The main premises of the National Museum in Kielce is a palace that used to be a residence of Cracow bishops. The palace complex comes from the turn of the 17th century and is situated on the so called Castle Hill, in the centre of Kielce. The palace founded by Bishop Jakub Zadzik (1582-1642), is a unique work of architecture and style of the Vasa dynasty’s time.
Jakub Zadzik was a Deputy Grand Crown Chancellor and king’s advisor in the years 1627-1635, and from 1635 - Bishop of Cracow. The main building was erected in the years 1637-1644. The design of the Kielce palace is attributed to Thomas Poncino of Lugano, who also worked in Cracow, Lowicz, Warsaw and Jasna Gora. The palace complex consists of the palace main building (17th c.), wings on both sides of the yard (18th c.) and so-called Italian garden surrounded with walls. In the past times there also was a supportive sector with stables, coach houses,a riding school, a granary (a large building for storing wheat or other similar crops) and a brewery. In the 18th c. the palace was enlarged – on both sides one-storey wings were built. One of them was a corridor that led to the school and seminary close to the Saint Trinity church. After the nationalization of bishops’ property (1789) the palace was a place where many institutions were held: Main Management of Mines (1816-1827), the first in the country technical college – Mine Academy, and after that the authorities of Kielce province (1867-1914). During the period between wars the tower helmets were restored as well as historical interiors...
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Further detailed information you can discover here:
http://www.mnki.pl/en/s,27,Former_Cracow_Bishops_Palace.html
