Tyszkiewicz Palace in Warsaw

The Tyszkiewicz Palace, also known as the Tyszkiewicz-Potocki Palace, located at 32 Krakowskie Przedmieście Street in Warsaw, is one of the most beautiful classical buildings in the capital. It was built between 1785 and 1792 for Ludwik Tyszkiewicz, the Field Hetman of Lithuania. The architect was Stanisław Zawadzki, who began the construction and later entrusted its completion to Jan Chrystian Kamsetzer, who also designed the interiors. The palace is distinguished by its two façades and a balcony supported by atlantes facing the street. Its unique street-facing architectural style contrasts with the courtyard palaces that dominated the 18th century. During its heyday, the palace was rented out to dignitaries. In 1923, it was acquired by the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, which housed the Polish Academy of Literature there. The destruction during World War II, including deliberate bombing during the Warsaw Uprising, led to the loss of valuable decorative elements. The reconstruction carried out between 1949 and 1956 by Jan Dąbrowski partially restored its former splendor. The interiors retain rich Pompeian-style decorations, with fragments of original stuccowork and sculptures. Today, the palace houses academic institutions, including the Faculty of Polish Studies and the Institute of Musicology at the University of Warsaw. An interesting feature is the marble fireplace from the former Poniatowski Palace, moved here in the 19th century, which highlights the building’s historical connections with Warsaw’s former elite. The Tyszkiewicz Palace is thus not only a treasure of Warsaw’s architecture but also a witness to the capital’s rich cultural history.