Zacisze Manor House in Miechów is an extraordinary historic monument. Not only is it part of the famous Lesser Poland Wooden Architecture Route, but it is also regarded as one of the most valuable Old Polish monuments in the Lesser Poland region. The manor house can also boast a rich history directly connected with the dramatic events that took place in this part of Poland over the past centuries. In this article, you will find information about the history of the manor, as well as the people, associated with it.
Zacisze Manor House in Miechów – Practical information helpful when planning a trip
The Zacisze Manor House stands on the outskirts of Miechów, less than a kilometre from the city centre, on a street leading to neighbouring Racławice. The address is ul. Polna 1, 32-200 Miechów.
Zacisze Manor House in Miechów is open to visitors from April 15th to October 15th. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Visits to the monument at other times are possible, but must be arranged in advance by calling the staff at 413810187.
Ticket prices collected at the entrance are symbolic and amount to just a few euros, with children under 7 years of age entering for free.
The manor house and the surrounding park are perfect for gatherings with friends, birthday parties, or other outdoor events. For more information, please contact the staff at Zacisze Manor House in Miechów.
Zacisze Manor House in Miechów – visiting a beautiful monument
We visited Zacisze Manor House in Miechów during a trip to nearby Racławice. After arriving in Miechów, we followed our earlier plan and toured the monastic complex and the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. It was there, purely by chance, that we came across a leaflet mentioning Zacisze Manor. I am overjoyed it found its way into our hands, as this wooden monument is truly beautiful. It forms part of the Lesser Poland Wooden Architecture Route and, importantly, is regarded by many as one of the most valuable examples of Old Polish architecture in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Wooden architecture has a unique charm—not only in its appearance, but also in its scent and in the sounds occasionally made by the old timber structure. I first experienced this distinctive “breath” of a wooden building in a church in the Pałuki region, a beautiful gem of Pałuki architecture.
The wooden monument in Miechów is a single-storey log-built structure on a rectangular plan. It is covered with a roof typical of eighteenth-century buildings in this area—broken in form, with attractive dormers and shingled with wooden shingles. The interior is divided into four rooms and two entrance porches supported by wooden, hewn pillars that hold up the projecting attic. The rooms are arranged around a central hallway and are relatively spacious. Unfortunately, the original furniture and furnishings of the manor have not survived, and what is currently on display has been collected from various sources. However, two masonry fireplaces dating from the late eighteenth century have been preserved.
Walking through the warm, wooden interiors of the old manor house was a great pleasure. Especially as we were accompanied by a staff member who was well acquainted not only with the history of the monument itself, but also with that of Miechów and the surrounding area. We listened to stories about the owners of the manor, its residents, and the events that had taken place in the region over the centuries. We learned, for example, that Zacisze Manor House in Miechów is a rare example of an urban manor and bourgeois residence that incorporates many elements of a traditional Old Polish manor. The guide spoke with great interest and passion, which proved contagious and encouraged us to delve deeper into the history of the area.
Until 1991, Zacisze Manor House in Miechów housed the Kościuszko Museum, which held a collection of memorabilia related to Tadeusz Kościuszko, his life, and history—especially events connected with the Battle of Racławice. Unfortunately, for financial reasons the museum ceased operations, and little remains of it today: a few paintings and a miniature of the Racławice Panorama in one of the rooms. The monument is currently under the care of the “U Jaksy” Office for Artistic Exhibitions in Miechów, and all inquiries should be directed to them.
The interior of the manor house and its furnishings
As I mentioned earlier, little of the manor’s original furnishings has survived. What you can see inside today are mostly historic objects dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The main donors were members and descendants of the Kulczycki family, as well as residents of the town of Miechów, who donated various everyday items of greater or lesser value.
In the Lord’s Chamber, also known as the Commander’s Room, you can see a photocopy of the Small Racławice Panorama, the only element remaining in the manor from the former Kościuszko Museum. The Small Racławice Panorama consists of four oil paintings that also served as sketches for the Racławice Panorama, created by Wojciech Kossak and Jan Styka. This miniature is made on a scale of 1:10 in relation to the original panorama, which can be viewed in the Rotunda in Wrocław.
In the next room, known as the Lady of the House’s Chamber, you will see a historic piano brought from Vienna by Zofia Kulczycka and her son, Jerzy Sas Kulczycki. In addition, a historic wall clock from the early 20th century hangs on the wall, along with reproductions of drawings by Jan Matejko depicting Stefan Giebułtowski, a January Uprising insurgent who was killed in the Battle of Miechów. In one corner stands an antique wardrobe and a collection of porcelain, including an unusual cup fitted with a moustache guard for gentlemen. There is also a kitchen furnished with a sideboard—an indispensable kitchen piece of furniture that I remember from my grandmother’s rural home. It was used to store tableware, tablecloths, and other items essential to the manor household. In the case of Zacisze Manor, the main kitchen was located outside the main building. Unfortunately, it has not survived to this day, just like the other outbuildings.
Zacisze Manor House in Miechów – the history of the wooden bourgeois manor house
Zacisze Manor House in Miechów was most likely built in 1784. The date is considered probable because no documents from that period have survived; however, it appears on a beam in the entrance hall and has therefore been accepted as the completion date of the construction. Most of the information about the building comes from the period when it was owned by the Kulczycki family. You may have heard of them thanks to Jerzy Kulczycki, who is credited with introducing coffee to Europe. This story is fascinating, and I refer you to our earlier article, where you can learn more about how Kulczycki was taken into Turkish captivity. Later, he helped King John III Sobieski defeat the Ottomans near Vienna, and eventually opened the first coffeehouse in Vienna.
