History

The palace was erected on the site of the former fortified complex which is believed to have been constructed at the time when the town itself was originally chartered, i.e. somewhere around the year 1293. In 1594, Kacper von Köckritz erected a manor house on the site, which was then thoroughly redesigned after 1685, becoming the new residence of Eleanor Charlotte, the Duchess of Oels (Oleśnica) and Württemberg. In 1715, the palace was redesigned once again, probably with the participation of the architect Krzysztof Hackner. In 1744, the Twardogóra manor became the property of the Reichenbach family from Goszcz, with the palace becoming the seat of the manor’s tenant. In 1811, references were made to a moat which surrounded the palace. After 1945, the palace came into the hands of the Caritas charity and was subsequently restored in years 1963-1966; it was at this point that the palace received two short, side wings flanking the main body which were subsequently extended in 1973.

Description

The palace is a Baroque structure made of brick, its walls covered with plaster. Designed on a C-shaped floor plan, the palace consists of a three-bay, two-storey Baroque corps de logis as well as the annexes which were added at a later stage. A Late Baroque fireplace surround can still be admired in the ground floor vestibule. The remaining interiors, however, have been thoroughly redesigned. The eastern façade follows a nine-axial layout with a three-axial pseudo-avant-corps in the middle. The stone main portal is preceded by a stone bridge which spans the moat below. The main body of the palace features a mansard roof with dormer windows.

The surrounding park replaces the ducal ornamental gardens which were mentioned in written sources back in 1706. The gardens were transformed into a landscape park in the 19th century. The gate facing the town is another relic of the original, Baroque palace complex. Erected in 1690, it is a brick structure with a gateway flanked by Tuscan pilasters surmounted by the coat of arms and cartouche incorporating the monogram of Eleanor Charlotte, the Duchess of Oels (Oleśnica) and Württemberg. Next to the gate stands the sculpture of Hercules locked in combat with the Hydra, executed ca. 1730 and moved to this location from the palace orangery in Goszcz in 1966.

Limited access to the historic building.

compiled by Grzegorz Grajewski, Regional Branch of the National Heritage Board of Poland in Wrocław, 3-12-2014.

Bibliography

• Brzezicki S., Nielsen Ch., Grajewski G., Popp D. (ed.), Zabytki sztuki w Polsce. Śląsk, Wrocław 2006, p. 891.
• Katalog zabytków sztuki w Polsce. Seria Nowa, vol. 4: Województwo wrocławskie, issue 3: Milicz, Żmigród, Twardogóra i okolice, Warszaw 1997, pp. 95-96.
• Pilch J., Leksykon zabytków architektury Dolnego Śląska, Warsaw 2005, p. 373.