Earthworks are currently underway on the west façade of the Casimir Palace, aimed at preparing the building’s 17th-century cellars for renovation and conversion work. In the future, there are plans to create a revitalised space in the building’s basement that will be open to visitors.

Earthworks are being carried out on the western façade of the Casimir Palace. They involve excavating and exposing the walls and ceiling of the outer chamber in order to install new thermal and damp-proofing insulation. The technical works will continue until June and are linked to the relocation of the main electrical switchboard and the central heating system.

The aim is to prepare the Casimir Palace cellars for further work on the revitalisation of the underground areas. Subsequently, renovation and adaptation work is planned, which will enable the cellars to be opened to visitors in the future. The technical works are being supervised by Marcin Nowak, Eng., UW Vice-Chancellor for Technical Affairs. Day-to-day coordination is being handled by the UW Technical Office.

The Palace Cellars

The Casimir Palace is the seat of the UW’s rectorate. The building was erected in the 17th century. It is named after its owner, King John II Casimir. The palace, which was subsequently rebuilt on numerous occasions, suffered extensive damage during the Second World War. Reconstruction took place between 1945 and 1954 under the supervision of Piotr Biegański.

The original cellar walls have been preserved – they are among the oldest existing cellars in Warsaw. The cellar space has two floors. The entrance to them is located beneath the stairs in the palace’s north and south stairwells. In recent years, the cellars have mostly served as storage and utility rooms.

The Centre for Research on the Culture of Warsaw at the University of Warsaw, headed by Prof. Elżbieta Wichrowska, is responsible for the academic supervision of the revitalisation of the Casimir Palace cellars.