Palaces

Donnersmarck Palace in Siemianowice Śląskie

In the Municipal Park of Siemianowice Śląskie stands a palace whose scale surprises: the main body alone exceeds 23 thousand cubic metres, making it one of the largest palaces in Poland. The residence dates back to the 17th century, when the Mieroszewski family, owners of the local estates, began the construction — the oldest baroque part with a broken Polish roof comes from that period.

From the Mieroszewskis to the Donnersmarcks

In 1692 Stanisław Mieroszewski sold the estate, and after several changes of ownership it passed to the Henckel von Donnersmarck family. Under Łazarz Henckel von Donnersmarck, who made the palace the family's permanent seat, a new western wing was built in 1778–1789. Around 1830 the northern baroque wing was joined to the classicist eastern one, absorbing the former gate tower — hence the mix of styles: baroque, classicism and eclecticism. In 1807, during the Napoleonic wars, the palace was plundered, and after the Donnersmarcks sold it at the end of the 19th century it changed owners frequently. Between 1926 and 1932 Józef Kiedroń, a former minister in Władysław Grabski's government, lived here.

Revitalisation and the palace brewery

After decades of decay, when the palace stood roofless, it was entered in the local revitalisation programme in 2016, and in 2018 the owner received nearly 20 million złoty in funding for further works — ultimately around 80% of the floor area is to serve social purposes. A craft Palace Brewery already operates here, brewing beer in the traditional way according to the Bavarian purity law of 1516, together with a café. You can taste the Palace Pils, Dunkel or Amber Lager and see the revitalised palace a few kilometres from the centre of Katowice.