The palace in Swierklaniec, often referred to as the ‘Little Versailles’, was one of the most impressive and sophisticated examples of residential architecture in Central Europe. Its history, linked to the Henckel von Donnersmarck family, is a tale of splendour, ambition and the tragic destruction that led to its destruction.
Situated in Silesia, Świerklaniec has been an important point on the historical map since the time of Bolesław Chrobry. Originally there was a wooden castle surrounded by a moat, which served as the seat of the alderman. Over the centuries, the site passed through the hands of various owners, including the Dukes of Racibórz and Cieszyn. In the 14th century, a brick castle was erected here, rebuilt several times and in the 19th century taken as the starting point for the creation of the modern complex.
The palace at the beginning of the 20th century. Source: Opole Digital Library
The real heyday of Świerklaniec came about thanks to the Henckel von Donnersmarck family, who acquired the land in the 17th century. In the 19th century, Guido Henckel von Donnersmarck, a wealthy industrialist and magnate, decided to make Świerklaniec his main residence.
Palace in Świerklaniec in 1937 and 2023. Source: szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl and ireneusz1966/fotopolska.eu, Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Between 1868 and 1875, Guido commissioned the construction of a French-style Neo-Renaissance palace for his wife Blanca de Païva, designed by Hector Lefuel, an architect known for his work on the Louvre palace. The building, built on a horseshoe plan, was impressive for its richness of detail, with a central risalit containing a hall and staircase, while the side wings were pavilions with a rosarium and palm house. The residence was further enhanced by monumental terraces descending towards the pond.
“Little Versailles” in the early 20th century and today. Source: Opole Digital Library and PetrusSilesius, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, via Wikimedia Commons
The compositional axis led through symmetrical gardens designed by Peter Lenné and Gustav Mayer. The centrepiece was an ornamental pool with a fountain modelled on Carpeaux’s ‘Astronomical Observatory’ and sculptures by Emmanuel Frémiet. The palace’s interiors were also characterised by splendour and elegance. They were full of stylish furniture, priceless works of art, and the whole was finished with the most expensive materials and frescoes.
The palace in 1937 and the ruins in the 1940s. Source: szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl and Opole Digital Library
The palace was surrounded by an extensive landscape park, which was created on wetlands on the Brynica River. The park was designed with a grandeur characteristic of the English style, with winding paths, natural ponds and groups of trees. The palace complex was enriched by other buildings, such as the neo-Gothic chapel-mausoleum from 1896-1897 or the “Cavaliers’ House”, a neo-Baroque residence from the early 20th century. To the north of the palace was a garden with orangeries, and to the south was a manor farm and outbuildings. The whole emphasised the majesty of the residence and was evidence of the wealth of the Donnersmarck family.
The palace in Świerklaniec in 1937 and the same place today. Source: szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl and Google Maps
The Second World War was very tragic for the Swierklaniec palace and brought an end to the existence of the magnificent establishment. In 1945, Red Army soldiers ransacked the building and then set it on fire. There is also another version of events, according to which it was the Donnersmarck family who ordered the destruction of the palace to prevent its takeover by the authorities of the People’s Republic of Poland. In the 1960s, the destroyed palace was completely demolished. The materials obtained were used in the construction of the Zagłębie Culture Palace in Dąbrowa Górnicza. What survived was the entrance gate, which was moved to the Provincial Park of Culture and Leisure in Chorzów.
The palace in 1937 and the same place today. Source: szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl and Google Maps
Although the palace has not survived, its memory lives on through surviving photographs, descriptions and digital reconstruction. Carbon Studio, using Unreal Engine 4 technology, has created a visualisation of the mansion and its surroundings, showing what the place looked like in its heyday. The video allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the former Swierklaniec.
Nowadays, the palace’s site contains only the remains of the gardens and the former surroundings of the residence. The landscape park in Swierklaniec, extending over some 200 hectares, is open to the public. The neo-Gothic chapel-mausoleum and the “House of the Cavaliers” can still be admired. Walking along the paths of the park, one can imagine the former splendour of the “Little Versailles” and feel the atmosphere of the glory days of Świerklaniec during the times of the Henckel von Donnersmarck family.
Source: zabytek.pl, slazag.pl
Read also: Architecture in Poland | History | Villas and residences | Palace | whiteMAD on Instagram
