An EU-funded project has overseen the second and final stage of the restoration of Raczyński Palace in Rogalin, Poland. The project re-created the late 19th- and early 20th-century character of the interiors of the main building and ground floor rooms in the south wing. Visitors can now enjoy the palace in all its splendour, as well as its art gallery, which houses works by leading Polish and European artists such as Jan Matejko, Jacek Malczewski and Paul Delaroche.
Historic Raczyński Palace in Rogalin, Poland restored
- 18 September 2020
‘The project allowed us to rescue many objects from the museum warehouses. Following the renovation, these objects decorate the palace interior – for example 300 pieces of furniture and, above all, the collection of paintings.’
The interiors were furnished with around 1 000 objects, some of them reconstructions of items lost during World War II. They included almost 300 pieces of antique furniture, stoves, chandeliers, several dozen paintings, sculptures, stained glass windows, a model ship and fabrics.
The furnishings of the neo-Rococo library, with its richly decorated oak cupboards, were re-created based on late 19th-century designs.
Access roads were resurfaced, along with the courtyard and paths in the parkland, and an 18th-century bridge was rebuilt. All areas were made accessible for people with disabilities, including tactile exhibits with Braille descriptions for the visually impaired. A children's museum was opened, and an internet portal and an IT system with information for visitors were set up.
An illustrious history
Dating back to 1770 and built as the family seat of Kazimierz Raczyński, Marshal of the Royal Court under King Stanisław II August, the Raczyński Palace consists of the main building and two quarter-circular wings. At the front are the courtyard, a woodshed, a stable, a coach house and servants’ quarters; at the back is a French-style garden enclosed by an observation mound.
In the 19th century, Kazimierz Raczyński’s grandson, Edward expanded the estate to encompass a landscaped park. He had a mausoleum built and transformed the ballroom into an armoury. Edward’s grandson, Edward Aleksander Raczyński converted the dining room into the library and built the art gallery, which was enriched with one of the finest collections of contemporary paintings in Poland.
A lengthy process
Although the palace was not damaged during World War II, its furnishings were plundered. In 1949, it opened as a museum owned by the National Museum in Poznań. From 1975, restoration was carried out intermittently until being abandoned in 2000.
The process started again from scratch in 2007, and the main part of the palace – unfurnished, but with its internal architecture restored – opened in 2009.
Also open were exhibitions in the art gallery, the coach house and the London study – a re-creation of the study of Edward Bernard Raczyński, President of Poland-in-exile from 1979 to 1986 and the last male heir of the Raczyński line.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment and EU funding for the project “Restoration and modernisation of the palace and park in Rogalin, Department of the National Museum in Poznan - Stage II” is EUR 8 410 978 (PLN 39 261 604), with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 5 587 563 (PLN 26 082 185) through the “Infrastructure and Environment” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Culture and cultural heritage”.