The defining features of Kurozwęki include the castle and park complex in the lowlands of the Czarna, a church with a medieval history, and a guided bison safari. When planning your visit, it helps to distinguish between architectural and church history, the landscape and the activities: springtime viewing of young bison is seasonal, while the safari and maze competitions each have their own format. This lets you tailor your stay to whether you want to focus mainly on architecture, historical development or specific activities.

Castle and Park Complex in the Lowlands

The castle and park complex lies in the low-lying northwest of Kurozwęki, in the floodplain of the Czarna stream. It comprises the palace, the eastern Annex Pavilion and the western Orangery Pavilion. It also includes the coach house stables with a columned portal guarded by two lions, as well as a preserved section of the English landscape park. The grounds around the palace also include a park, pastures, meadows and walking paths. This means the complex’s architectural composition and its setting in the lowlands are two distinct aspects. Visitors interested in historic buildings can view the listed structures as an ensemble; the open spaces and preserved part of the park add a landscape perspective. Its location in the northwest, beside the Czarna stream, gives the castle complex a specific geographical setting.

Church, Chapel and Museum

In Kurozwęki, the church has its own chronology alongside the history of the castle. The parish of the Church of the Assumption of Mary and St Augustine was founded in 1347. From 1487, the church served as a parish church and as a monastery of the Canons Regular of the Lateran. This timeline distinguishes the founding of the parish from the church functions mentioned later. The castle and park complex also includes a restored Baroque castle chapel and a museum that opened in 2011. The museum houses a gallery of paintings by Józef Czapski. The dates therefore mark different points of reference: the founding of the parish, the church’s functions from 1487, and the museum’s opening in 2011. The church’s local history and the artistic and architectural features of the castle complex can thus be considered as distinct topics.

Bison Watching and Activities

When it comes to activities, it is also useful to distinguish between format and timing. Every spring, young bison can be watched in the meadow behind the palace. The guided bison safari is a ride in a wagon that takes visitors into the bison enclosure at the castle complex. Seasonal viewing of young animals and the guided ride into the enclosure offer different ways to experience the bison. If you would like to plan a safari, check the dates in advance. Annual competitions are held on the paths through the maze: participants search for hidden questions and complete a crossword puzzle. Here, the focus is on the search and puzzle, not on the guided ride. If you want to include a maze competition in your stay, check the dates for that as well.

A More Recent Local Landmark

The Browar Popiel brewery opened in Kurozwęki on December 8, 2018. In chronological terms, this is a more recent point of reference than the medieval church history. The date adds an event from 2018 to the town’s range of historical topics.

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