In the years 1677-1696, close to the city of Warsaw, a sumptuous Baroque residence was raised for King Jan III Sobieski and his wife MarysieÕka according to a design by Augustyn Locci. Many outstanding artists and architects participated in the creation of the palace, including Michangelo Palloni and Andrzej Schlòter. After King Sobieski's death in 1696 the WilanÙw residence fell into a decline. It was saved by Elübieta Sieniawska n¾e Lubomirska who bought it in 1720 and continued its extention and remodelling throughout the first half of the 18th century. In 1799 the palace got into the hands of StanisÓaw kostka Potocki, a devoted collector of antique objects and mementos connected with John III Sobieski. The Branicki family owned the palace from the end of the 19th century until 1945. Carefully renowated after the Second World War, it has become a museum.

While touring the palace interiors, our special attention is drawn by Sobieski's appartments and the Polish Portraits Gallery. The palace is surrounded by a vast park. A magnificent collection of posters can be admired in the Poster Museum, housed by one of the palatial outbuildings.