The feature is located in the north-western part of the town. Currently, it is neglected and unused, but still represents an important element of the spatial layout of Żary.

History

The palace was erected at the initiative of the Żary estate, Erdmann II von Promnitz, in the years 1710-1728, close to the castle existing from the second half of the 13th century. The von Promnitz family owned the town from 1558. The palace was built in place of the medieval castle boroughs, using the foundations of older building for construction. The design of the residence was prepared by architects Georg Spanninger and Julio Simonetti, while the construction works were supervised by August Beer and Beniamin Oeser. Prominent plasterers, sculptors and painters ensured the lavish décor of the interiors. The feature was one of the most brilliant residential complexes of the 18th-century Central Europe. The Promnitz family owned Żary until 1765, when the town and estates were taken over by the Electors of Saxony. Taken over by the Saxonian court, the palace deteriorated considerably. In 1815 Żary was incorporated into Prussia and the impressive residence was designated to serve as a seat of municipal authorities and a prison. In 1926 the palace was subject to renovation. In 1944 two wings of the residence were damaged during an air raid. After the end of World War II the feature became communal property and the north wing housed the Office of the Starosty for some time. In the years 1966-1975 rubble was removed from the building, infills of missing parts of the wall and vault were made and the roof truss and the roof itself were replaced. Since 1990 the palace has been a private property. At present, the palace is unused and neglected.   

Description

The palace of the Promnitz family is situated at 1B Zamkowa Street, on the east side of the castle, close to the market square. The feature is surrounded by a modern, tin fence. The Baroque palace is a three-storey building made of bricks, without a basement and covered with a mansard roof. The feature is a four-wing building with a rectangular internal courtyard. The south façade boasts monumental and representational features. It is vertically partitioned by three projections, with the central one being accentuated by a colonnade supporting the tympanum, while the tympanums of side projections are supported by four pilasters with Corinthian capitals. The tympanum planes are filled with cartouches with the coat of arms of the Promnitz family. The façades of other wings are adorned with numerous pilasters, while projections are decorated with triangular pediments and cornices. The façades are pierced with rectangular window openings framed by profiled surrounds. The interior of the ground floor is surmounted with groin and barrel vaults with lunettes.  The original fixtures and fittings have not survived. The palace calls for the performance of necessary restoration works and assigning new functions for the benefit of the local population.

Currently, the site is a private property. Due to the poor state of preservation the building is not open to visitors.

Author of the note Krzysztof Słowiński, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Zielona Góra, 09-11-2017

Bibliography

• Garbacz K., Szlakiem zabytkowych miast. Przewodnik po południowej części województwa lubuskiego, Zielona Góra 2005, p. 108;
• Garbacz K., Przewodnik po zabytkach województwa lubuskiego, vol. II, Zielona Góra 2012, pp. 20-21;
• Kowalski S., Zabytki architektury województwa lubuskiego, Zielona Góra 2010, p. 453-454;
• Kowalski S., Zabytki województwa zielonogórskiego, Zielona Góra 1987, pp. 250-251.
• Peryt-Gierasimczuk I., Czas architekturą zapisany. Zabytki województwa lubuskiego, Zielona Góra 1998, pp. 269-270;
• Zamki, dwory i pałace województwa lubuskiego,  B. Bielinis-Kopeć, B. Skaziński (eds.), Zielona Góra 2007, pp. 348-349.