Oak Palace in Karpniki

Oak Palace in Karpniki stands outside the boundaries of the village of Karpniki, at the foot of the Sokole Mountains, surrounded by a park. It was built in 1875 for the marshal of the court of the Duchy of Hesse, Baron Urlich de Tanneux von Saint Paul-Illaire, on land received from the Prussian prince and admiral Adalbert.

Architecture and interiors

The building has three storeys, is built of brick and covered with pitched roofs. The southern facade is enriched by a rectangular tower and a projection with a bay window, and the whole was given an eclectic form. Painted stained-glass windows, fireplaces, coffered ceilings with profiled beams and wall paintings in the hall have survived to this day. The design of the palace is attributed to the Berlin architectural firm of Hermann Ende and Wilhelm Böckmann, and the park around it was designed by Saint-Paul.

History after the war

After the Second World War the palace was not nationalised and remained in private hands, which sets it apart from most similar residences in Lower Silesia. During the communist era it periodically served, on a lease basis, as a company holiday camp for children.

Current use

The property is now privately owned. The current owner does not make the palace available for viewing, and the shape of the building cannot even be seen from behind the fence.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Stawowa 12, Karpniki, at the foot of the Sokole Mountains.
• The interiors and the park grounds are not open to visitors, and the building is not visible from behind the fence.
• Nearby, 0.8 km away, stands Karpniki Castle, and less than 2 km from here rises Krzyżna Góra.