Rydzyna Castle

The Royal Castle in Rydzyna, located at Zamkowy Square 1, is the largest castle in the Greater Poland region, covering an area of 42,500 square meters. Its history dates back to the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, when a Gothic fortress was built for Jan of Czernina. Destroyed during the Swedish invasion, the castle was transformed into a Baroque residence for the Leszczyński family between 1685 and 1695. The project was carried out by renowned architects, including Józef Szymon Bellotti. A courtyard and four towers were added to the castle, and the sophisticated interior decorations were entrusted to Michelangelo Palloni. In 1700, the castle underwent another renovation, supervised by Pompeo Ferrari. Over the centuries, the castle hosted significant cultural events, including the Polish premiere of a Molière comedy in its theater. In the 18th century, the castle underwent several renovations, including those between 1742 and 1745 by architect Karol Marcin Frantz, who gave it a Rococo style and introduced new architectural elements such as stables and carriage houses. Ignacy Graff, responsible for the renovation between 1783 and 1796, modernized the ballroom and outbuildings. The castle served various functions, including as a prisoner-of-war camp during World War I and an experimental secondary school. After World War II, having been burned down by the Red Army, the castle was rebuilt between 1950 and 1965. Today, it houses the "Zamek w Rydzynie" hotel, managed by the Association of Polish Mechanical Engineers and Technicians. Among its notable features is a two-story ballroom, as well as a meticulously documented interior reconstruction, which won the "Europa Nostra" award in 1994. The adjacent English-style park contains remnants of historical pavilions. The castle is also shrouded in local legends, including tales of a priest celebrating Mass with ghosts and the White Lady, adding to its rich historical and mythical allure. On December 18, 2023, the castle was officially renamed "The Royal Castle in Rydzyna."