Royal Castle in Warsaw

is the baroque royal palace, located in Warsaw at the Castle Square, at the entrance to the Warsaw Old Town. It was the official residence of the Polish monarchs and the seat of the most important state authorities – parliament and the administrative offices of the Royal Court of Poland. Nowadays the Royal Castle is a very important monument of Polish history and art. It is located on the left bank of the Vistula River, in the former princely castle. This is one of the most important historical sites in the capital.

Visitors can see the castle interior decorated according to their representative and residential function. On the ground floor there are the Chamber of Deputies and the complex of Manor Rooms, including official spaces. Here you can admire the works of art from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, among them portraits of Polish kings in the Main Chamber - Sigismund I of Poland, Bona Sforza and Stefan Batory. As the floor of the House are: former Chamber of Deputies with the coats of arms of 32 provinces and territories of the former Commonwealth in the firmament, New Hall Chamber of Deputies and Senators. The Constitution of 3 May 1791, Europe's first modern codified national constitution, as well as the second-oldest national constitution in the world, was drafted here.

Apartment of Prince Stanislaus, nephew of King Stanislaw August consists of three rooms and the Gallery Four Seasons. In the rooms of family Matejko are exhibited paintings by Jan Matejko, include Rejtan and Batory at Pskov.

The Grand and Royal suites are among others paintings by Canaletto, Marcel Baciarelli, reconstructed ceiling of Plersch Jan Bogumil, sculptures by Andre Lebrun and Giacomo Monaldi, Philipp Caffieriego and French furniture from the late eighteenth century. On the second floor there are the Gallery of decorative art, which presents nearly 200 objects from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, including the decorative bronzes, silver, ceramics, glass, furniture, textiles and jewelery and equipment from the former castle. Visitors can come in the interior of the Cabinet of the President Ignacy Moscicki. Inside there are furniture, equipment of Office of the President of Poland, portraits of prominent politicians from the years 1918-1939 and photos of family Mościcki. The Order Room illustrates the history of Polish medals from the seventeenth century to contemporary times, also there is collected heirloom of Radziwill family.

The Numismatic Cabinet is exposed over three thousand Polish coins and medals from the Middle Ages to the present. The facilities collected in the room of Authorities Polish Republic in Exile comes from the London office of the President and government of Poland. In the Gallery of Lanckoronski are exhibited valuable paintings. Among them, two works by Rembrandt from the former collection of King Stanislaw August. Two exhibitions are presented in the basement of the castle.

The Garden, surrounding the Castle, is accompanied it from the beginning of its history. It extends between the Castle and the Vistula, on the steep slope and in its foot. The garden area is approximately 2.5 hectares.

In 1980, Royal Castle, together with the Old Town was registry in UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today it is a historical and national monument, and is listed as a national museum of interiors with their rich collections of paintings, sculptures and decorative arts. It is often used during official state ceremonies.

Royal Castle

The history of the Royal Castle goes back to the fourteenth century when the Great Tower was erected (now called the Justice Court Tower).
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries during the reign of Sigismund III Vasa, the Castle underwent large-scale expansion and was transformed into a five-winged edifice with an inner courtyard. Till 1569 it was a royal residence, the place where parliamentary deliberations were held and the administrative and cultural centre of the country. To 1795 was the seat of Polish kings.
Destroyed in the middle of theseventeenth century during the Swedish Wars, it gradually regained its former magnificence during the reign of the Saxon-Wettin dynasty.
In the second half of the eigheteenth century, Jan Christian Kamsetzer, Marcello Bacciarelli, Domenico Merlini, artists in the employ of Stanislaus Augustus reconstructed the interiors of the chambers, comprising the Great Apartment and the King's Apartment.

In the years 1922-1939 lasted rebuilding of the Castle. The interior was equipped with furniture and art. The Second World War in Warsaw, brought a tragic toll. The Royal Castle was destroyed.
In September 1939 the Castle was bombed by the Germans. In September 1944 the Castle was blown up by the Germany army. However museologists managed to salvage some elements of the interiors and also some of the works of art.
Its reconstruction started at the beginning of the seventies and lasted until 13 years. Since 1979 works as a state institution - the Royal Castle in Warsaw, a Cultural and Historical Monument of national importance. In 1984 the reconstructed interiors were opened to the general public.

Since 1995 work has been undertaken on the conservation of the Kubicki Arcades and the reconstruction of the gardens.

In April 2009, Kubicki Arcades were open for tourists. This place has become etched into a new cultural space on the map of Warsaw.

Opening Hours

In the summer season (May - September):
the castle interiors are open:
Monday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

on Sundays 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. entry free-of-charge
(visiting the Great Apartment and the King's Apartment).

The Castle is closed on:

June 3^rd
October 31^st
November 1^st
December 24^th, December 25^th and December 31^st

 

The Castle is open on the following holidays:
May 3^rd (10 a.mm - 6 p.m.)
August 15^th (11 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
November 11^th (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
December 26^th (11 a.m. - 4 p.m.).

***
The last visitor is admitted one hour before closing time.
Tickets are available at the Ticket Office.

Ticket Prices

All prices include VAT.

CASTLE TOUR
The Great and The King's Apartment
 

* family with children under 17 years old.

GUIDE

KUBICKI ARCADES
exhibitions, Historical Lodgings and Historical Tunnel

Entrance to Arcades itself and to the royal garden is free of charge.

EXHIBITION OF ORIENTAL CARPETS IN THE TIN-ROOFED PALACE
We would like to inform you that the exhibition will be opened on request.

THE NUMISMATIC CABINET
We would like to inform you that the exhibition will be opened on request.

CONCERTS

The price of tickets for temporary exhibitions will be set individually for each exhibition and posted on a current basis.
Prices for museum lessons, stage performances and workshops can be found in the relevant sections under Education.