Palace in Walewice

The Palace in Walewice stands over the Bzura river in the village of Walewice in Bielawy commune, among gardens in the English style. It was built in 1773-1783 for Anastazy Walewski, and today the building belongs to a stud farm and serves as a conference centre with accommodation.

Who built the palace and when

The palace was erected in 1773-1783 at the request of Anastazy Walewski, starost and chamberlain to King Stanisław August Poniatowski. Hilary Szpilowski or Stanisław Zawadzki is cited as the designer. The structure follows the principles of Palladio: a rectangular main block connected by galleries to side pavilions.

Connection with Napoleon Bonaparte

In Walewice on 4 May 1810, Alexandre Colonna-Walewski was born, the son of Maria Walewska and Napoleon Bonaparte. Alexandre later became ambassador of France and foreign minister, and his birth is the most frequently recalled episode in the palace's history.

The Grabińskis and the Battle of the Bzura

In the mid-nineteenth century, the estate passed into the hands of the Grabiński family, who carried out its modernisation. In September 1939, on the night of 9-10 September, fighting of the Battle of the Bzura took place in the area of the palace and the village of Walewice, in which the 17th Poznań Dragons Regiment from Gniezno took part.

English garden

Around the palace extends an ornamental garden in the English style, planted with approximately seventy species and varieties of trees and shrubs. Baroque and neoclassical sculptures stand in the garden paths, added in various periods of the estate's existence.

Conference centre today

The palace is currently administered by the State Centre for Agricultural Support as part of the Walewice stud farm and serves as a conference and training centre. At the disposal of guests are approximately seventy overnight places in apartments and double rooms, a large hall for 60 persons and two smaller halls for 15 persons each. Visits to the interior take place only with permission from the stud farm director, following prior arrangement.

Practical information

• Address: Walewice, Bielawy commune, Łowicz county, Łódź voivodeship
• Access: by car from Łódź or Łowicz, parking available nearby
• Hours: entry to the palace only with permission from the stud farm director, following prior arrangement, it is worth checking availability before a visit
• What to expect: neoclassical palace structure, English garden with sculptures, conference halls and accommodation as part of the stud farm
• In the area: the Bzura river, on which the palace stands, and Łowicz as the nearest larger town