Kornik Castle is one of the most frequently visited historical buildings in Wielkopolska. The gothic building dating back to 15th century comprises two defensive wings, is surround...
Kornik Castle is one of the most frequently visited historical buildings in Wielkopolska. The gothic building dating back to 15th century comprises two defensive wings, is surrounded by a moat, and is accessible from the south via a drawbridge. In 18th century it was converted into a baroque residence with a garden and in 19th century a new owner rebuild the castle in the neo-Gothic style. The garden was reorganised after the romantic fashion and the plant nursery was expanded. Luckily, despite two wars, the interiors and furniture from that period have all survived. The Moorish Hall, the largest in the residence, was reserved for the book, militaria and art collections. The current look of the castle amazes with neogothic design with a hint of oriental art. The western side of the castle features an expanded terrace overlooking Lake Kornik. The southern side is dominated by a chaitya arch, which was probably modelled on the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and the Islamic architecture of India. The castle is surrounded by Kornik Arboretum, a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees, founded in the first half of the 19th century. This is the oldest and largest one in Poland as well as the fourth largest arboretum in Europe covering around 40 hectares and containing more than 3300 taxa of trees and bushes.