Muzeum w Lewkowie – Zespół Pałacowo-Parkowy

About the museum

The palace in Lewków was built in 1788–1791 for Wojciech Lipski, Kalisz łowczy (master of the hunt) and, from 1776, general-adjutant of King Stanisław August Poniatowski. The designer was the king's court architect, Jan Christian Kamsetzer. The date 1791 on the cartouche of the garden façade marks both the completion of the building and the adoption of the Constitution of 3 May, which Lipski supported. Józef Lipski, later the pre-war Polish ambassador in Berlin, grew up in the palace.

The building is classicist, two-storey and rectangular in plan, with a four-column Ionic portico and a rotunda on the garden side. The façades are decorated with exceptionally rich stucco, painted and sculptural ornament, and the interiors feature illusionist paintings by Antoni Smuglewicz from around 1800. Guests of the palace included Hieronim Bonaparte (1812), Karol Kniaziewicz (1813) and Ignacy Mościcki (1928).

During the Second World War the Germans occupied the palace and removed most of its valuable furnishings, works of art, archives and a library of about 10,000 volumes. After the war Soviet soldiers were stationed here, and later various institutions occupied the building. The building was entered in the register of monuments in 1951, and after a general renovation in 1973–1987 it was taken over by the Kalisz Land Regional Museum (Muzeum Okręgowe Ziemi Kaliskiej), which created a branch here: the Palace and Park Complex in Lewków.

Highlights

• Lipski Palace from 1788–1791, designed by Jan Christian Kamsetzer
• Illusionist murals by Antoni Smuglewicz from around 1800
• Richly decorated façades with an Ionic portico and a rotunda
• Lipski book collection, begun around 1835
• Park by the palace and the Lewków murals

Permanent exhibition

• Pałac Lipskich – Tour of the classicist palace with its interiors and illusionist paintings, and the story of the Lipski family and their book collection.

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On Tuesdays admission is free to the permanent exhibitions (not applicable to temporary exhibitions).

Prices apply to the Lipski Palace and the temporary exhibition; higher prices apply to the exhibition of Jerzy Nowosielski.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Stairs lead to the main entrance from the north, but a ramp runs from the north-west corner of the palace down to basement level, where a doorbell by the door summons a security employee. A lift connects the basement with the other floors, and all levels of the palace are accessible. Toilets for people with disabilities are in the basement (with a changing table) and on the first floor. Parking spaces for people with disabilities are by the coach house, on the left of the access road; entering the park grounds requires prior notice by telephone or e-mail. There are four information boards on site, three of them tactile (building plan, park paths, car park). Assistance dogs are admitted to the park.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities

The museum organises workshops and museum lessons. A family ticket costs PLN 40 (PLN 60 for the Nowosielski exhibition), and there is a changing table in the basement.

Getting there & parking

The main park gate is at the junction of ul. Lotnicza and ul. Powstańców Wielkopolskich.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit