Pszczyna Castle is a classical-style palace constructed in the 13th century as a castle but rebuilt over time in renaissance and baroque styles. It has housed local Piast dynasty members, the Promnitz family, and later the von Pless family. Today it is a site of the Castle Museum. The trip also included a visit to The Bison's Farm near the castle, where 5 bisons live along with deer, roe-deer, and other animals. The farm traces its history of bisons back to 1865 when the Russian Emperor donated some to the prince of Pszczyna.

1. Trip to PszczynaCastle
and TheBison’sFarm
Pszczyna Castle is a classical-style palace. Constructed as a castle in 13th century or earlier, in a
gothic style, it was rebuilt in a renaissance style in the 17th century. During the course of the 18th
and 19th
century, the exterior of the castle was partially changed into a baroque-classic style. The
classicist modernization transformed the castle into what is usually described a palace.
In its history the castle was a residence of local Piast dynasty members, then Promnitz family (mid
16th
to mid 18 th century) and later, von Pless family. The castle was owned by the government since
1936. Since 1946 it is a site of the Castle Museum.
One of the greatest baroque composer, George Philipp Teleman, had a function of a Kapellmeister
and an organist in Pszczyna between 1704 and 1707. Since 1979 concerts called ‘Evenings with
Teleman” are organized, where music lovers can spend unforgettable moments listening to this
compositions in the Chamber of Mirrors.
During the First World War, the palace was resided in by William II, German Emperor and there are
pictures on display of him together with Erich Ludendorf and Paul von Hindenburg discussing war
operations.
After the Second World War for a brief period there was a Soviet military hospital in the palace, but
on May 9,1946 it was turned into a museum.
The royal Apartments, are the rooms in which the rules of the principality and the German Kaiser
resided. They have been recreated with a lot of the original furnishing intact.
When ascending the Grand Staircase, designed by Alexander Destailleur, the apartaments of
Princess Mary Theresa Olivia Cornwallis-West von Pless are reached. The princess, called Dasisy,
lived there from 1891, when she married Prince Hans Heinrich XV and left England, until 1943. She
was one of the most beautiful women in that time.
The highlight of the palace is its Chamber of Mirrors.
In 2009 castle was voted as one of the “Seven Architectural Wonders of the Silesian Voivodeship”
It is one of the very few museums of this type in this part of Europe with so many elements of
preserved historical furnishing.

2. In front of the castle in Pszczyna

3. The duchess Daisy's
room

4. The Grand Staircase
Room with hunting trophies.
Duke’s bedroom

5. Duke’s bathroom
The Chamber of Mirrors , at present concert hall

6. Bartek and Szymon in the arsenal.
View on the palace from the park’s pond

7. „Cup of tea” in front of
tea house
Beautiful old plane-tree in
the park

8. It is time to feed the bisons
TheBisons’ Farm
The history of the bisons in Pszczyna reached to 1865, when Russian Emperor
donated 4 bisons from Białowieża Forest to Prince Hochberg . They were great
hunters and that was the reason, why the animals were brought. Prince gave the
Emperors a herd of deers.
At present 5 bisons live in a farm together with other animals like deer, roe-deer,
ducks, donkey, label and rabbits.

9. We are visiting The Bison’s Farm

10. Meeting with natura- plants and animals

11. The last photo with bison
Meetin with duchess Daisy on market square in
Pszczyna

12. Presentation made by Szymon Niedziela
Photo by Alicja Bosak