The 18th-century palace in Goszcz was once one of the most magnificent residences in Lower Silesia, comparable to the most beautiful Baroque palaces of Europe at the time. Today, thanks to the efforts of the Twardogóra authorities and the renovation carried out, it has regained some of its former splendour, albeit in the form of a permanent ruin. The effects of the renovation work were recognised in 2023 in the prestigious Ministry of Culture and National Heritage competition ‘Zabytek Zadbany’, where the Goszcz palace won an award in the category of revalorisation of cultural space and landscape.
Goszcz, with the first mention dating back to 1155, was a place of strategic importance for centuries. From the 12th century it belonged to the Bishops of Wrocław, and in 1605 it fell into the hands of the von Dohn family. However, its true heyday did not come until the 18th century, when Heinrich Leopold von Reichenbach purchased Goszcz and began building a monumental residence in the Baroque-Rococo style.
Front elevation, pre-war years. Source: Opole Digital Library
Modelled on French chateaux, the complex in Goszcz included numerous buildings and a landscaped park. It included, among others, two outbuildings, stables, a manege, a gardener’s house and an evangelical church. The estate was modernised several more times in the following decades. The Reichenbachs lived there until 1945, after which the palace was first occupied by the Red Army and then by the local administration. On Christmas Eve 1947, a fire broke out in the building. Despite the action of the fire brigade, the palace burned to the ground and was never rebuilt.
The Goszcz Palace in 1910 and today. Source: Lower Silesia Digital Library and Oleksandr Poliakovsky/wroclaw.pl
Despite significant damage, the complex did not fall into complete ruin. Thanks to the efforts of the Twardogóra authorities, initiated in 2013, the buildings of the former manege and stables have been restored and transformed into cultural and educational spaces, serving as a theatre hall and multifunctional exhibition hall. In addition, the preserved landscape park of 21 hectares has become a popular venue for walks and artistic events. In order to halt the progressive degradation and protect the ruins of the palace body from destruction and preserve the material cultural heritage, one of the largest projects in the history of the municipality, entitled ‘Restoration and revitalisation of the historic palace in Goszcz’, was launched in 2021. The author was the Myczkowski design studio from Wrocław.
The gate leading to the courtyard of the palace complex, 1910 and 2023. Source: Lower Silesia Digital Library and Oleksandr Poliakovsky/wroclaw.pl
The project included, among other things, renovation, construction, installation and conservation works aimed at the structural protection of the walls of the main body of the building in the form of a permanent ruin, the conservation of the detail and the execution of works aimed at limiting irreversible destruction. The exterior walls of the palace and the preserved fragments of the interior have been saved, allowing visitors to feel the spirit of the former residence.
Although the palace has not been fully reconstructed, its current state – a permanent ruin – is a tourist attraction, attracting lovers of history, architecture and nature. It now serves a cultural function, hosting numerous events, concerts and artistic gatherings. The palace park and courtyard have become an ideal location for photo shoots and open-air filming. There is also a café in the complex.
Source: wroclaw.pl, palacgoszcz.twardogora.pl
Read also: Villas and residences | Architecture in Poland | History | Renovation | Palace
