Kurozwęki: Castle, Park and Bison Safari

• The castle and park complex is in the low-lying northwest of Kurozwęki, in the Czarna floodplain.
• The complex includes, among other things, a palace, pavilions, coach houses, a castle chapel, and a museum.
• The parish of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Augustine was founded in 1347.
• On a guided bison safari, visitors ride in a wagon into the bison enclosure.
• Young bison can be observed every spring in a meadow behind the palace.

The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Augustine is a historic landmark in its own right in Kurozwęki. Its parish was founded in 1347. From 1487, the church served as a parish church and a monastery of the Canons Regular of the Lateran. The two dates mark different milestones: the founding of the parish and the church’s later institutional role.

The castle and park complex also encompasses several historic and cultural features. These include a restored Baroque castle chapel and a museum with a gallery of paintings by Józef Czapski. The museum opened in 2011. If you are particularly interested in art and architectural history, you can find both here within the complex, while the church offers a separate perspective on the history of the area.

The palace is part of an estate with several other clearly identified buildings: the Annex pavilion stands to the east, and the Orangery pavilion to the west. The coach houses feature a columned portal guarded by two lions. Part of the English-style landscape park has also been preserved. Together, these features make up an estate that extends beyond a single building and offers a range of architectural details.

The setting adds to the picture: the complex is in the low-lying northwest of Kurozwęki, in the floodplain of the small Czarna River.

The grounds around the palace include a park, pastures, meadows, and walking paths. For a stay that caters to different interests, you can choose from a walk, wildlife watching, or a guided activity. On the bison safari, visitors ride in a wagon into the bison enclosure. This differs from the seasonal opportunity to watch bison in the meadow behind the palace, where young bison can be seen every spring.

Annual competitions take place on the maze paths. Participants search for hidden questions and complete a crossword puzzle. This is a different way to experience the grounds from taking a safari or going for a walk. If a competition is important to your travel plans, check the event dates in advance.

There is a café and a restaurant on the grounds of the castle complex. They serve homemade cakes, traditional dishes, and bison meat dishes.

Another historic link to local cuisine is Browar Popiel brewery, which opened in Kurozwęki on December 8, 2018.

If you’d like to discover more destinations: Staszów, Rytwiany, Korytnica, Skarżysko-Kamienna, Wiązownica Mała, Budy, Osiek and Oleśnica.

How does the bison safari differ from springtime viewing?

On the guided safari, visitors ride in a wagon into the bison enclosure. Springtime viewing refers to young bison in the meadow behind the palace and is described as a seasonal experience.

Which parts are included in the castle and park complex?

They include the palace, the eastern Annex pavilion, the western Orangery pavilion, the coach houses with their columned portal guarded by two lions, and a preserved part of the English-style landscape park. The restored Baroque castle chapel and the museum with Józef Czapski’s gallery of paintings are also part of the complex.

Which historical dates are important for the church and museum?

The parish of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Augustine was founded in 1347. From 1487, the church served as a parish church and a monastery of the Canons Regular of the Lateran. The museum in the castle and park complex opened in 2011.

For the broader travel overview: Staszów.