The Małachowski Palace

The Małachowski Palace is inseparably connected with the rich tradition of the Nałęczów health resort and its thriving social life. This majestic building in baroque style was erected in the very heart of the town – the Spa Park, and today, as the most valuable monument of Nałęczów, continues to captivate its visitors with its grandeur.

The history of the Małachowski Palace starts actually in the same place, where the history of Nałęczów itself started.

On 23 June 1751, Stanislaw Małachowski, Colonel of the Armoured Mark of the Army of His Majesty the King and of the Republic of Poland, took over Bochotnica Kościelna with adjacent areas and renamed them Nałęczów, after his coat of arms, that is Nałęcz. After he married Marianna Potocka of the Pilawa coat of arms, Małachowski designated this place as the main seat of his estate. In 1767, construction work of the new residence began, the result of which was a truly magnate palace surrounded by a beautiful park. This unique building was designed by Ferdynand Nax, who was an associate of the king’s architect, Domenico Merlini. The palace was erected as a two-storey building with a tall mansard roof covered with shingles, with a roof lantern in the middle.

The open house run by the Małachowskis attracted many guests, who in addition to traditional entertainment also took baths in the famous waters. The word about their healing properties spread so quickly that the Małachowski residence lacked space to accommodate all the visitors and patients. Its owners therefore decided to build a guest house and the first professional spa facility (the present-day “Old Baths”, built on the initiative of Ludwik Małachowski, son of Antoni who was the next owner of the estate after Stanisław). So one can say that it was thanks to the Małachowski Palace that Nałęczów started to function as a health resort.

Year 1877 was a turning point in the history of the health resort. At that time doctor Fortunat Nowicki made an attempt to revive the place, aiming to turn the dilapidated town into a true health resort.

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PALACE IN THE YEARS

In autumn 1878, on the initiative of new leaseholders of the Nałęczów estate, a major renovation of the Małachowski Palace was carried out: the second floor was added, and the roof got covered with new sheet metal. In the renovated palace, which from that moment started to be called “Kursal” (the Spa House), a restaurant was opened, and on the first floor there was a concert hall and ball room, a billiard room, a reading room with a huge collection of books, guest rooms called “prince’s rooms”, and on the second floor, which could be reached by stairs placed inside a newly added tower, hotel rooms were furnished. In 1880, a covered gallery was added to the western elevation, and somewhat later a covered terrace was put by the eastern elevation.

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE PALACE IN THE YEARS

In autumn 1878, on the initiative of new leaseholders of the Nałęczów estate, a major renovation of the Małachowski Palace was carried out: the second floor was added, and the roof got covered with new sheet metal. In the renovated palace, which from that moment started to be called “Kursal” (the Spa House), a restaurant was opened, and on the first floor there was a concert hall and ball room, a billiard room, a reading room with a huge collection of books, guest rooms called “prince’s rooms”, and on the second floor, which could be reached by stairs placed inside a newly added tower, hotel rooms were furnished. In 1880, a covered gallery was added to the western elevation, and somewhat later a covered terrace was put by the eastern elevation.

It was not only the patients and their doctors who liked the former residence of the Małachowski family, as it became hugely popular among other members of the elite circles, such as social activists and many artists. It was in the Palace where the most prominent visitors to Nałęczów stayed and organized their meetings. Also, dance parties, theatre performances, and concerts with the participation of the most popular artists took place there. Pianists Ignacy Paderewski and Aleksander Michałowski, violinist Stefan Barcewicz, singer Janina Korolewicz Waydowa, poetess Wanda Siemaszkowa and actress Wanda Osterwina, who debuted in Nałęczów in a performance of an amateur theatre, all performed in the Palace.

Also, famous painters frequented it, including Henryk Siemiradzki, creator of the “Nero’s Torches” (Polish: Pochodnie Nerona), and Michał Elwiro Andriolli, a woodcutter, graphic artist and illustrator, who cooperated not only with Polish magazines (“Tygodnik Ilustrowany”, “Kłosy”, “Tygodnik Powszechny”, “Biesiada Literacka”), but also illustrated books for publishers from London and Paris. Those who were most fond of the Małachowski Palace were Polish writers, notably Bolesław Prus and Stefan Żeromski, although Henryk Sienkiewicz should also be mentioned as one of the distinguished guests.

Bolesław Prus made his first trip to Nałęczów in 1882. The famous writer wished to be cured from agoraphobia. Although we do not know too many details of his treatment, we do know that he returned to the Małachowski Palace regularly every year until 1910 and would stay in a room on the first floor of the Palace.

The wartime turmoil interrupted the golden age of the Nałęczów spa, and severely affected it. The Palace was adapted to suit various needs, for example, in the 1950s, the beautiful ballroom in which Ignacy Paderewski once used to play, was converted into a cinema. However, even then the Palace was not left without the care of those who loved it. Professor Władysław Tatarkiewicz, a renowned philosopher and art historian, played a particularly significant role in the preservation of the history and heritage of the Małachowski Palace.

He made a separate study of the Palace from a historical perspective, and following his suggestions a major renovation and reconstruction of the building was carried out at the end of the 1950s. The second floor was removed and in its place a mansard roof with facades was erected. Also, the Palace’s tower was dismantled. After the renovation, the Palace regained its 18^th century shape and at the same time the ballroom, which is a unique example of the interior design which combines baroque and classicism, got back to its original splendour.

Since 2017, the Palace belongs to the Nałęczów Zdrój Group which aims to preserve the thus‑restored exterior. In order to cultivate the traditions of the region and promote the Nałęczów spa and health resort, the Group has undertaken to fully restore it. Currently, the work is underway in close cooperation with the conservator’s office to bring the Palace back to its former glory, and to restore the rich ornamentation of the interiors and of the external elevation. The renovation works will also cover the magnificent outbuilding. The plan is to restore the former atmosphere and function of this historic building, but at the same time to give it a modern character. The general designer is the studio of Boris Kudlička with Partners, which has won many awards for its renovations of historical places. The general contractor is Erbud company.

He made a separate study of the Palace from a historical perspective, and following his suggestions a major renovation and reconstruction of the building was carried out at the end of the 1950s. The second floor was removed and in its place a mansard roof with facades was erected. Also, the Palace’s tower was dismantled. After the renovation, the Palace regained its 18^th century shape and at the same time the ballroom, which is a unique example of the interior design which combines baroque and classicism, got back to its original splendour.

Since 2017, the Palace belongs to the Nałęczów Zdrój Group which aims to preserve the thus‑restored exterior. In order to cultivate the traditions of the region and promote the Nałęczów spa and health resort, the Group has undertaken to fully restore it. Currently, the work is underway in close cooperation with the conservator’s office to bring the Palace back to its former glory, and to restore the rich ornamentation of the interiors and of the external elevation. The renovation works will also cover the magnificent outbuilding. The plan is to restore the former atmosphere and function of this historic building, but at the same time to give it a modern character. The general designer is the studio of Boris Kudlička with Partners, which has won many awards for its renovations of historical places. The general contractor is Erbud company.

The Małachowski Palace has become a key element of Cisowianka’s nationwide image campaign. The water bottles bear labels with “The Spa Brand” inscription and the date of 1771, which is the symbolic year marking the construction of the Małachowski Palace and, at the same time, the beginning of the spa in Nałęczów, the true gem of the Lublin region.