The Henryk Sienkiewicz Mansion in Oblęgorek
This eclectic mansion, set within a picturesque English-style park, was a gift offered to Henryk Sienkiewicz by his grateful compatriots on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his literary career. The mansion, designed by the architect Hugo Kudera, catches the eye with its harmonious form, its fairy-tale tower and the sculpture of a hussar towering above the front façade. The surrounding park was designed by an eminent gardener Franciszek Szanior – the creator of numerous residential gardens of that era. Between 1902 and 1914, the mansion served as the writer’s summer residence; he would come here with his family to rest, work and receive guests. After the outbreak of World War I, Sienkiewicz went into exile in Switzerland, where he died in 1916. Thanks to an initiative by his children, Poland’s first museum dedicated to the life and work of the Nobel laureate was opened in the palace in 1958. It has been a branch of the National Museum in Kielce since 1976, and it was honoured with the title of Historic Monument in 2018.
Henryk Sienkiewicz’s apartment Sienkiewicza
The writer’s apartment – his private world, in which the authentic atmosphere of the turn of the 20th century has been preserved – has been meticulously reconstructed in the historic interiors on the ground floor. It comprises a study, a living room, a dining room, a smoking room and a bedroom. Most of the furniture, paintings, anniversary gifts and everyday objects are Sienkiewicz’s original memorabilia that have survived the turbulent 20th century, including both world wars. Thanks to them, the mansion is not just a museum but a home that offers a glimpse into the writer’s everyday life, allowing visitors to see where he worked, relaxed and spent time with his family. Among the most valuable exhibits are paintings – a gallery of family portraits, works inspired by the Nobel laureate’s writing, numerous anniversary gifts from cities, institutions and readers, and part of the valuable book collection belonging to the author of Quo Vadis.
Sienkiewicz – supplement
On the first floor of the mansion, in the rooms that used to belong to Sienkiewicz’s children and guests, there is an exhibition showcasing the most significant moments in the writer’s life and career. It recounts the 25 years of his literary work, his travels to Africa, Turkey and Spain, the moment he was awarded the Nobel Prize, as well as two funerals – in Vevey (1916) and Warsaw (1924). The memorabilia on display include, among other things, anniversary certificates, registers containing the signatures of donors to the Oblęgorec estate, paintings by Piotr Stachiewicz for Quo Vadis, drawings by Jan Marcin Szancer for The Trilogy, and posters by Waldemar Świerzy featuring images of the characters from the writer’s works. The exhibition is complemented by foreign-language editions of his works, as well as copies of his Nobel medal and diploma.
