Nawra, a village located 7 km from Chełmża and about 25 km from Toruń, is a place of exceptional cultural heritage. The oldest monument of the village is the parish church of St. Catherine of Alexandria from the 14th century, where there is an epitaph of the Kruszyński family from 1815. However, it is the classicist palace and its history associated with the Kruszyński and Sczaniecki families that is currently attracting the most attention, as the estate will finally be raised from ruin. The palace in Nawra will be turned into a museum of Polish landed gentry in a few years’ time.
The original wooden manor house in the 18th century was replaced by an elegant palace designed by Hilary Szpilowski, commissioned by Konstanty Kruszyński. After Boguslawa Kruszyńska married Michał Sczaniecki in the 19th century, it was surrounded by a picturesque park with lime tree avenues, a pond and a tennis court. The palace became the centre of political and cultural life in Vistula Pomerania, and its library was famous for its impressive book collection, attracting historians and ethnographers from all over the country.
During World War II, the palace in Nawra was occupied by the Germans and the Sczanieckis family was displaced. Afterwards, the palace furnishings were taken away and stolen. The work of destruction was completed by the reconstruction of the interiors of the mansion. After the war, the building belonged to the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, then to the State Agricultural Farm (PGR), and from 1974 to the Experimental Plant Breeding and Acclimatisation Institute.
Around 1980, Andrzej Szwalbe, director of the Pomeranian Philharmonic in Bydgoszcz, presented the concept of transforming the Nawrzańska palace into a cultural institution. Despite the initial approval of the authorities, the project was never realised. The abandoned palace complex soon began to deteriorate. Subsequent years of oblivion and neglect by the manager led to the main building falling into disrepair and the park to become overgrown. It was not until 2012, after a long court battle, that the palace complex returned to the Sczanieckis’ heirs, and was then handed over to the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Regional Government.
The palace before the war and now
The Kujawsko-Pomorskie Heritage Centre in Toruń has been entrusted with restoring the palace in Nawra to its former glory. The project involves the restoration of the original spatial layout and restoration of the preserved buildings. Objects that have been destroyed will be faithfully reconstructed on the basis of available historical documentation. The palace building will be rebuilt according to materials depicting its pre-war appearance, interior layout and architectural details. It is planned to restore the historic staircases, passageways, woodwork and polychrome. In addition, the interiors will be adapted for museum purposes and the exhibitions will be enhanced with multimedia solutions. A permanent exhibition will present the history of the palace, its former owners – the Kruszyński and Sczaniecki families – and their role in promoting patriotism and tradition. The complex will also include spaces for meetings, conferences, temporary exhibitions and concerts.
The Navra Palace now and after renovation
The right outbuilding (eastern) will be extensively renovated and adapted for new functions such as research studios, seminar rooms or collection storage. Part of its space will be used for kitchen and catering facilities and staff rooms. The left (western) annexe will also undergo renovation to serve as social and leisure facilities for visitors, including researchers and workshop participants.
A fragment of the facade today and in the future
In the former gardener’s house, until recently used as council flats, the original openings in the walls will be restored and the secondary extensions will be removed. The building will be used as workshop rooms for classes on culinary traditions and table culture, using crops from the palace gardens. The neighbouring outbuilding will become a workshop with a tool room. There are also plans to reconstruct the greenhouse and the earth cellar, and to renovate the existing cellar next to the right outbuilding. At the end of the park avenues, a reconstructed Steward’s House will be built for administrative functions, with ticket offices and a museum shop. The revitalisation will also include tidying up the palace park. The historic rows, water reservoirs and greenhouse will be restored. The park will be equipped with lighting, monitoring and modern infrastructure, and the whole establishment will be fenced.
The cost of the project is almost PLN 39 million, of which more than 37 million comes from EU funds. on 9 December 2024, an agreement was signed with the main contractor selected in the tender – Firma Budowlana DOLMAR from Golub-Dobrzyń/Torun. A tender for the contractor for the revitalisation of the historic park will be announced shortly. Construction and conservation work will be carried out in parallel and is scheduled to be completed in 2027.
Source: Kujawsko-Pomorskie Heritage Centre in Toruń
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