Orońsko – Centre of Polish Sculpture

We often passed by Orońsko while driving the “old seven” road on the Kielce-Warsaw route. Our attention was always drawn to the monument featuring burnt matches – a good observer would notice them near the road, just behind the fence of the Centre of Polish Sculpture. We haven’t had the chance to visit this place yet.

And finally, getting to know Radom, our neighboring city, we decided to make a stop en route at this extraordinary place – at the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko!

Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko – location and access

The Centre of Polish Sculpture, as I mentioned before, is located in Orońsko, almost halfway between Szydłowiec (20 km) and Radom (16 km). From Kielce, it’s less than 70 km away, and from Warsaw, 115 km.

The village of Orońsko is small, and it’s impossible to drive through it without coming across the Centre of Polish Sculpture, as it is situated in a large park.

The parking lot of the facility is located near the former national road no. 7, but you should know that from here to the main building of the facility, you have to walk almost the entire park. You can also try to park “on the other side” – along Topolowa Street, near the main entrance to the park.

Opening hours and tickets

As for the park itself, where you will find plenty of interesting objects, the admission is free. It is open every day from 7:00 am until dusk.

You can view the exhibitions in the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture, the Palace, the Orangery, the Chapel, and the Coach House every day of the week, except for Mondays. There is one admission ticket for all the facilities. They are open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (on weekdays) or to 6:00 pm (on weekends) during the summer season, and until 4:00 pm in the winter season.

The Centre of Polish Sculpture is closed on Holidays – a list of the current days in a given year when the center is closed can be found on the website rzezba-oronsko.pl.

The price of a regular ticket is 15 PLN, a reduced ticket – 7 PLN, and a family ticket – 25 PLN. A discount for Large Family Cardholders applies. You can also hire a guide to show you around the park. The Centre also has a separate price list for those conducting photo sessions on its premises.

If you like this place, you can stay longer. The Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko offers accommodation, meals, and for an additional fee, you can even organize a bonfire here.

History of the place

The palace complex was created on the initiative of engineer Franciszek Ksawery Christiani around 1840. He bought the Orońsko estate, which lay on the route of the then emerging royal road. After his death in 1842, the construction was continued by his wife Amelia from the Hiblów Christiani family and daughter Amelia Pruszak. The palace, whose construction began in the mid-19th century, was probably designed by Franciszek Maria Lanci. The estate was bought from the Christiani family by Helena Primo Voto Pruszak née Wojciechowska, the future wife of the painter Józef Brandt. He created in Orońsko a place for meetings with his artistic friends, among them were Juliusz Kossak, Maksymilian and Aleksander Gierymscy, or Władysław Szerner.

The estate suffered significantly during World War I. It was bought and rebuilt in 1934 by Józef’s grandson, Andrzej Daszewski, who was in turn expelled from here by the Nazis during World War II. Since 1945, the estate has housed, among others, a school, a health center, and a State Fishery. In the 1960s, the Centre for Sculptors’ Creative Work was established here, which initiated the organization of exhibitions and sculptural plein airs. Around 1970, the transformation of the estate began to meet the needs of the Centre of Polish Sculpture. Almost all historic buildings have been renovated and designated for exhibition and artistic activities. The building of the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture itself was constructed in 1992.

Today, the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Orońsko hosts many artists both Polish and foreign every year. It offers them not only exhibition space and residential facilities but also specialized workshops and qualified staff, including in the field of stone, wood, or metal processing.

Park in Orońsko

Over 12 hectares of the Sculpture Park surrounding the palace complex provides interesting exhibition opportunities. It is not only a recreational space but also a place where everyone can interact with art. At every turn, you will find various sculptures. There are currently about a hundred of them, among them both valuable 18th and 19th-century monuments, as well as the most modern works of contemporary creators.

On its premises are buildings of the palace complex: a single-story palace, orangery, chapel, annex, coach house, or granary – all rebuilt and adapted to new functionalities. The forge from 1900 still serves its original function. The alleys will also lead us to one of the picturesque ponds with a metal bridge across its middle. We can walk here among old trees, along the small Oronka River. The park setting smoothly transitions into a natural forest, which adds even more charm to it.

Exhibitions

Art exhibitions are located virtually throughout the estate. Starting from the aforementioned park, where each alley presents us with new works, through the buildings around the palace, where exhibitions are organized, to the interior of the Museum of Contemporary Sculpture itself. Even several exhibitions a year are organized in all exhibition halls. The Centre also continuously creates its own contemporary art collection. Here we can admire, among others, the works of Magdalena Abakanowicz or Władysław Hasior.

The CRP organizes the cyclical program “Young Triennial”, which gives young artists the chance to present their artistic vision.

In the palace building, we can admire the exhibitions of old interiors and the exhibition presented there concerning the life and activity of Józef Brandt himself. There is also a part of the historic collections from the Centre’s own artistic collection. Unfortunately, very little of the original palace interiors has been preserved – only two wall fireplaces, one marble and the other cast iron.

The Centre of Polish Sculpture, in addition to exhibition activities, also conducts extensive educational activities. Museum lessons and various workshops, both art and history, are organized here. Specialists also engage in therapeutic activities. Importantly, the Centre maintains a scientific catalog concerning the activities of Polish artists both in the country and abroad.

Is it worth visiting Orońsko and the Centre of Polish Sculpture?

Our visit took place just before dusk on a winter, grey day… and even despite this, the place looked exceptional. I can’t wait to visit it in the spring or summer when you can definitely spend more time walking in the park. We recommend this place not only to art lovers but also to those looking for an exceptional environment to relax for a moment.

If you are looking for interesting places in the area, be sure to also visit the nearby Radom Village Museum.