Leszczynskis' House

Main data:

Year of construction: : 1600 (about)
Year of reconstruction: 1949
Designer: ??? (conversion by Jakub Fontana, reconstruction by Zygmunt Stepinski)
Location: ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 87, ul. Senatorska 3

Leszczynskis House is located at Krakowskie Przedmiescie 87, just next to Zamkowy Square. Its rococo facade its said to be one of the most impressive ones in the whole city.

Leszczynskis House, just like the neighbouring Nowicki House, was built about the year of 1660. It was constructed for the court doctor, Jan Pastorius. Six years later it was bought by primate Michal Prazmowski - this is why it is sometimes called Prazmowskis House. The house gained its today's appearance, designed by Jakub Fontana, in 1754, when it was converted for the Leszczynskis family.

It is worth noticing that from Krakowskie Przemiescie the house has only 5 windows on each floor, but from Senatorska it is wider - here there are 7 windows. That is because actually also a two-floored building, of dark pink colour, situated on its left side (when looking from Krakowskie Przedmiescie) is also a part of the house. This building was constructed a bit later, between 1734 and 1743. In last years of 18th century it was rebuilt, so that it gained the same form as the main part of the house. After the war it was reconstructed in the previous form, but only from Krakowskie Przedmiescie - from Senatorska the whole house has the same form.

During the war the house was destroyed, just like most of the surrounding buildings. In 1939 it was burned. In late 1940s, when W-Z route was constructed directly underneath the house, a fragment of the facade was disassembled. Luckily, the whole house was reconstructed soon. Today, just like the neighbouring Nowicki House, the building is owned by the Association of Polish Writers. In years 2002-03 the elevation from Krakowskie Przedmiescie was renovated, the facade was covered with an advertisement sheet then. Today we can admire it again. However, the elevation from Senatorska street is still quite neglected.

Above the main entrance from Krakowskie Przedmiescie street an interesting item can be seen. It is an original plaque, affirming that the house is free from the obligation of putting up noblemen who came to Warsaw for debates of the Parliament.