The Palace in Dowspuda was one of the most magnificent in Poland. Why did it cease to exist?

photo: Reconstruction visualization

The Pac Palace in Dowspuda – History and Present Day 

Located in the Podlaskie Voivodeship, Dowspuda was once home to one of the most beautiful Neo-Gothic architectural structures in Poland, and possibly in all of Central and Eastern Europe. The palace was built by Ludwik Michał Pac, a military officer, politician and great art enthusiast. The residence was meant to impress with its beauty and simultaneously tell the story of the family and of Poland. Unfortunately, over the years it fell into ruin and today only fragments remain. In 2016 the ruins and the surrounding plot were purchased by a private investor who planned to rebuild the palace and transform it into an exclusive hotel. Despite obtaining conservation approval in 2021, the project has still not been carried out. 

Ludwik Michał Pac – A Visionary and Patron of the Arts

When discussing the palace and its history, it is worth beginning with the man who brought it into existence: Ludwik Michał Pac. He was a general and a member of the Provisional Government of the Kingdom of Poland during the November Uprising. He was also a great lover of art, sparing no expense in the construction of his residence and bringing in artists from across Europe to ensure that every architectural and interior design detail would amaze.

Construction of the palace began in 1820. Pac brought in two outstanding architects from Italy: Pietro Bosio and Henryk (Enrico) Marconi. The residence was completed several years later, in 1823. Italy also provided painters Niccola de Angelis and Giovanni Battista Caretti, as well as sculptor Carlo Aurelli. The landscape park was designed by Englishman John Heiton. The palace was intended not only as a representative residence of the last member of the Pac family but also as a treasury of artworks and national memorabilia. Both the layout of the residence and the interior décor glorified the illustrious past of the family and the history of Poland. The very choice of the Neo-Gothic style evoked medieval castles and the power of a great noble lineage. 

photo: relics of the palace, as of 2014, photos by T. Rogal (zabytek.pl)

Who Was Henryk Marconi?

The design of the palace was entrusted to Henryk Marconi, who, as mentioned earlier, came to Poland specifically for this commission. Marconi later became a leading promoter of Neoclassical and Neo-Gothic styles in Poland. He designed aristocratic residences, numerous public buildings and religious structures. His works can be found in Warsaw, including the well-known Hotel Europejski on Krakowskie Przedmieście, and in various other locations throughout Poland. Notable examples include the Wielopolski Palace in Chroberz and the pump room in Busko-Zdrój. It is important to note that the Dowspuda Palace became one of his most renowned and valued projects and one of the earliest Polish examples of Neo-Gothic architecture inspired by English models.

photo: Henryk Marconi in an engraving from the period (fragment)

Decline and Ruin – What Happened?

The fate of the palace turned out to be tragic. In 1830 Pac took part in the November Uprising. After its failure he left the country and his estates were confiscated. In 1835 he fell ill aboard a ship traveling from Athens to Smyrna and died there on 31 August. The confiscation of the estate and Pac’s childless death meant that the property was no longer maintained. In 1885 a fire destroyed most of the residence. Subsequent decades brought further neglect. The once magnificent building gradually deteriorated and the extensive landscape park lost much of its former charm. Despite this, some remnants of its past grandeur have survived. The impressive portico and parts of the landscape park still attract tourists and architecture enthusiasts. 

photo: Palace in Dowspuda, engraving, 19th century

Plans (Dreams) of Reconstruction

In 2016 the ruins and the 21-hectare property were purchased by an investor who announced plans to rebuild the palace and convert it into a hotel. In 2021 he obtained approval from the Podlaskie Provincial Office for Monument Protection in Białystok. The project had initially been rejected because of insufficient materials for precise reconstruction. Since 2021 construction has still not begun. Unofficially, the temporary suspension may be related to rising construction costs and low financial viability. The project is estimated to cost at least several dozen million złoty. It should be noted, however, that the investor has not formally abandoned the reconstruction, although no start date has been announced.

I personally hope that the palace will eventually be rebuilt, if not now then within the next few years. The Pac Palace was one of the most significant Neo-Gothic structures in Poland and impressed with its beauty. Its reconstruction should attract the attention of both local and central authorities, who ought to support the restoration of historically and architecturally valuable sites.

Piotr Gadomski (architektoniczna@rewolta.org)