Saxon Visions. The Architecture of Power – a new temporary exhibition at the Royal Castle in Warsaw

Saxon Visions. The Architecture of Power – a new temporary exhibition at the Royal Castle  in Warsaw

25 April – 20 July 2025

The exhibition Saxon Visions. The Architecture of Power is a journey through the architectural history of the Royal Castle in Warsaw during the reign of the Saxon Wettin dynasty: Augustus II the Strong and Augustus III. The exhibition presents architecture as a political tool. During the tour, you will be able to see the completed and unfinished plans for the expansion of the royal residence from 1697 to 1763, discovering the visions of the rulers and architects of that time. The exhibition will also present an interesting chapter in the history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, namely the reign of the Wettin dynasty – a period marked by political crisis, but also a time of cultural revival.

The exhibition will feature original 18th-century architectural drawings from the collection of the Saxon State Archives in Dresden and the National Museum in Warsaw. They are a unique testimony to the ambitious ideas for the reconstruction of the most important state building of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The exhibition will not only be an opportunity to admire these works, but also to learn about the process of bringing the architectural visions of their creators to life. Visitors will learn how an 18th-century architect worked and understand who and what the architecture of that time served. The drawings and plans will be complemented by specially constructed architectural models and elaborate dioramas. The exhibits will also include a fragment of a historical inscription plaque, originating from the eastern façade of the Castle, found in 2023 during archaeological works carried out on the site of the former Brühl Palace.

The Wettin dynasty’s reign in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1697–1763), although extremely difficult in political terms, was also a period of artistic and architectural flourishing. Many prominent architects and engineers from Saxony arrived in Warsaw at that time, contributing to the dynamic urban and architectural development of the city. Although Augustus II the Strong did not realise most of his plans due to a lack of funds and the unstable situation in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, his visions are impressive in their scope. This is evidenced, among other things, by the beautiful drawing of the Royal Castle reconstruction project by Johann Friedrich Karcher, presented at the exhibition.

Augustus II ultimately limited himself to minor changes in the interior design of the Castle, including the Senators’ Hall. It was only his son, Augustus III, who ruled during more peaceful times and had greater financial resources at his disposal, who managed to rebuild the royal residence. On his orders, a new wing of the Castle was built, later named the Saxon Wing, designed by Carl Friedrich Pöppelmann. The exhibition presents several designs for this reconstruction, which helped to rebuild the eastern wing of the Castle from the destruction of World War II – today, it is a recognisable feature of the city skyline.

The exhibition is accompanied by a rich programme of educational activities aimed at different age groups. The proposals include intergenerational activities, themed walks, workshops for children and young people, as well as curator-led tours, meetings with experts and popular weekend meetings with volunteers from the series Opowiadam (I Tell Stories).

Visitors can also enjoy an educational space where they can learn about various aspects of the work of architects in the past. An educational publication was also prepared in the form of a field game covering the immediate vicinity of the Castle.

For people with special needs, the following will be available: museum therapy, free tours of the exhibition with live audio description and translation into Polish Sign Language.

Every Tuesday from 3 p.m. and on selected Sundays from 4 p.m., the exhibition will have quiet hours – a time with reduced sensory stimuli.

A detailed educational programme for the exhibition Saxon Visions. The Architecture of Power is available on the Royal Castle’s website.