Żyrowa Palace

An American millionaire bought it as a wedding present for his daughter, Kaiser Wilhelm II stayed here, and after the war it was used to treat children at risk of tuberculosis. Żyrowa Palace is one of the largest early Baroque residences in the Opole region of Silesia – a four-sided block around a courtyard, guarded by two towers with onion domes. After decades of decay it is coming back to life: a restaurant is open, concerts and markets are held here, and a hotel is taking shape in its wings.

History: from the Żyrowski family to the Gaschins

Since the Middle Ages this was the seat of the Żyrowski family, who were granted the village in 1447 by Emperor Frederick III. Fragments of their Gothic tower survive in the north-eastern part of the palace. In 1629 Emperor Ferdinand II confiscated the estate from Jerzy Żyrowski for fighting against the Habsburgs at the Battle of White Mountain. The new owner, Melchior Ferdinand von Gaschin, turned the old seat into a grand residence in 1631–1644, most likely modelled on northern Italian architecture.

The Gaschins held Żyrowa until 1852. Count Anton "the Strong" ordered a thorough renovation – in 1781 the palace received a mansard roof and an arcaded gallery facing the courtyard. His portrait in the church on nearby St Anne's Mountain shows Żyrowa Palace at his feet.

An American dowry and an imperial visit

After 1852 the estate changed hands frequently and stood empty for more than a decade. In 1892 the American millionaire Edwin F. Knowlton bought it as a wedding gift for his daughter Mary. She and her husband, Count Johannes von Francken-Sierstorpff, remodelled the palace in neo-Baroque style in 1904–1911: the towers received domes with lanterns, and a gallery with a terrace was added on the north side. In 1910–1911 the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg and Kaiser Wilhelm II were guests here.

During the Second World War the palace housed a Wehrmacht hospital and a military archive. In 1945 the interiors were looted. After the war it became part of a state farm, then a sanatorium for children; in 1982 it was closed and began to fall into ruin.

What to see

• The four-wing block around the courtyard and two octagonal towers with early 20th-century domes.
• Heraldic cartouches – above the main portal, the arms of Georg Adam von Gaschin and Maria von Saurau; on the right-hand tower, the Francken-Sierstorpff arms.
• Inside: stucco decoration, a wooden spiral staircase and richly carved doors.
• The landscaped park of about 11 hectares with old trees, protected as a historic monument.

Tripto tip

The palace is privately owned. Since 2012 it has belonged to Mariola and Joachim Wiesiollek, entrepreneurs from nearby Strzelce Opolskie, who began restoration in 2017. According to reports from May 2026, a restaurant is already open, concerts, Christmas markets and a large Oktoberfest are held here, and a hotel with 67 rooms and a wellness area is planned. Work is still under way, so access to the interiors depends on what is happening at the time – check current events and restaurant hours before you go. Allow about an hour for the courtyard and park. Żyrowa lies in the Zdzieszowice district, a short drive from St Anne's Mountain, a place closely tied to the Gaschin family.