Otwock - accommodation

The palace in Otwock Wielki has a rich history. It has been visited by famous personalities, from Tsar Peter I to Lech Walesa. The palace is maintained in an Arcadian style, in addition, the church in the complex is quintessentially Baroque. Interestingly, the two buildings are related, namely their founder was the Bielinski family.

The area of today's Otwock Wielki and its surroundings was owned by the Otwock, Całowański and Karczewski families. The administrator of the estate was that family, who was elected by the representatives of their families. In the 17th century the area passed into the hands of the Bielinski family, and it was they who created the most important monuments in the area. Fortunately, the palace is maintained in excellent condition to this day. As a result, we can take a look at the richness of the facade. Ideally, the decorations of the facade are connected with the hall, called Horace's Hall, where there are paintings giving a kind of recipe for a happy life. Unfortunately, as a result of many reconstructions and reorganizations of the residence, many ornaments maintained in this style no longer exist. In 1732, two towers were added according to a design by Jakub Fontana, and the interiors were renovated.

As for the works, the stuccos in the former salon and ballroom have survived to this day. The decoration of the halls of the mansion was entrusted to the same artist who was responsible for the work on the Wilanów palace; unfortunately, he remains unknown to this day. The turn of the 17th and 18th centuries was the golden age of the estate. Mills and distilleries were established then, and the palace hosted Augustus II the Strong. It was here that he most likely met with Peter I in 1705, and, according to legend, the possibility of partitioning our country was discussed. In the 19th century, the family's estate was seized for debt, causing it to change owners several times. History did not spare it. During World War I it was devastated and remained in such a state until 1947, when renovation began. It was finally completed in 1961.

Interestingly, after the restoration, a correctional facility for girls was created from the palace. It was not until 1976 that it was taken over by the State Treasury and remained so until 2006. It now houses a branch of the National Museum in Warsaw, so we can see remnants of the palace's former splendor. However, Otwock Wielki is not just a magnificent palace, it is also a beautiful park full of romantic spots.