Today's Presidential Palace is over 360 years old and was built for Stanis?aw Koniecpolski in the 1640s. The client himself did not see the completed construction because he died during it. Unfortunately, the Koniecpolski family did not enjoy the beautiful palace at Krakowskie Przedmie?cie for long, because already in the 1970s it was purchased by the Lubomirski family, who also sold the palace after a few years.The Radziwi?? family became the main owners of the Palace. The palace was in the hands of one of the largest families for almost 150 years until 1818. It was during their time that the interiors were rebuilt, longer side wings were extended, and the staircase was moved from the center of the building to the right hall.The 19th century was the time when the palace was chosen as the seat of the tsar's governor - although only one governor, Gen. Zaj?czek, lived in the palace. This is where the name of the Governor's Palace, which we can also come across, comes from. In tsarist times, the courtyard was divided into two parts, one of which was decorated with a monument to Ivan Pashkevich. Ancient deities were added to the attic, and a gallery supported by columns was added in the Ballroom - today the Column Hall.The palace is one of the most original palaces that we can visit, because during World War II, the Germans organized a luxury hotel and casino inside. No wonder the palace was an important building in the city during the occupation.Both in the interwar period and after the war, today the Presidential Palace served as the seat of the Prime Minister, and since 1994, after completed renovation, it has become the Presidential Palace.
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