The castle and park complex in Gościeszyn is one of the finest examples of English Neo-Gothic architecture in the present-day Greater Poland Voivodeship, alongside the renowned Kórnik Castle ("Zamek w Kórniku"). This monumental estate, including the park and ancillary buildings, has been listed as a national monument under the number 381/A since the late 1960s.
HISTORY
Locally known as "Pałac Kurnatowskich," the manor is named after the Kurnatowski family, who transformed the original 18th-century structure into a representative Neo-Gothic palace between 1904 and 1911. Upon completion, the castle was regarded as one of the most modern residences in Prussian province of Posen at the beginning of the 20th century, equipped with central heating, electricity, modern bathrooms, and telephones.
The Kurnatowski family were not only large landowners but also active social contributors. During the Greater Poland Uprising, they established a hospital in the castle to care for wounded activists personally. The estate also served as a logistical hub for the insurgents.
In later years, the manor became a gathering place for artists, writers, and the social elite of the time. In 1936, the famous Polish opera singer Jan Kiepura performed from the castle’s balcony.
THE MANOR
The approach to the former manor estate is through an impressive gate adorned with two columns featuring lion statues and a family crest. The gate is framed by an elegant Doric colonnade, and the property is enclosed by a stately wall dating back to 1913.
Crowned with a continuous crenellated parapet, the castle spans two floors and features three towers, one of which serves as a clock tower with a viewing terrace. The main entrance is through an arched portico, which includes an upper-floor balcony bearing the Latin inscription "Ora et labora."
Although the castle was repurposed as a children’s home until 2011, with 50 rooms partitioned for this use, much of the original architecture and decor has been preserved.
The centerpiece of the ground floor is the grand banquet hall, which spans two stories and includes a stone orchestra balcony. Other highlights include intricately crafted parquet floors, ornate tiled floors, a library with elaborate stucco work, multiple salons, and a striking wooden spiral staircase in the entrance hall. The wooden windows, replaced during the 1980s and 1990s, remain in good condition. A second balcony enhances the garden-facing facade.
The castle is fully basemented, with the lower level previously housing utility rooms, sanitary facilities, and a kitchen with a freight elevator. The attic, while currently unused, is insulated and suitable for conversion. The well-maintained roof structure, featuring three large chimneys, is in excellent condition.
ANCILLARY BUILDINGS
The decorative former riding hall, built in the Neoclassical style with a portico, currently houses four apartments. Originally, the building’s central section contained a sports hall with adjoining sanitary facilities. The attic remains unused, and the building is partially basemented. The total usable area of the former riding hall is 470 m².
GROUNDS AND PARK
The property is partially enclosed and spans a total area of 10.66 hectares.
The historic park is home to impressive tree species, including plane, ash, oak, elm, and black alder. A prominent summer linden tree with a trunk circumference of 520 cm stands in the representative courtyard before the castle, branching into two majestic limbs.
Picturesque avenues frame the park: a linden avenue to the north and an oak-linden avenue to the south. Along the park’s eastern boundary, a four-row linden alley stretches out. A pond further enhances the harmonious composition of the castle and park ensemble.
Utilities: Electricity, water, and sewer connections are available.
POTENTIAL USES
An architectural concept for the property’s future use as a senior residence is already available. Other potential uses include a medical and therapeutic center, a foundation headquarters, or similar facilities.
The castle’s protected monument status and historical significance provide opportunities to apply for various funding programs to support the estate’s development.
LOCATION AND DISTANCES
Gościeszyn is a small village in the Greater Poland region, within the Wolsztyn district, south of the regional capital Poznań. The village has approximately 400 inhabitants.
- Wolsztyn: 7 km
- Poznań: 70 km
- Zielona Góra: 61 km
- Leszno: 57 km
- Gubin (German border): 123 km
Detailed information and additional documentation are available upon request.
The property is secured by an alarm system. We kindly ask you to refrain from unannounced visits and arrange an appointment with us.
