A Grand Stay at Palac Kamieniec in Southern Poland

Who can say no to the chance to stay in a palace? The idea surely conjures up thoughts of French chateaus or cavernous stone castles in Germany or Scotland. Thoughts of Poland then are probably way down the list. The thing is, Poland is home to some exceptional castles and plenty of dazzling palaces. On my latest visit to Poland, I simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see one up close and personal.

While venturing through southern Poland, the opportunity to stay at Palac Kamieniec proved to be the perfect choice; it let me explore some of the region from the comforts of a masterfully restored country manor house. Situated in the tiny village of Kamieniec tucked between rolling hills, this palace is well and truly planted in the middle of the countryside.

To say that Kamieniec is in a lesser-seen part of Poland feels like a royal understatement. The whole region surrounding it, the Klodzko Valley, barely registers as a blip on even the most intrepid western travellers to Poland. As it turns out, there’s plenty to see in this corner of the country and I honestly can’t think of a better place to explore it from.

The Story Behind Palac Kamieniec

Learning the story behind the palace helps you appreciate just how special the place is now. Although the village of Kamieniec had been settled for centuries, the palace was built in 1780 by Count von Hartig. This important date is reflected in an original stone engraved with the date on one of the palace’s corners. It wasn’t until the 1880s that the palace was greatly expanded by Arthur von Seherr-Thoss to its current proportions.

The current owners bought the then-abandoned palace in 2009, with it taking 4 years to renovate and have the building reflect its former glory. In reconstructing the palace, they had quite a fantastic guide in photos of the palace from the 1920s, shown to them by a descendant of Arthur von Seherr-Thoss.

The look of the residence back in the 1920s was a stark contrast to photos of the property in 2009. With the last residents of the state-controlled building moving out in 2004, the abandoned building was in quite a state of devastation. And yet that’s certainly hard to imagine as you walk about it today.

What’s incredible is that Palac Kamieniec is just one of dozens of palaces and noble manor houses that have survived across the Klodzko Valley. It is however one of the palaces in the best state, with several undergoing restoration currently and the rest regrettably abandoned. The palace isn’t just somewhere to stay then, it’s also a vital historical and cultural landmark.

The Palace Rooms

With a refined style described as inspired by Swedish King Gustav III, the palace basks in what can only be described as simple elegance. Nothing about its interior or exterior is over the top or lavish, instead offering an accessible grandeur that makes you immediately feel special and also at home.

In its current form, Kamieniec Palace has 10 elegantly restored and individually furnished rooms for guests to stay in. Expansion plans though are in full force, with renovations significantly underway to restore the adjacent brick barn to add another 7 rooms to the hotel.

For my stay, I thoroughly enjoyed my spacious room (Room #8) with its pleasant sitting area, comfortable queen bed and small settee at the end of the bed. The room was equipped with all the amenities I could need like TV, en suite bathroom and fast Wi-Fi, not to mention splendid garden views.

Common Areas and Meals

On the first floor, visitors will find a grand dining room known as the Cabinet Room, centred on a long dining table. It is in this room and the adjacent one that breakfast is served daily.

The spread provided for breakfast is sure to delight stomachs, with a varied collection of fruits, meats and cheeses served with fresh bread, pastries and the list goes on. Staff will also make eggs if you like, to go with everything else. The perfect way to start your day.

Off the breakfast area, there is a little library nook where you can enjoy the complimentary all-day tea, coffee and homemade biscuits. Downstairs, guests and visitors can indulge at the hotel’s on-site restaurant for both lunch and dinner.

The menu treads the line between traditional and modern, with seasonally changing menus. The bright red ruskie pierogi were not just colourful but delicious, as was everything I sampled on the menu. Best of all in my mind, the dishes regularly came with ample servings of fresh vegetables which I find to be a rarity at many Central European restaurants.

The palace manages to offer plenty of common areas despite its size, from the cosy lounge downstairs to the previously mentioned library nook. Perhaps its greatest common space though is the immense gardens out back.

Recreated in a historical style, the grand gardens feature lounge chairs as well as the idyllic outdoor seating space in the ruins of an old teahouse. From here, it’s just views of bright green and yellow meadows to truly put you in relaxation mode.

Activities at Palac Kamieniec

Positioned a short drive from the city of Klodzko, the palace makes for an ideal place to base yourself as you explore this underrated pocket of Poland. Whether you want to go for walks through the countryside or rent bikes and cycle instead, there are plenty of places to head to. You can go seek out other similar historic palaces nearby like Piskowice or Szalejów Dolny. Another popular spot close by is the pilgrimage town of Wambierzyce with its striking church.

For those who visit with a car, there are an untold number of different drives you can take to surrounding towns and cities. Both major roads and rural backroads allow you to explore much of this superb countryside and visit places like Klodzko, nearby national parks and local spa towns like Kudowa-Zdrój. Worth mentioning here is that the hotel has ample parking space out front.

Of course, there’s no need to leave the palace to enjoy yourself, when you can sun yourself out in the gardens or enjoy a nice therapeutic session in the palace’s sauna. Essentially, Palac Kamieniec feels like a country retreat in many ways and yet never feels too isolated.

Palac Kamieniec Information

If you’re interested in staying at Kamieniec Palace and enjoying this rural slice of Poland, I thoroughly recommend it. You can book directly on their website and learn more about the palace and its amenities there. Look for my upcoming posts on the Klodzko Valley to get a better idea of the region’s many historical and cultural attractions.

Have you ever wanted, or had the chance, to spend the night in a palace? Have you heard of this part of Poland before? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

*Disclosure: My stay at Palac Kamieniec was as a complimentary guest of the hotel. As always, my opinions are completely and genuinely my own.