Kórnik Castle

Kórnik Castle, located in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, is a historical residence of the Górka and Działyński families, transformed into a museum and the seat of the Kórnik Library of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Its initial forms date back to the Middle Ages, with the first mentions of the structure recorded in 1426. The castle originally had a defensive character, featuring a moat and a drawbridge. In 1565, Stanisław Górka rebuilt it into a Renaissance residence, which became an important center for the Górka family. In the 17th century, the castle passed into the hands of the Działyński family, and Teofila z Działyńskich Szołdrska-Potulicka in the 18th century contributed to its extensive reconstruction and the development of culture and horticulture in Kórnik. It was her portrait, painted by A. Pesne, that gave rise to the legend of the White Lady, the ghost of Teofila, who appears in the castle chambers. After Teofila's death, the castle passed to her son Tytus Działyński, who carried out a Neo-Gothic reconstruction of the building, enlisting the help of famous architects. His intention was for the castle to serve as a place of cultural heritage. Tytus Działyński collected valuable collections of old prints, manuscripts, and other precious exhibits. After his death, the castle passed to his heirs, and following the complex events of World War I and World War II, it was transformed into a museum. Documentation related to the castle also includes numismatic curiosities; in 1998, coins featuring its image were issued. Architecturally, the castle is characterized by a Neo-Gothic style, distinguished by a portal with the Ogończyk and Jelita coats of arms and an interior featuring the Moorish Hall, reminiscent of the Alhambra. Today, the castle not only serves as a tourist attraction but also plays an important role in Polish cultural heritage.