Donnersmarck Palace, Siemianowice Śląskie

In the town park in the centre of Siemianowice Śląskie stands a residence whose main block alone has a volume of more than 23,000 m³. The palace was begun in the 17th century by the Mieroszewski family, enlarged by the Henckel von Donnersmarcks and nearly ruined by the 20th century. Since December 2024 it has had a new owner carrying out one of the region's largest heritage restorations – a good time to see a palace coming back to life.

History: from the Mieroszewskis to the Donnersmarcks

Construction was started by the Mieroszewski family (Ślepowron coat of arms), owners of Siemianowice since at least the 16th century. The oldest, Baroque part dates from their time – the north wing under a mansard "Polish roof". In 1692 Stanisław Mieroszewski sold the estate, which after several changes of ownership passed to the Henckel von Donnersmarck family. It was Lazarus Henckel von Donnersmarck who made the palace the permanent seat of the Bytom-Siemianowice line.

In 1778–1789 a west wing was added to the Mieroszewski wing. In 1807, during the Napoleonic Wars, the palace was looted, and around 1830 it was rebuilt again: the Baroque north wing was joined to a Neoclassical east wing that absorbed the old gate tower. Hence today's mix of styles – Baroque, Neoclassical and eclectic, with a neo-Gothic turret on one corner. At the end of the 19th century the Donnersmarcks sold the palace to the Königshütte-Laurahütte steelworks company and moved to places such as Nakło Śląskie and Krowiarki.

A princely apartment and years of decline

From 1926 to 1932 the palace was home to Józef Kiedroń, a former minister in Władysław Grabski's government and director of the Królewska and Laura steelworks. Zofia Kirkor-Kiedroniowa, who lived in the palace between the wars, described in her memoirs twenty hectares of park enclosed by a high wall, two gateways with porters' lodges, a great hall with a fireplace, and a kitchen from which dishes were sent up by lift to the first-floor dining room. During the occupation the Germans divided the state rooms into offices and cut new windows, destroying the interiors, and after the war, run by a coal mine, the palace fell into ruin.

Restoration

In 2016 the building was included in the town's regeneration programme, and in 2018 the then owner received a grant of almost PLN 20 million, in return for which about 80% of the floor space was to serve community purposes. In 2021 a brewpub operated here. After further changes of ownership a receiver put the palace up for sale, and in December 2024 the ARCHE group bought it for almost PLN 14 million. By May 2026 the key structural work was complete, including the rebuilding of both gate towers and the closing-in of the main wings. The investor plans a restaurant, a ballroom, 60–80 hotel rooms, apartments, event spaces in the former farm buildings and a park open to residents.

Tripto tip

As of October 2026 the palace is being rebuilt and can be seen from outside only. A walk around the buildings and park takes 30–45 minutes. The best views are of the Baroque north wing with its mansard roof and of the gate with its tower capped by a lantern dome. The palace is on ulica Chopina in the Town Park. Within a few hundred metres are the former manor granary, now a museum, the town hall and the Lutheran church, so the walk is easy to extend.