Śmiełów Palace

The Śmiełów Palace, built in 1797 by architect Stanisław Zawadzki, is an example of classicist architecture, combining an elegant main body with semicircular galleries and beautiful porticoes. Its design was inspired by the Italian Villa Badoer, and the interior layout, despite the harmonious facade, is irregular and chaotic, adding to its mystique. The palace not only impresses with its architecture but also with its painted interior decorations, executed by the Smuglewicz brothers, featuring frescoes inspired by classical themes, which reflect the rich culture of the era. Historically, the estate is associated with the Gorzeński family, and Hieronim Gorzeński actively participated in independence movements and managed the estate, known for its horse breeding. Due to its strategic location, Śmiełów served as a transit point for people and literature during the partitions, and Adam Mickiewicz was one of its guests in 1831. After the extinction of the Gorzeński line in 1887, the palace passed into the hands of Franciszek Chełkowski, who enriched its interiors with memorabilia related to Mickiewicz and turned it into a meeting place for prominent cultural figures. After World War II, the building was looted and converted into apartments, and in 1975, the Adam Mickiewicz Museum was opened there, which collects works related to the poet and preserves the surrounding landscape park.