Zelazowa Wola

is a village in Gmina Sochaczew. It lies on the Utrata River. The village is famous as the birthplace of pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin. It is frequently visited by tourists and music lovers from both the country and abroad. Birthplace of Fryderyk Chopin and the surrounding park in Zelazowa Wola are owned by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute.
Inside the museum reflects the character of the current era and atmosphere of Polish manor from first decades of the nineteenth century. It was difficult, because any home furnishings Chopin is not preserved to our times. In the mansion were collected: Warsaw Leszczynski's piano from the first half of the nineteenth century, a vertical harpsichord called "giraffe" from Fried, Külbors from Wrocław from the nineteenth century, also the nineteenth-century Biedermeier-style furniture and portraits of Chopin and his family. In the Lounge stand a contemporary piano music, where pianists play Chopin concerts, taking place in the summer.
Housed in an annex to the Chopins' home, surrounded by a park, is a museum devoted to Chopin. Park surrounding the manor house is a very original composition - trees, shrubs, flowers and small garden architecture. Very beautiful image complements the Utrata river flowing through the park. In an adjacent park are four monuments to the pianist.
In tribute to the great composer every year on the first Sunday in May in Zelazowa Wola begins season of summer concerts, which continues until the last Sunday in September. Since 1954 the summer concerts of Chopin’s music are performed by pianists from all over the world, including the winners of the International Piano Competitions. Frederic Chopin.

Zelazowa Wola

The first mention about the village Zelazowa Wola comes from 1579. In 1802 the village was purchased by Skarbek family. Tutor for their children was Nicholas Chopin. Zelazowa Wola was the place where probably met the parents of Chopin. After their wedding, they lived in the left wing of the brick manor house and there on March 1 (according to some sources, 22 February) in 1810 was born Frederick Chopin. He was a second child of Nicholas and Justyna Krzyżanowska. Chopin family lived here to 1 October, 1810. However, in later years Chopin’s several visited Zelazowa Wola, especially during holidays and summer vacations. Then they moved permanently to Warsaw. In 1812, the court was burned. Only two outbuildings survivored. In the nineteenth century changed the rulers of manor in Zelazowa Wola many times.

A breakthrough in the history of Zelazowa Wola was the visit of the Russian composer, pianist and teacher Milija A. Bałakiriewa in autumn 1891. Then it was noted that the outbuildings, where Chopin was born are completely neglected. In 1894, the first monument in Poland was unveiled here. It was of course devoted to Frederic Chopin.

During World War I outbuilding of the court was burned. During World War II in the mansion, German soldiers were stationed. At the end of the war a field hospital was there.

Only in the twenties of the twentieth century, the facility officially was granted the status of a monument with particular importance for Polish culture.

With enormous support from the people it was soon managed to gather in Zelazowa Wola, a collection of historic objects from the early nineteenth: piano and a plaster cast of Frederic Chopin's death mask. After the German occupation the majority, hardly exhibits collected exposure disappeared. Also affected the building. The roof of outbuilding was damaged and the windows were killed off.

Since 1954, every year, starting from the first Sunday in May to last Sunday in September, in Zelazowa Wola, lasts Chopin concert season. Since 2006, in the same period (May-September) "Musical Presentations" - recitals by talented young pianists take place.