8 Kolobrzeska, Bydgoszcz, Poland
The Presidential Palace is a located on Krakowskie Przedmieście street. Since 1994, it has been the official seat of the President of the Republic of Poland. It is the largest palace in Warsaw. Consists of a four-storey main body and two lower side wings. The palace was rebuilt many times. Lech Walesa was the first president who live here in 1994. In front of the Presidential Palace there is a monument of prince Józef Poniatowski, sitting on a horse and holding a sword in his right hand. Visiting the Presidential Palace is possible for organized groups from Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Visiting the Palace is free, guided and takes about 60 minutes.
The Presidential Palace is the most magnificent building at Krakowskie Przedmieście and at the same time the largest of all Warsaw palaces. Since 1994, the Palace has been the official seat of the President of the Republic of Poland.
The Presidential Palace was built in the 1640s by Crown Grand Hetman Stanisław Koniecpolski and his son Aleksander. Hence, the initial name of the palace - "The Koniecpolski Palace". The palace was built according to the design of Constantino Tencall - the architect of the Polish king Władysław IV and the designer of the Sigismund's Column, located in front of the nearby Royal Castle, commemorating Sigismund III of Poland.
A few years after its construction, the palace was taken over by the Lubomirski family, and then, for 150 years, it became the property of Radziwiłł family. In the years 1768-1778 it served as a theater, in which King Stanisław August Poniatowski had a special lodge. In 1791-1792, during the Four-Year Seym the palace was the seat of the Friends of the Government Constitution. In 1818 was bought by the government of the Congress Kingdom and intended for the seat of the Governor. The first (and only) governor to have lived in the palace was General Józef Zajączek and his wife Aleksandra, who occupied the palace until 1826. From that moment, the palace was called 'Pałac Namiestnikowski' - the Palace of Namestnik of Kingdom of Poland. In 1818, during a concert organized by the Warsaw Charitable Society, Fryderyk Chopin gave his first public concert. He was eight years old. In 1918, after restoration of Poland's independence, the building became the seat of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (the Prime Minister) and of the Council of Ministers itself. The side wings housed the chancellery offices of the Council of Ministers. In the years 1941-1942, the palace was rebuilt into the Deutsches Haus - luxury hotel with a casino. After the Second World War, the palace was thoroughly reconstructed by Antoni Brusche and Antoni Jawornicki, and again served as the seat of the Council of Ministers. In 1965, a reconstructed statue of Józef Poniatowski was erected in front of the palace. Since 1994, it has become the official seat of the President of the Republic of Poland and has been called the Presidential Palace.
The most important room in the palace is The Column Hall, or The Ball Room. All greatest ceremonies take place here. This is where the President appoints and dismisses governments, confers scientific titles, appoints judges, confers ranks of general, highest state decorations and orders. It was here that the opposition met the government at a round table in 1989, and in 1955 the Warsaw Pact was concluded. In front of the Ball Room there is The Antechamber - from French means a room of greetings. In the past, when the Column Hall was a Ballroom, all guests were announced there. Today, it serves as a hall that opens the door to the President's office and the office of the Head of the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Poland. It continues to be the place where greetings with guests take place before gala dinners hosted by the President. One of a kind place is the Winter Salon, also known as the Winter Garden. There is a glass dome in the ceiling of the room that makes an amazing impression. Stained-glass windows symbolize seasons of the year. The next room is the Banquet Hall, also known as the Pictorial Hall - this name reflects the interior design, filled with paintings of art. During important ceremonies, refreshments for guests are served here. Here also take place more important events, such as cabinet councils, government meetings chaired by the head of state. The room is also a venue for media conferences.
Visiting the Presidential Palace is possible for organized groups from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. after prior appointment. Visiting the Palace is free, guided and takes about 60 minutes.
