounded by a beautiful park and pond makes the Palace just stand out in the best way possible!
Adam Kaczmarek (7 months ago)
Truly beautiful!! If you do not like the crowds, avoid coming here on the weekends though. The best time to visit is either early mornings or around sunset and - on weekdays!:-)
Arthur Krzycki (7 months ago)
Great place to walk and explore. Bring a book and spend some time enjoying one of the many benches in lovely shaded areas where you can relax away from the bustling city.
ANNA SALVIA (9 months ago)
Just go to the park, it's free and you can see the buildings from outside. Inside, nothing worthy to see. Orangerie, plasters of ancient statues. And the other two, don't waste 10 euros. I'm a history teacher and it's not worth it. The paintings in the palace in the isle, you can't see them. All the walls with paintings (horror vacuii), no chronological order or sense. And not even an exhibit label near them. Just one placard for the whole room. Maybe they should restructure the idea of the museum
Apostolis Michailidis (13 months ago)
I visited on Sunday and to my surprise the entrance to the Palace was free ?. A wonderful building! With a few things to see and admire. A must visit if you are in the area since this and the park around it make for a great and relaxing experience.
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