History Castle Karnity

For a long time, Karnity served as a grange in big landed estates. The place was first mentioned in written documents in 1349 as part of Bożęcin village. Initially, a monastic grange was located here, which after the Thirteen Years War was bestowed to Hanson von Schonaich, commander-in-chief of mercenary armies, for his service in the Teutonic army.

For around 300 years the Schonaich family from Silesia had big estates under its rule. They had their house in Boreczno. After 1815, the grange in Karnity was sold to a representative of a family from Riga baron von Albedyhll. The family was wealthy, since at the beginning of the 20th century it owned five landed estates of 2 300 hectares. Some of the estates were rented. The von Albedyhlls remained owners of the estates until the 1920's , when it was given as dowry to the von Gunther family.

We know that the former manor house in Karnity and the house in Boreczno were burnt down during Polish - Swedish wars around 1635. The present Neogothic palace in Karnity was erected in 1865. The palace and its park are one of the most enchanting examples of Romantic architecture.

The palace is set over Karnickie Lake. It is picturesquely varied with its one, two and three-storey structure, corner tower which is octagonal when seen from the driveway side and quadrilateral from the lake side. Characteristic Gothic cross-shaped vault with spyglass is crowned with the arcade of the main entrance. Terrace balustrades were made of artificial stone with a Neogothic four-leaf and fish bladder ornament. Original carpentry, fireplaces in the rooms and beam ceilings are preserved. The whole castle has a clinker-brick lining.

Farms, servants' houses, stables, buildings housing carts and carriages, and most of all, a big and impressive riding stable, which is now adapted for a hotel, were located North of the Palace. An open suspended wooden and beautifully chiseled roof truss is preserved in the riding stable. Retrenchments and bastions blended into the palace wide landscape park were additional "fortified" features of the palace.

After World War II, the castle served as a holiday centre. In the former orchards, in the Southern part of the park, summer cabins were built. Since 1995 the palace complex and the park have been owned by a private company which turned it into a year-round hotel.