Grand Gardens For The Deciusz Palace
Plans were unveiled in the newspapers today for a 7 million zloty restoration of the Villa Deciusz Park. The nine hectare expanse, whose jewel in the crown is the magnificent Renaissance villa itself, will boast a sweeping gateway with a triumphal arch, a stream with cascades and an expanse of romantic gardens in the English style. In short, it will be returned to its nineteenth century glory.
The renovated Renaissance palace itself is already an established fixture in Cracow's cultural calendar, hosting international conferences, concerts and a host of other events. The Villa Deciusz restaurant also has the reputation of one of the finest in the region.
The plans certainly sound promising enough, but the Villa remains somewhat short of funds to complete this ambitious project. Amongst other investors, the Villa hopes to secure European Union funds to help foot the bill for the project.
The Villa Deciusz was initially built by Just Ludwig Dietz, a Hungarian entrepreneur who found favour at the court of Polish King Sigismund the Old (r.1507-48). Dietz eventually became one of the King's most trusted advisors.
Later, the residence passed through a string of Poland's grandest families, including the Radziwills, the Czartoryskis and the Sanguszkos. During the Second World War the villa housed the Nazi police headquarters, whilst during the communist era a hospital was opened there. By the 1980's the building had fallen into ruin, but it was revived with the advent of democracy in 1990. The surrounding suburb of Wola Justowska is today the most affluent district of Cracow.