The palace in Kopice, a picturesque monument in the Opolskie Voivodeship, has received significant financial support for essential renovation work. The Ministry of Culture provided PLN 500,000 to secure the ruins of the palace, which is the first government subsidy to save this monument. In addition, the local government of the Opolskie Voivodeship awarded PLN 200,000 for the renovation of the Schaffgotsch family mausoleum, located in the palace park.
The grant for the renovation of the palace was awarded to Joachim Wesiollek, an entrepreneur from Strzelce Opolskie, who purchased the palace together with its 50-hectare park in 2022. The funds are to be used for the reconstruction and restoration of the ceilings in the palace building and the construction of a roof covering. The preservation work had already begun at the beginning of the year, demonstrating the new owner’s commitment to saving the monument. Joachim Wesiollek is no newcomer to this issue. Previously, he bought a palace in Żyrowa near Zdzieszowice and has been systematically renovating it, which gives us hope that the palace in Kopice will also see a comprehensive reconstruction.
The palace ruins before work began. Photo: kopice.org
The palace in Kopice, built in the 19th century, was the residence of the wealthy Schaffgotsch industrialists. Unfortunately, since 1956, when a fire destroyed part of the roof, the building gradually fell into disrepair. In 1990, the palace was sold for a symbolic zloty, but the new owner from Krakow took no interest in its condition. In 2008, the building was acquired by the Silesian company Zarmen, but plans for renovation also came to nothing. It was only the intervention of the provincial conservationist, who issued an order to carry out conservation work, that stopped further degradation of the building. We wrote in detail about the history of the mansion HERE.
The palace in its glory days and until recently. Photo: kopice.org
Since Joachim Vesiollek acquired the Kopice chateau, a clear metamorphosis of the place can be observed. The new owner avoids the media and direct information about his plans, focusing instead on concrete measures. Work to date includes the revitalisation of the park stand and the restoration of the artificial ruins of the so-called Mysa Tower. Thanks to the grants awarded, the palace in Kopice has a chance to be rebuilt and restored to its former glory.
Every year, Kopice hosts the Kopice Palace Meetings, which provide an opportunity to get up close and personal with the Schaffgotschs’ residence. These events are an opportunity to learn more about the history of the place and its connection to the family, as well as to see the progress of the restoration work.
Source: Maciej Mischok / kopice.pl
Read also: Architecture in Poland | History | Renovation | Palace
