Day trips

Gołuchów Castle

Gołuchów Castle was built in 1550–1560 for Rafał Leszczyński. In the 19th century it was rebuilt by Izabella Czartoryska Działyńska, who made a museum in it. Today it is a branch of the National Museum in Poznań, and around it stretches a park with an arboretum.

Hours Tue–Sun, 1 Jan–30 Jun and 1 Sep–31 Dec: 9:00–16:00 · Tue–Fri, 1 Jul–31 Aug: 9:00–16:00 · Sat–Sun, 1 Jul–31 Aug: 10:00–17:00 · Monday: closed
Tickets see below

History

The early Renaissance castle with towers at its corners was built in 1550–1560. At the beginning of the 17th century, under Wacław Leszczyński, it gained residential wings and arcaded loggias. In 1695 the Leszczyńskis sold Gołuchów to the Suski family, and subsequent owners brought the castle to ruin.

The ruins were bought in 1856 by Tytus Działyński (some sources give 1853) as a wedding present for his son Jan Kanty and Izabella Czartoryska. Izabella rebuilt the castle in 1875–1885, partly following sketches by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. The final design was prepared by the French architect Maurice Auguste Ouradou.

Since 1951 a branch of the National Museum in Poznań has operated in the castle.

What to see

Historic interiors with Italian, French and Spanish fireplaces, window surrounds and mosaics.

Art collections gathered by Izabella Czartoryska, including “The Last Supper” by Frans Floris of the 16th century and a collection of Greek vases.

A park-arboretum of 158 ha with rare trees, and a chapel-mausoleum of 1892 in which Izabella is buried.

Good to know

Entries take place every half hour, in groups of up to 30 people. The last entry in autumn and winter (Tue–Fri) is at 15:00, and in July and August at 16:00.

Guided visits are possible only after advance booking by phone or email. The building has three floors and no lift, and there are steps at the main entrance.