The former Provincial Government Palace in Lublin is set to be converted into a hotel. The former headquarters of the UMCS Institute of Psychology was vacated in 2019 and put up for sale. Despite the fact that the building was purchased by a new owner several years ago, it remains empty as the development project has yet to begin. The project is still in the planning stage, so we will have to wait a little longer for the details.
The Provincial Government Palace with a new owner
Since September 2022, the palace at 5 Litewski Square has belonged to Immobilia, a company primarily involved in residential property development. The firm is considering converting the historic building into a premium hotel. For the time being, however, the owner has not disclosed any specific details. We wrote to them asking for details and visualisations, but had not received a reply by the time of publication. The only thing known from the scant information in the local media is that a restaurant and bar are to be established in the building, and all historic and most valuable elements and details will be preserved.
History of the monument on Litewski Square
The history of the palace dates back to the mid-19th century. From 1852, the Governor of Lublin had been highlighting the need to construct a new headquarters for the administration, which was scattered across five different buildings in Lublin. The site of the former gardens and cemetery next to the Hospitalers’ church was chosen for the building. The design was drawn up by the Warsaw architect Julian Ankiewicz, who proposed a form befitting the status of the location. The plans were approved on 29 August 1859, after which construction began.
The Provincial Government Palace – recent history
Work proceeded smoothly and by 1861 the building was ready for use. The state coat of arms and a bilingual inscription, “RZĄD GUBERNIALNY LUBELSKI /Lublinskoje Gubiernskoje Prawienie/”, were placed on the façade. After regaining independence in 1918, the property was occupied by the Polish army, and during the Second World War it was used by German troops. After 1945, the building was handed over to the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, where, among others, psychologists were educated for many years. Until 2019, the UMCS Institute of Psychology operated there, but the institute was moved to new premises, and the building on Lubelski Square was vacated and put up for sale.
Architecture and layout of the monument
The former seat of the Provincial Government stands on the northern side of Litewski Square, in the vicinity of the historic Lubomirski Palace, currently being converted into the Museum of the Eastern Territories of the Former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. We wrote more on this subject HERE. Designed by Julian Ankiewicz, the building consists of a main, four-storey section and two side wings. The structure is covered by roofs of various shapes, and there are cellars and basements beneath the whole building. The building was constructed on a rectangular plan, with projecting wings. At the rear, there is a semi-circular projection housing a staircase. The façade facing the square is distinguished by an entrance adorned with Ionic columns. Above it is the inscription “MARIA CURIE-SKŁODOWSKA UNIVERSITY”. The building’s appearance has not changed significantly since the 19th century.
Will the Provincial Government Palace become a hotel?
The palace has stood unused for several years now, creating a sad sight in the prestigious setting of Litewski Square. All this may change thanks to the aforementioned concept, which will refresh the building’s appearance and give it a new purpose. If the project to convert the historic building into a hotel goes ahead, one of Lublin’s most important buildings will flourish once more and become another magnificent showcase for the city. We will follow developments regarding the palace and update information on the modernisation.
Source: immobilia.com.pl, teatrnn.pl
See also:Palace|Historic building|History|Lublin|Architecture in Poland | Hotel
