This is Info-Poland's cache of http://www.poland.net/castles/mazovia/warsaw.shtml. It's the snapshot that we took of the page when we last activated our link to it. The page may have changed since that time or the link to it may be broken.

The Belvedere Palace It was raised in 1819-1822 for Grand Duke Constantine according to a design by Jakub Kubicki. The interior decorations were kept in rich classicistic style and the palace was furnished with period furniture. When Poland regained its independence, the palace became the seat of Marshal Jozef Pilsudski, and after 1945 it served as a seat of the state highest authorities. In 1989-1994 the Belvedere Palace was the residence. In 1995 an exhibition devoted to Jozef Pilsudski was arranged in the palace.

Wilanow In the years 1677-1696, close to the city of Warsaw, a sumptuous Baroque residence was raised for King John III Sobieski and his wife Mrysienka according to a design by Augustyn Locci. Many outstanding artists and architects participated in the creation of the palace, including Michelangelo Palloni and Andrzej Schluter. After King's death in 1696 the Wilanow residence fell into a decline. It was saved by Elzbieta Sieniawska nee Lubomirska who bought it in 1720 and continued its extension and remodelling throughout the first half of the 18th century. In 1799 the palace got into the hands of Stanislaw Kostka Potocki, a devoted collector of antique objects and mementos connected with John III Sobieski. The Branicki family owned the palace from the end of the 19th century until 1945. Carefully renovated after the Second World War, it has become a museum.
While touring the palace interiors, our special attention is drawn by King's apartments and the Polish Portrait Gallery. The palace is surrounded by a vast park. A magnificent collection of posters can be admired in the Poster Museum, housed by one of the palatial outbuildings.

The Royal Castle Originally Gothic in style, founded in the early 15th century to be a seat of Mazovian Dukes. The extension works started in 1568 on the initiative of King Sigismund Augustus; its considerable remodelling took place during the reign of King Sigismund III who transferred the capital of Poland from Cracow to Warsaw.
The works were carried out in the years 1598-1619 under the guidance of the royal architect Jan Trevano. A huge five-wing, early Baroque construction was erected with an inner yard and a tall clock-tower. The castle had a function of and official royal seat and the seat of a number of Commonwealth offices. In the mid-18th century its northeastern wing was remodelled for King Augustus III according to Gaetano Chiaveri's design: it received a new late Baroque appearence. The official interiors of the castle acquired their final shape during the reconstruction works carried out during the reign if King Stanislaus Augustus Poniatowski. In the years 1765-1794 a sequence of chambers and rooms were prepared and furnished in the eastern wing according to a design by Dominik Merlini and Jan Christian Kamsetzer.
The Third of May Constitution was passed here in 1791. During the inter-war period the castle was the seat of Polish presidents. On September 17, 1939, it was bombed and burnt, its destruction was completed on October 25, 1944, when the Nazis set explosives in the castle walls and blew it up. The reconstruction works were undertaken in 1971 and carried out under the guidance of Jan Boguslawski. The interiors were faithfully reconstructed and furnished thanks to the donations and effort of the whole Polish nation.

Palace on the Island in the Royal Lazienki Park The park took its name from the already existing 17th century bath house raised for Stanislaw Herakliusz Lubomirski by Tylman of Gameran. The bath house was bought from him by King Stanislaw Augustus Poniatowski in 1764, who had it converted into a summer residence according to Dominik Merlini's design. In 1784 the southern elevation was remodelled, but some of its Baroque elements were preserved. During the next four years the palace was enlarged on the side of its northern elevation which, together with its monumental portico, received classicistic appearence.
Similar heterogeneity is characteristic of the palace interior decorations. Along with the workson the palace, other construction works were carried out in the park and the following buildings were raised: the White Cottage (1774-1777), Myslewicki Palace (1775-1778), Old Orangery Theatre (1786-1788), and the Theatre on the Island (1790). The Lazienki Palace, partly destroyed by the last war ravages, is one of the most charming, little private royal residences of that time. The beautiful English park with ponds and canals adds much to the palace's delightful appearence.
A memorial to Frederic Chopin designed by Waclaw Szymanowski stands in the park on the Ujazdowskie Avenue side. Free public concerts of Chopin music are given there in summer time.