Pałac w Raszewach
Pałac w Raszewach is an abandoned castle in western Poland with a long and layered history. It stands in a quiet village and slowly fades into its park. Behind the damaged walls, you still feel the ambition and wealth of its former owners.
Raszewy lies in the Wielkopolska Province. The first written mention of the village dates back to 1400, but people lived here much earlier. In the 16th century, the estate belonged to the Zaremba family. Later, it passed through many hands.
In 1798, Antoni Poniński sold Raszewy to Barbara Czarnecki. From that moment, the Czarnecki family shaped the place. They kept the estate until the outbreak of the Second World War.
Between 1887 and 1890, Count Zygmunt Czarnecki built the current palace. The design came from Zygmunt Gorgolewski, one of Poland’s most respected architects. He chose an eclectic style, rich in detail and symmetry. In 1892, the family also founded a stud farm here. It gained success on Polish and foreign race tracks.
Architecture and Interior
The front façade draws attention at once. A two-story portico with four semi-columns dominates the view. In front of it stands a large arcade porch, topped by a balcony. High in the tympanum sits a decorative cartouche with the Czarnecki coat of arms. The side wings give the palace a C-shaped layout. Inside, parts of the original stucco still survive. Some rooms keep fragments of a polychrome by Piotr Kubowicz. It shows views of other Czarnecki palaces and the church in Brzóstków.
Decline After the War
After the war, the Polish State Treasury took over the estate and divided the land. A state agricultural farm replaced the former manor. The palace became the management building of a large agricultural combine. When the system collapsed, the complex lost its function. Since then, neglect has taken over.
A Silent Witness
The surrounding landscape park, designed by Maria Czarnecki, is now overgrown. Old cast iron lamps still stand near the entrance, but much of the former elegance is gone.
