Director's Villa, Franciszka Szymańskiego 2

The Szymański Palace is a brick villa from the end of the 19th century, built as the residence of the director of the “Zawiercie” Joint-Stock Company. It stands in a park near the town centre, and today it houses a library and several cultural institutions.

The director's residence

The villa was completed in 1897 as part of the workers' estate of the “Zawiercie” Joint-Stock Company. It was designed by the Warsaw engineer-architect Hugon Kuder. The building was erected of brick and set on a stone plinth, and in front of the facade an imposing driveway with a lawn was laid out. The name comes from Stanisław Szymański, the director of the company.

Park and pond

An English-style park was laid out around the villa, designed in Kuder's studio. The Młynówka stream flowing through it was turned into a system of ornamental ponds, which also had practical uses. After the war the park, neglected since 1939, was taken over by the State Treasury and made into a city park, and the former entrance gate next to the villa disappeared. The palace was entered in the heritage register in 1991. Nearby lies Kościuszko Park.

Today

The palace is home to the Municipal and County Public Library, the Memorial Room of Major Tadeusz Klimas, a branch of the Social Music Centres and the Novum Club. Access to the individual units depends on their rules, which are given by the institutions themselves.

Practical information

• Address: ulica Franciszka Szymańskiego 2, Zawiercie.
• The park around it is open to everyone.
• Check the opening hours of the library and the memorial room on the websites of these institutions.