Habsburg Palace in Żywiec

Habsburg Palace in Żywiec, also known as the New Castle, forms part of the historic castle-and-park complex. It was created by rebuilding the former Baroque outbuildings surrounding the Old Castle. The palace is best seen together with the 26-hectare Castle Park, whose layout reflects the history of the Wielopolski and Habsburg families.

The Habsburg residence

In 1885, Archduke Albrecht Friedrich commissioned architect Karl Pietschka to rebuild and raise the outbuildings as a new Habsburg residence. A wing with a glass roof was added in 1893–1895, followed by an avant-corps bearing the family coat of arms in 1911.

Palace and park

After the Second World War, the palace was taken over by the state and housed a forestry school. At the beginning of the 21st century, Princess Maria Krystyna Habsburg, daughter of Archduke Karol Olbracht, lived here until her death in 2012. The surrounding park covers 26 hectares and dates back to the 17th century. Its features include a canal and the Chinese House; in the 19th century, the park was redesigned as an English landscape garden.

Visiting tips

View the palace from Castle Park and look for the family crest on the avant-corps and the way the residence relates to the greenery. The address is 4 Zamkowa Street, Żywiec. Check the current arrangements before an interior visit, as no fixed visiting hours are confirmed.

Tripto tip: combine the palace with a walk through Castle Park and a stop at the Chinese House. This reveals the residence and the landscape designed to complete it.