Saturday 2 August 2014

ŁAZIENKI PARK, WARSAW

Łazienki Park (Polish: Park Łazienkowski or Łazienki Królewskie, literally "Baths Park" or "Royal Baths"; often rendered "Royal Baths Park") is the largest park in Warsaw, Poland, occupying 76 hectares of the city centre. The park-and-palace complex lies in Warsaw's central district (Śródmieście), on Ujazdów Avenue (Aleje Ujazdowskie) on the "Royal Route" linking the Royal Castle with Wilanów palace to the south. North of Łazienki Park, on the other side of Agrykola Street, stands Ujazdów Castle.

Łazienki Park was designed in the 17th century by Tylman van Gameren, in the baroque style, for Stanisław Herakliusz Lubomirski. It took the name Łazienki ("Baths") from a bathing pavilion that was located there. In 1764 the gardens were acquired by Stanisław August Poniatowski, after his election that year as King of Poland. The development of the classical-style gardens became a major project for King Stanisław August. The park-and-palace complex was designed by Domenico Merlini, Johann Christian Kammsetzer and landscape gardener Jan Chrystian Schuch.

The park's principal buildings stand beside or near the Łazienki Lake and Łazienki River. Stanisław August's palace is situated on the lake and hence is known as the "Palace on the Water." Most of the buildings in the park suffered severe fire damage during and after the 1944 Warsaw Uprising, amid fighting between German and Polish forces. The structures nevertheless were relatively well-preserved, compared to those in the Old Town; here the Germans had drilled holes in the palace walls for placement of explosive charges, but charges had not been placed to destroy the buildings. Reconstruction of the park and palaces was completed within a few years after World War II.

This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Weekly TopShot meme,
and also part of the Scenic Weekends meme.







6 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous place, and the time of day you took these in offered some great light. It's very well kept.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  2. Beautiful park and reflection is breathtaking... Architecture is tremendous...

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  3. Lots of great reflections ~ love the viaduct ones ~ happy weekend ~

    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  4. I love this classical architecture style, it is so impressive... I like the way you shot the water piece ; very dreamy vibe.

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  5. Absolutely breathtaking! You have certainly captured an idyllic paradise.

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