History of palace
Since very ancient times to the present owners the Popiel family
The Palace and Park Complex comprises the palace itself, the eastern pavilion known as the Annex, the western pavilion known as the Orangery, the building of the carriage stables with a columned portal guarded by two lions, added at the beginning of the 19th century, and the preserved part of the English landscape park, the true pride of which are the plane trees.
The palace in Kurozwęki is one of the few historical landmarks in Poland that allow us to trace successive changes in styles: from a fortified knight’s castle, through a defensive manor, to a Baroque-Classical residence. The castle was built by the Kurozwęcki family and then successively passed into the hands of the Lanckoroński, Sołtyk, and Popiel families.
During the interwar period, the estate comprised 6,000 hectares of fields, forests, fish ponds, and was renowned for its Anglo-Arabian horse stud. In September 1944, the remaining Popiel family members in the country were forced to leave the estate, and all buildings and land were taken over by the state. In 1989, efforts to reclaim the estate were initiated by its pre-war owner residing in Poland, Monsignor Marcin Popiel, the long-time parish priest of Szewna near Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski.
Shortly after his death in 1991, the ruins of the palace and part of the park were repurchased by the rightful owners. Taking over the property on behalf of the family were Jean Martin Popiel and his wife Karen Sveny Jacobsen, who is of Norwegian descent. Before settling in Poland, the Popiel family had lived in various places including Scotland, Congo, Canada, the United States, and Belgium. They had eight children – three daughters and five sons. In connection with taking over the estate, they decided to move to Poland.
The new owner began cleanup and renovation work in 1992 with the aim of restoring the historical grandeur of the castle. To manage the property more efficiently, two companies were established: “Palace Complex,” which operates the hotel, conference center, restaurant, and offers numerous tourist attractions, and “Kurozwęki Horse Stud,” which is involved in breeding Arabian horses, bison, and dairy cows.
The motto of the current owner’s business operations is: “Drawing from historical experiences and the benefits of modernity, we meet the higher needs of our customers while also caring for the preservation of the entrusted properties for future generations.” Today, the Palace Complex in Kurozwęki is known in Poland as a historical landmark and tourist attraction with the only herd of American bison in our country.
Undoubtedly, among the undeniable successes of its owners are: securing and conserving the cellars and underground passages, restoring the baroque facade of the palace, complete reconstruction of the ballroom and suite of salons, as well as renovation of both pavilions. Of particular note is the restored baroque castle chapel and the Museum opened in 2011: Treasures and Memorabilia of the Popiel Family along with a gallery of paintings by the renowned painter and writer Józef Czapski.
You will find the entire history in the following publications