Further fragments of the demolished Brühl Palace are coming to light from beneath the ground at Piłsudski Square in Warsaw. Archaeologists are uncovering brick cellars, stone decorations and the remains of the palace’s former furnishings. The much-heralded reconstruction of the historic building is still being preceded by meticulous and thorough research, yet every detail that is excavated and cleaned provides the information needed to recreate the building as faithfully as possible.
The reconstruction of Brühl Palace is getting closer
In the extensive excavation pit, the layout of the former rooms is becoming increasingly clear. Brick and stone walls mark the course of the cellars and passageways, between which fragments of flooring, installations and even a pre-war urinal have been preserved. Archaeologists are sorting through the excavated stonework on the paved section of the square. Here one can see massive blocks, moulded slabs and carved decorations made of sandstone or marble. These are the remains of a magnificent building which, before the war, housed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Germans blew it up in 1944; the ruins were subsequently cleared away and the remains buried. The surviving architectural elements and cellars lay hidden for nearly 80 years.
Archaeologists uncover the cellars and courtyard
The current excavation season began on 16 March 2026, covering an area of approximately 8,150 square metres. The work is being carried out by a consortium comprising the Association of Archaeologists, the State Archaeological Museum in Warsaw and the company Jardźwig. Excavators are removing the topsoil, whilst near the historic walls the earth is being dug out by hand, under the supervision of sappers. After the first three months, around 30 per cent of this year’s excavation area had been investigated and over 1,200 artefacts had been found, including 396 fragments of decoration, stucco and plasterwork. Among other things, black courtyard slabs forming a circular motif were uncovered, originally complemented by eight rays. It resembled a compass rose, but did not correspond exactly to the geographical directions. An lift shaft, bathrooms with showers and two channels, likely used for car repairs, were also uncovered.
The restoration of Brühl Palace: a telephone, porcelain and traces of a garden
Among this year’s finds, an Ericsson telephone receiver – likely used at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – a corroded typewriter, and bottles from the companies Haberbusch, Schiele and J.A. Baczewski stand out. A white cup bearing the mark of the Bavarian Hutschenreuther factory in Selb has also been preserved. Manufacturers’ marks help to determine the origin of the furnishings. In Beck’s Garden, meanwhile, fountain basins, a lamppost base and a fence plinth have been uncovered, whilst a section of the terrace and some steps have been found near the modernist pavilion. Research into this part of the site will continue in 2027 as well, as it is particularly important for the designers: pre-war documentation of the garden and the pavilion is scarce, and both are to be reconstructed.
Finds are informing the WXCA’s design
The excavations carried out so far are already having a tangible impact on the architects’ documentation. For example, measurements of the foundations of the corner building on Fredry and Wierzbowa Streets revealed that its façade was almost a metre longer than had been inferred from the interpretation of archival records. The drawings and the 3D model of the future development have therefore been revised. The entire complex – comprising the Saski and Brühl Palaces and the three tenement houses on the Królewska Street side – is to be restored to its external appearance as at 31 August 1939, taking into account the interwar modernisations. The winning design was created by the WXCA studio, selected in a competition on 12 October 2023.
When will the reconstruction of Brühl Palace begin?
The implementation of the project at Piłsudski Square, estimated to cost 2.45 billion zlotys, is facing uncertainty regarding its timetable. According to media reports, the contract with the WXCA design studio has not yet been signed, and the start of construction has been postponed to 2028. Consequently, the previously announced opening date for the complex (2030) is no longer valid. There are plans to relocate the Senate here in the future and to establish headquarters for a wide range of state institutions, as well as cultural, educational and social facilities.
Source:palacsaski.pl
See also:Historic building|Palace|History|Warsaw|Interesting facts