The Kulczycki family purchased Zacisze Manor House in the mid-19th century, and its first owner was Maurycy Kulczycki, a nobleman who came to Miechów to take up the post of accountant and deputy mayor of the town. After Maurycy’s death, the manor was taken over by his wife, Józefa Kulczycka (née Chylińska). The next owner was Julian Kulczycki, followed by his wife Helena. The manor remained in the family’s hands until the early 1970s, after which it was purchased by the State Treasury and carefully renovated. From 1981 to 1995, the manor housed the Kościuszko Museum, which was closed due to a lack of funding, and many exhibits related to Tadeusz Kościuszko were transferred to various museums in the region.
The manor has undergone several renovations, which is why it is now in excellent condition. The building is surrounded by a small park where numerous farm buildings once stood; our knowledge of them comes from archival materials held in the State Archives in Kielce, and if I had more time, I would certainly go there myself. From the guide, I learned that a barn, an outbuilding, and an external kitchen once stood right next to the manor. Unfortunately, these structures have not survived, but there is a chance that replicas may be erected on the sites of the originals. The authorities of the town of Miechów, the provincial heritage conservator, as well as numerous sponsors and enthusiasts, are discussing the revitalization and reconstruction of the former manor farm buildings of which Zacisze Manor House was a part. These buildings could reflect the form of the historical structures while also serving modern functions. Just imagine a beautiful inn serving traditional Lesser Poland dishes and beverages.
A few words at the end of our visit to the Zacisze manor house in Miechów
Zacisze Manor House in Miechów is truly beautiful, well cared for, and remarkably warm—not in terms of temperature, but in the atmosphere created by the people who look after it. The elderly caretakers speak about the monument and its history with great joy and nostalgia. I sincerely hope that the plans to revitalize the park surrounding the manor come to fruition; this would create a genuine open-air museum and allow visitors to see with their own eyes what noble manor farms of that period looked like. I will certainly return to Miechów, and I wholeheartedly recommend a visit to the Miechów manor—perhaps one day we will meet there.
Zacisze Manor House in Miechów information and interesting facts
- As Old as History – 1784 – The Zacisze Manor House was likely built in 1784 – the date “August 16, 1784” remains on one of the ceiling beams in the front room.
- Wooden and Traditional – This larch, wooden building features a log construction. The roof is a “Polish”-style, shingled structure, and the entire structure is built according to the ancient principles of wooden architecture.
- Rectangular Plan, with a Typical Interior Layout – The manor house was built on a rectangular plan, measuring approximately 12.50 m x 6.50 m. The interior has a two-bay layout: four rooms separated by a hallway on the transverse axis, with exits to porches at the front and rear.
- Distinctive Porches – Front and Rear – Two porches (one at the front and one at the rear), supported by profiled wooden pillars, lead to the manor house. These pillars give the building its typical manor house character.
- Two Old Fireplaces from the Late 18th Century – The manor house’s interior retains two brick fireplaces dating back to the original period—a rarity and a valuable reminder of times gone by.
- Once a Town House—a Rare “Town Manor” – Although we often associate manor houses with rural or noble residences, Zacisze was originally a “town house”—a rare example of a “bourgeois residence” of the time.
- Long Family Ownership – In the 1840s, the manor house was purchased by Maurycy Tytus Kulczycki from Nowy Wiśnicz, and the property remained in the Kulczycki family for almost 100 years.
- Numerous Renovations and Renovations – In the 20th and 21st centuries, Zacisze Manor was renovated several times, thus preserving its historic character.
- Historic Listing and Protection – The manor house is listed in the Register of Historic Places, confirming its significance for the region’s cultural heritage.
- On the Trail of Wooden Architecture in Małopolska – The property is part of the Małopolska Trail of Wooden Architecture, making it part of a larger route that can be visited while travelling through Małopolska.
- From Private Residence to Museum – After a period of private ownership (the Kulczycki family, then others), the manor house was taken over by the State Treasury in the mid-20th century.
- Museum Dedicated to a National Hero – From 1981 to 1995, the manor house housed the Kościuszko Museum, a branch of the Regional Museum. It displayed exhibits related to the life and work of Tadeusz Kościuszko, with particular emphasis on the Battle of Racławice.
- Photocopy of the “Small Panorama of Racławice” – One of the museum’s exhibits—and still on display—is a colour photocopy of the famous Panorama of Racławice by Wojciech Kossak and Jan Styka. It provides an interesting insight into the era and historical events.
- The manor house’s new life after the 2009-2011 renovation – In 2009, a thorough renovation began, encompassing the roof, walls, woodwork, foundations, and other elements. Following the renovation, the building received the “Well-Maintained Monument” award in 2010.
- Managed by a cultural institution – since 2011 – Since February 15, 2011, the manor house has been managed by the U Jaksy Art Exhibition Office, ensuring its protection, maintenance, and openness to cultural activities.
- Centre of cultural and social life in Miechów – Today, Zacisze Manor House is more than just a historic building – it hosts folk and cabaret concerts, open-air sculpture workshops, art workshops, social gatherings, family gatherings, and team-building events.
- Accessible and tourist-friendly – The manor house can be visited during the tourist season – typically from mid-April to the end of October. This makes it an ideal destination for a spring or summer trip.
- Period Interiors and Historic Furniture – The manor’s current furnishings include furniture and objects from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries—donated by donors and descendants of the former owners. This gives the interiors an authentic atmosphere of bygone eras.
- A Pearl of Wooden Architecture in the Region – In the context of Małopolska, Dworek Zacisze is considered one of the most valuable monuments of old Polish wooden architecture—a unique example of a bourgeois residence dating back over 200 years.
- A Place That Combines History with Contemporary Life – The manor is not an open-air museum, but a “living” building. After renovation, it serves as a meeting place, cultural events, and a venue for local community integration. This ensures that the manor’s history remains present and accessible.
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