The castle and park complex in Gościeszyn, alongside the castle in Kórnik (“Zamek w Kórniku”), is one of the outstanding examples of English Gothic Revival in the present-day Greater Poland Voivodeship. The monumental estate, with its park and outbuildings, has been listed as a national monument under number 381/A since the late 1960s.
HISTORY
Locally, the country house is referred to as the “Pałac Kurnatowskich,” named after the Kurnatowski family, who between 1904 and 1911 extensively remodelled the original 18th-century building in the Gothic Revival style. Upon completion, the castle was considered one of the most modern residences in the Prussian province of Posen at the beginning of the 20th century, equipped with central heating, electricity, modern bathrooms, and telephones.
The Kurnatowski family was not only landowners but also socially active: during the Greater Polish Uprising, they set up a hospital in the castle for wounded activists, whom they personally cared for. Additionally, the estate served as a central meeting point for the insurgents.
In the years that followed, the estate 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
Access to the former estate is through an imposing gate adorned with two columns featuring lion statues and a family crest. The gate is framed by an elegant Doric colonnade. The property is enclosed by a representative wall from 1913.
The castle, crowned by a surrounding battlement, extends over two floors and features three tower extensions. One of these towers serves as a clock tower with an observation terrace. The main entrance is through an arcade portico, which is decorated with a balcony on the upper floor and the Latin inscription “Ora et labora.”
Although a children’s home was established here until 2011, with 50 rooms partitioned for this purpose, much of the original architecture and furnishings have been preserved.
The heart of the ground floor is the large ceremonial hall, with a stone orchestra balcony. Additionally, beautifully crafted parquet floors, decorative tiled floors, a library with elaborate stucco work, several salons, and an impressive wooden spiral staircase in the entrance hall have been maintained. The wooden windows, which were replaced in the 1980s and 1990s, are in good condition. On the garden side, another balcony enhances the elegant appearance of the building.
The castle is fully basemented. The basement housed service rooms, sanitary facilities, and a kitchen with a freight lift. The attic is currently unused, though it is insulated and expandable. The well-maintained roof structure, with three large chimneys, is in good condition.
OUTBUILDINGS
The decorative former stable in the neoclassical style, with a portico, currently houses four apartments. Originally, a sports hall with adjoining sanitary facilities was located in the centre of the building. The attic remains unused, and the building is partially basemented. The total usable area of the former stable is 470 m².
THE ESTATE AND PARK
The estate is partially enclosed and covers a total area of 10.66 hectares.
In the historic park, impressive tree species such as plane trees, ash, oak, elm, and black alder thrive. In the representative courtyard in front of the castle stands a prominent lime tree with a trunk circumference of 520 cm, which divides into two mighty branches.
The park is framed by picturesque avenues: a lime tree avenue to the north and an oak-lime tree avenue to the south. Along the eastern boundary of the park runs a four-row lime tree avenue. Additionally, a pond enriches the harmonious overall composition of the castle-park ensemble.
Infrastructure: Electricity, water, and sewage systems are available.
POTENTIAL USES
An architectural design is available, proposing future use as a nursing home. Furthermore, a medical and therapeutic centre, a foundation headquarters, or other facilities are under consideration.
Thanks to the monument protection status and the historical significance of the property, there is the possibility of applying for various grants for the development of the land.
LOCATION AND DISTANCES
Gościeszyn is a small village in the Greater Poland region, in the Wolsztyn district, south of the regional capital Poznań. The population is approximately 400 inhabitants.
- Wolsztyn 7 km
- Poznań 70 km
- Zielona Góra 61 km
- Leszno 57 km
- Gubin (border to Germany) 123 km
Detailed information and additional documents are available upon request.
The building is alarm-secured. We kindly ask you to refrain from unannounced viewings and to arrange an appointment with us.
