Krasinski Palace, Warsaw — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Stand before a Baroque masterpiece that survived Nazi destruction to rise again as a symbol of cultural resilience. Krasinski Palace, also known as the Palace of the Commonwealth, was erected between 1677 and 1683 for Jan Dobrogost Krasinski, a Polish magnate, according to Tylman van Gameren's vision. The architectural ensemble features stunning sculptural reliefs created by Andreas Schluter, a major Baroque sculptor. The pediment reliefs depict the triumph of the legendary ancestor of Polish clans, the Roman commander Manius Valerius Maximus Corvinus Messalla, cleverly elevating the Polish noble family's status through association with Roman power and legacy. During the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, the palace served as a defence post manned by the Scouting battalion "Parasol." On August 27, 1944, three German planes dropped bombs, reducing this magnificent residence to ruins. The Germans deliberately destroyed the Zaluski Library collection stored within, with only 5 per cent surviving. Reconstruction began in 1948 and continued until 1961, when the Palace was given over to house the National Library's most precious surviving collections. Remarkably, the palace opened to visitors for the first time in its history on May 21, 2024, ending decades of restricted access. With Questo, you can uncover the stories of Baroque grandeur, wartime heroism, and post-war determination as you walk through a building that embodies both glory and destruction.