Balice can be explored through two themes: the Radziwiłł Palace and its landscape park, and the landscape of the built-up village centre. Several construction phases can be distinguished at the residence; historic farm buildings and houses add to the architectural picture. The palace represents a specific building history, while the valley setting explains the location of the village centre.

The Radziwiłł Palace and its building history

The Radziwiłł Palace in Balice is architecturally modelled on Baroque residences. Its layout comprises a square main building and two projecting side wings. The building also includes an east wing, connected by a gallery; this wing contains the hotel area. The complex can thus be pictured through its main building, the projecting side wings and the connection to the east wing.

The building history has several distinct chronological stages. Around the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the palace was built by the Szembek family on the site of an older villa belonging to the Boner family. It acquired its present form through extensive renovations carried out between 1887 and 1894. The construction period and its present appearance therefore belong to different stages in the palace’s history: the earlier date refers to its construction, the later one to its renovation.

Park and preserved buildings

A landscape park of about four hectares surrounds the palace; it was laid out towards the end of the 19th century. Farm buildings, granaries, a former cowshed and other buildings have been preserved in the park’s surroundings. Most of these buildings date from around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Two historic entrance gates are also among the preserved features. Together, the park and buildings offer different insights into the setting of the residence: the landscape design on the one hand, and the architectural history of the place on the other.

Several historic houses from around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries have also been preserved in Balice. The historic character of the village therefore extends beyond the palace complex. Those interested in architecture can find other historic buildings as part of the village, alongside the residence’s building history.

Valley setting and planned cycle route

The built-up centre of Balice lies mostly in the valley of the Borowy Potok (Baliczanka). This valley is cut into the tectonic edge of the Garb Tenczyński. This places the village centre in a valley setting on the edge of this landscape feature.

A planned section of the VeloRudawa is about 3.3 km long. It is intended to run from Zabierzów to Balice, passing through the localities of Zabierzów, Szczyglice and Balice in the municipality of Zabierzów. If you would like to include this section in your cycling plans, check the current route status beforehand; the section is listed as planned.

Discover more destinations: Krasieniec Zakupny, Niedźwiedź, Zielonki, Kopanka, Wielka Wieś, Modlnica, Brzyczyna, Wlosan.

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