History of Konstancin
written by Józef Hertel

Although the Palace itself, due to understandable reason is not free for seeing to numerous tourists, but we can watch it from the distance - across the main gate. Baroque building from the secodn half of 17th century it bear characteristic feautres of that time. Original stylish interior, fireplaces differing between the rooms bearing coat of arms of different peer families of Poland, antique furniture - to name only a few of the building's extraordinary features. It was designed by the famous architect, Tylman of Gameren and it is a class I monument of national value.
The Palace was not as important in the history of Poland as it's neigbour, the Palace of Wilanów, was. Still, it bears its own interesting history. First things first, we start with the name. Obory (Barns) is not very pretty indeed. It is believed the name was derived from the family of Oborskis, who had a mansion in the area around 16th century. Or, as some suggest, it may be derived from the word ob-ory (plowed), meaning the plowed fields around.
After two centuries of Oborski's ownership, the whoel mansion was bought by the Crown Chancelor of King Jan III Sobieski - Jan Wielopolski, son of Jan Wielopolskiego - The Cracow Voivode. Having married MArysieńka Ludwika, de la Grande d'Arquieu, the sister of King's wife, he had the wooden palace rebuilt in brick. He wanted to have his seat near the royal court. The family of Wielopolski-Potocki orders in 1760 the building of paper mill on Jeziorka river.
In the end of 18th century the goods are bought by the counts Grzymała-Potulickis. They contributed the local community greatly, just to mention some of the investments:
- Wał Miedzeszyński - built by count Mieczysław Potulicki at the cost of 200.000 silver rubles, securing the areas on the banks of Vistula river, including Warsaw
- paved road Warszawa - Wilanów - Obory, to replace the former dirt road, enabling the trade and delivery of goods
-a small but beautiful park around the Palace and several architecturally interesting building on the surrounding grounds
- and many, many more...
This is also where Konstancin was "conceived" on the basis of the last will of countess Maria Grzymała-Potulicka.
It's important to add in this here place that the last member of the family, Jan, died as the leader of "Rafał" unit of AK, fighting in Warsaw Uprising. He is commemorated in the book "Untamed City" and his body was buried in the family's grave on Słomczyn graveyard.
Other members of the Potulicki family, despite the restrictions of fascisc occupant fed the local people and helped the escape the terror of war, by the means of providing medical care and social help.
More details about the Obory Palace can be found in Andrzej Zinc's book - "The Palace of Obory" and in a monography "The Potulickis" published in London in post-war years.
Bliższe szczegóły na temat Pałacu Oborskiego - założeń architektoniczych, walorów artystycznych, historii, itp. - zawiera praca Andrzeja Zinca - "Dwór w Oborach", Biuletyn Historii Sztuki R. 24, 1962 r. nr 2 oraz wydana w Londynie w latach powojennych monografia rodu Potulickich pt."Potuliccy".
And to end up - an Obory trivia, it would seem. Jan Wedel, the last member of the famous family of confectioners, took the mystery of their prime products with him. But the trace goes back to Obory - it was here that the Potulickis held cattle, specially bred and fed to ensure the best quality of milk it produced - for the Wedel's factories.

The last surviving member of the Potulicki's family of Obory, Teresa, married Marek Łatyński, at the time the director of Polish Department of Free Europe radio. Presently she lives in Switzerland

The House for Writers Creative Work in Obory has helped create many fine works by numerous fine writers and journalists, all of them would be to many to mention in this place here.