In the 19th century, Skierniewice was a favourite hunting spot of the Russian tsars - it was here, around the Pałac Prymasowski, that Tsar Alexander II spent his time during visits to the Kingdom of Poland. Tied to this period is one of the best-known local legends - the sad story of a girl named Dorotka.
How the legend goes
According to the tale, Dorotka Ostaszewska was fifteen years old and a pupil at the Instytut Maryjski (Mariinsky Institute) in Warsaw. Her father, an insurgent from the 1863 uprising, died in exile in Siberia, and the orphaned girl ended up at a school for young ladies from noble families. During one of his visits to the institution, Tsar Alexander II himself is said to have been captivated by her - and, according to the legend, to have promised her marriage, giving her an engagement ring.
The rest of the story is bitter: after the death of his wife, the tsar is said to have left Skierniewice, married Princess Yekaterina Yurievskaya, and offered Dorotka marriage to Baron de Waldau, along with a substantial dowry as compensation. The heartbroken girl is said to have accepted the proposal, but the next morning to have jumped into the Łupia river flowing through the park and drowned. The legend says she was buried under the false name Joanna in the palace chapel, and the exact location of her grave remains unknown to this day.
What is legend and what is history
That Alexander II visited Skierniewice and hunted in the surrounding forests is a documented fact - the tsar did indeed treat the town as his hunting residence in the Kingdom of Poland. Everything else - the specific story of Dorotka Ostaszewska, her relationship with the tsar, the tragic ending by the river - is a tale passed down from generation to generation, unconfirmed by any archival document. This does not mean the legend is worthless - it shows how the town's residents have always perceived the tsar's presence: with a mixture of fascination and unease about the fate of those who came within the orbit of the occupying power.
Why Skierniewice, not Saint Petersburg
The question suggests itself: why would a story of a tsar's seduction unfold in a small town in Masovia rather than in the imperial capital? The answer is prosaic - it was in Skierniewice, not Saint Petersburg, that the tsar spent weeks hunting in the forests surrounding the town, away from court ceremony. The local residence drew the Russian court there regularly, so for the town's residents the presence of the tsar's entourage was something ordinary - and ordinary fuel for gossip, of which no court ever ran short.
The park where you can still walk today
The park by the Pałac Prymasowski still exists today and is freely open to the public - it is one of the more attractive green corners of Skierniewice, with paths running along the water, in exactly the setting in which the legend of Dorotka unfolds.
What else to see nearby
A dozen or so minutes' walk from the palace stands the Skierniewice town hall, and the town's history - including episodes of the tsar's visits - can be explored in more detail at the Muzeum Historyczne Skierniewic im. Jana Olszewskiego (Skierniewice Historical Museum). Nature lovers can extend the trip with a canoeing trip on the Rawka river or a walk through the Bolimowski Park Krajobrazowy (Bolimów Landscape Park) just outside town. More ideas for a walk around town can be found among the monuments of Skierniewice.
In practice
The Park Miejski (Municipal Park) in Skierniewice, surrounding the palace, is open every day and free of charge - a natural spot for a quiet walk, whether you are drawn more to the romantic legend or simply to relaxing in the shade of old trees. The palace itself can be visited as part of the Skierniewice attractions offer - it is worth checking the current opening hours before visiting, as the building today serves institutional functions and is not always open inside.
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