Myslewicki Palace

The Myslewicki Palace stands inside Warsaw's Lazienki Park and was built between 1775 and 1779 by court architect Domenico Merlini in early classical style for King Stanislaw August Poniatowski. It was originally intended as a residence for the king's nephew, Prince Jozef Poniatowski. The plan opens in a fan-like semicircle, with a central domed hall flanked by curved gallery wings. Under the People's Republic the palace served as a guest house for the Polish government; Charles de Gaulle and Richard Nixon stayed here during state visits. Today it forms part of the Lazienki Museum and is open to visitors. The dining room's wall paintings with views of Rome and Venice are particularly fine.