Palace of the Cracow Bishops

in Kielce

The Palace of the Cracow Bishops in Kielce was built in the 17th century as a summer residence of Bishops of Kraków in Kielce, Poland. The architecture of the palace constitutes a unique mélange of Polish and Italian traditions and it reflects political ambitions of its founder. Currently the palace houses a branch of the National Museum with an important gallery of Polish paintings. The residence of the Cracow Bishops in the city of Kielce was founded by bishop Jakub Zadzik, Great Crown Chancellor.

The residence of Cracow bishops in Kielce is called the palace. It is located on the hill - called Castle Hill. Cracow bishops palace is sorrounded by the stone wall. In the wall, up till today, it is possible to see partly kept tower which is called Powder Tower. It was being built up with the thought about defensive functions.

The Palace built on the squared plan, has 2 storeys and 4 corner towers with 3 storeys. All towers are identical, hexagonal and crowned with the pretty helmet, but two front are not adjoining to the lump of the palace. They are linked with two narrow annexes. At one time statues of Swedish Members of Parliament (Oxenstierna and Brache) and Moscow (Lwow and Szeremetiew) were placed. There with those Members of Parliament a founder of the castle, bishop Jakub Zadzik, conducted negotiations.At the front, on both sides there are one- storey building extensions. They have L letter shape. On the back there is a garden, which is confined by the stone wall with Powder Tower and granary.

All of the historic buildings are well kept. Apart from mentionend before two gates and part of the stone wall with north side tower the buildings did not survive to our times. It is the only one Polish baroque residence from half of the 17th century which kept decor of insides. The Kielce castle was erected in the first half of the 17th century from the initiative of bishop Jakub Zadzik.

Tourists can admire wonderful episcopal chambers with furniture, portals, fireplaces, floors and very beautiful ceilings designed by Tomasz Dolabelli and the huge collection of paintings among others of Chełmoński, Wyspiański, Gierymski, Witkiewicz. Every exhibited item is well described, although it is done a bit not comfortably - at entering to the given chamber. In one of the rooms a Sanctuary of J. Piłsudski was created with the posthumous grimace and uniform of the Marshal.

Jakub Zadzik - bishop of Cracow from 1635, diplomat, magnate in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Zadzik sponsored the Cracow Bishops' Palace in Kielce, now a museum.

Central part of the Swietokrzyskie voivodeship .

It is possible to get there from most of the cities in the country. The Palace is located on the hill near down the town. There is the place to park the car near the palace .

Made by: Martyna WójcikIII AK

Source: http://zamki.res.pl/kielce.htm