The Cracow Bishops’ Palace, a residence of the National Museum in Kielce, is one of the best preserved buildings from the epoch of the Vasa dynasty. The Museum, which takes pride in being one of the most valuable galleries of Polish painting and many other interesting pieces, is definitely worth seeing. We also recommend the Cracow Bishops’ Palace as an noteworthy example of 17th century architecture.

The mansion was founded by Jakub Zadzik. Its style resembled the residences from the 20s and 30s of the 17th century, among which there are the Ujazdów Castle and Kazimierzowski Palace in Warsaw. The design of the place is attributed to Thomas Poncino of Lugano, the author of numerous works of sacred and secular architecture. In the 18th century the palace was enlarged, which gave it a more baroque character. It became an official residence of the museum in 1971. Since then, lately especially, some renovation works have taken place, e.g. the reconstruction of the bishops’ apartment. Today, in the rooms on the first floor, there are unique beam ceilings with authentic paintwork, and decorative frieze murals. At the back of the building, an ornamental garden, also known as the Italian garden, with a 17th century quarter arrangement has also been recreated. The museum owns permanent exhibitions of historic interiors from the 17th and 18th century, the old European and Eastern weaponry, a Sanctuary of Marshal Józef Piłsudski, one of the most valuable Polish Painting Gallery collections (including the works of P. Michałowski, J. Kossak, J. Brandt, J. Chełmoński, J. Malczewski), and a display of decorative art.