Offer of the Royal Castle in Warsaw as part of the „Admission Free November in Royal Residences" initiative

In keeping with a tradition dating back to 2012, between 2 and 30 November we are once again joining the „Admission Free November in Royal Residences” initiative undertaken by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. The very initiative, taking place in the last year of Castle’s jubilee celebrations, will have a special dimension to it.

Already for the 13 th time, the royal residences are making a significant portion of their collections available to the public free of charge throughout November. This is not only an opportunity to visit permanent and temporary exhibitions, but also to participate in many educational meetings, lectures, conferences, workshops and museum lessons.

Throughout November, from Tuesday to Sunday, we offer free tours of the Lanckoroński Gallery located on the ground floor of the Royal Castle in Warsaw. The space features collections of European paintings, sculptures and decorative arts, comprising over 600 exhibits. The Gallery also houses 37 items that were part of a donation made in 1994 to the Royal Castle in Warsaw by Prof. Karolina Lanckorońska, the last heiress of an aristocratic family that over the course of two centuries amassed in its Vienna palace one of the largest private collections of art in Europe. Of particular importance here are 15 works owned in the 18th century by King Stanislaus II Augustus, which following the monarch’s death were sold by his heirs.

Three days of November – the 9th, 10th and 11th– will be exceptional at the Castle. During this time, it will be possible to visit for free not only the Lanckoroński Gallery but also our Royal Route. This is because we wish to celebrate the return of King Stanislaus II Augustus’ throne to the Throne Room after a reconstruction together with our guests. This very event will symbolically crown the completion of the restoration of the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

In a specially prepared display case, we will also present the only preserved piece of raised embroidery depicting an eagle that originally adorned the Throne Room. All 86 eagles once decorating the backrest and the canopy of the royal throne were stolen by the Germans in 1939. As a result of Prof. A. Gieysztor’s 1980s search efforts, one such eagle was found and later used to reconstruct its entire decoration.

On 9, 10 and 11 November, in connection with the anniversary celebrations, meetings with the public at the exposition, thematic walks and art workshops for families are planned.

Everyone is also invited to visit the exhibition „Destruction and Reconstruction of the Royal Castle in Warsaw” free of charge. It may be a great start to a visit to the royal residence, providing a historical context for a journey through the castle halls.

As part of the „Admission Free November”, we have moreover planned another meeting from the „Key in the Castle” series. It is a project which allows visitors to meet with Polish artists in the Castle’s exhibition space. During the event, a selected work of contemporary art, juxtaposed with the museum’s collection, enters into an interesting and intriguing dialogue with it, revealing relationships, inspirations and borrowings from past eras that are not obvious at first glance. This is an offer for enthusiasts of contemporary art, but also those fond of old art, as it is the past that still remains the key to understanding the present, also in art.

On November Wednesdays, visitors are also invited to take a free tour of the entire Castle, including both the Royal Route and the Lanckoroński Gallery. The castle gardens may be traditionally visited completely free of charge.

The following royal residences form part of this year’s edition of the project: the Royal Łazienki Museum, the Museum of King Jan III’s Palace in Wilanów, the Wawel Royal Castle, the Royal Castle in Warsaw – Museum.

All events held as part of the „Admission Free November in Royal Residences” initiative are organised thanks to funding from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.