Palace in Koszęcin

Koszęcin Palace (pronounced roughly "ko-SHEN-cheen") is a large late-neoclassical palace in a landscaped park in Silesia, southern Poland, and since 1953 the home of the Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble – one of Poland's best-known folk ensembles, which has toured the world for more than 70 years. On weekend guided tours you can see the ballroom, the former palace chapel and a collection of Silesian folk costumes, and you may hear the choir or orchestra rehearsing.

Where it is

Koszęcin is a village in Lubliniec County, Silesian Province, about 30 km (19 miles) in a straight line west of Częstochowa and roughly 45 km north of Katowice. Katowice Airport is the closest international airport. A car is the easiest way to get there; the palace is at Zamkowa 3.

History

Koszęcin was first recorded in 1275. A wooden castle burned in the early 17th century, and in 1609 Andrzej Kochcicki began a stone residence with a chapel. Tradition holds that King John III Sobieski stayed here, and that Queen Marysieńka lodged at the palace while he marched to relieve Vienna from the Ottoman siege in 1683.

From 1805 to 1945 the estate belonged to the German princely family of Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen, who rebuilt the palace in late neoclassical style from 1829; it has kept that horseshoe-shaped form ever since. After World War II the building served as a psychiatric hospital before being handed to the new state folk ensemble in 1953, led by its founder, composer Stanisław Hadyna.

What to see

• The Ballroom and the Green Room with an Empire-style round tiled stove.
• The former chapel, now a chamber concert hall, with the Hohenlohe family crypt below.
• The tower with a viewing terrace (weather permitting).
• The ensemble's memorial room with Silesian folk costumes and tour souvenirs.
• A bench statue of Stanisław Hadyna in the courtyard.

The surrounding English-style park from the mid-19th century has a pond, old lindens, oaks and beeches, and exotic trees such as Weymouth pine and Eastern hemlock; you can stroll there without a tour.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, individual visitors join guided tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:00 and 15:00, booked in advance by phone (+48 34 310 64 61 on weekdays, +48 34 310 64 01 at weekends) or at reception on the day. Tours are in Polish only, and the ensemble does not publish prices online – ask when booking (payment in PLN). The tower terrace is not accessible to visitors with reduced mobility. Allow 1.5–2 hours including the park.

Good to know

This is a working cultural institution rather than a museum, so the ensemble may change the tour program at short notice because of rehearsals or events. Under the ensemble's rules, by joining a tour you agree to being photographed for the ensemble's educational materials, according to its rules.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, especially if you enjoy music, dance and folk culture: few places let you see a working ensemble's home inside a historic palace. Check the ensemble's event calendar – concerts and open-air events are held at the palace.