Being part Polish and having recently visited there, I totally understand your attraction to this place. The setting is beautiful and the building should be restored. It would be fabulous.Good luck!

Strongly suggest that if you are married, you watch War of the Roses before undertaking this project. Unless your spouse is on board 150%, this is a recipe for divorce (and possible financial ruin as well). You get points in my book for dreaming big, though.

IMO Unless your personal history contains several MAJOR remodels, DO NOT START learning on this project.

If you are dead set on moving ahead, I'd encourage you to go into partnership with someone who knows what they are doing & who has successfully pulled off a remodel of this magnitude in the past.

I have friends who are restoration experts with an extensive portfolio and might love to take a job in Poland. Would you like me to put you in touch with them?

Felix is right about having some experience under your belt. In my 20's, I passed on a 30-room former convent turned prep school with three kitchens, an entry the size of a ballroom, and a ballroom the size of my house. Why the nuns would have needed a ballroom I can't imagine. My favorite spot was across from the foyer, a leaded glass turret that was the perfect size for a huge Christmas tree.The deed included the right for the church to continue to hold St. Rocco's Festival on the grounds each year. We thought, how charming, a little bake sale. Curious a few years later, we attended to find a carousel, tilt-a-whirl, three story slide and a ferris wheel among the attractions crowding our would-have-been back yard. The grass was wrecked, but we would have been the most popular sleep-over house in town! It was the early '90's, and the bank was unloading it for $300K and including a new roof. It was the fish that got away, but honestly, we weren't ready then.

Your prospective project is an absolute dream. As you already know, you will need a ton of money/investors/grants up front, a strong team and a clear plan. Unlimited personal wealth and no day job would be a distinct bonus. Let us know how you fare!

@Barnhart, I can not get the image of wild waltzing nuns shouting 'whayhay!!' and having a blast of a time out of my head now.

..and I was simply imagining an ever-expanding storage for all the balls they'd collected.:)

Hi Guys here is a link to more details picture. Have fun watching;) place is great but reality of Polish law and gaverment looks just like it. Somebody bought this palace in 1998 for around 100.000$ and it was in good shape with great windows,roof,walls and stairs.since that time he was suposed due to polish law make some work to take care the place and keep this building in good shape.guy disapear and nobody ever saw him there. I gues 3 years ago he sold this place to people who started to do something especially with the papers work and all the rights to be able to start all the restauration. Everything is ready. Funny part is that the owner had to pay a panalty;)))) for that he newer even clean this place once. It was total of 70$ hahahah.funny hmm...?

igner, where's the link?

Beautiful scenery and palace.

I can imagine some vampires in there!

She is so beautiful. The wonderful thing about it being a wreck is that it may be a straight gut job. If you decide to take this on it would be great if you could find a "reclamation specialist" who could salvage inside elements for refurbishment and re-use. I see it as a boutique hotel with a world class cooking school attached to it so folks can come and learn about the local foods, how they are grown and then literally work the farm and then learn how to prepare meals using locally obtained and sustained foods. There is such a wonderful movement going on in the world now that allows folks to think big and outside of the borders we live in and this place could really be an asset to it. Also think of cataloging it's history so folks know it's history. Also be sure to use green energy. solar panels, wind turbines, blown in insulation with a high R factor. Thermal windows. Maybe even passive energy. Not cheap but worth it. Please let us all know what you end up doing.

Sorry ;) here it is...
http://eksploratorzy.com.pl/viewtopic.php?f=73&t=3775

It is so sad to see that such a beautiful place is so neglected. All those gorgeous details... ruined. If you have the courage to take this project on... good luck!

Here's an inspirational link for you:
http://www.scottishcastlesassociation.com/rec-id-90-cat_id-1-highlight-2.htm

You are a hero. Powodzenia.

If there is a will there is a way. It is very beautiful and would be a treasure for the area. Is there a decent road in and out? If I was touring the area I would pay just to come and see it.

Laughing at Carolins comment haha! so funny!

Igner11 : From afar you can see the place has stunning surroundings that make it perfect for a Country Resort/Hotel, or any of the suggestions above. I admire your spirit for wanting to restore such a beautiful site and keeping heritage alive. I think it would be wise to have a full survey done on the house, just to see if there are not serious issues before actually taking the step to buy it. Once you have bought it, Like everyone said you need the right people to advise you regarding the property and a strong perseverance to carry the project through. I think it can be done, mind you the state it is in is rather creepy now :o Restore it step by step, or go into partnership with a group of people who want to enter into the same business. Wish you the best ! Let us know what you decide. This is a very interesting subject.

BEFORE you purchase a place like this, a SIGNIFICANT part of your decision making process SHOULD INCLUDE an architect, a designer, and basically a team of experts. Seriously.... Even for my $150k guest house, I hired an architect first.

This is an incredible piece of architecture. As mentioned above it will take a lot of money to turn it into a hotel. There are so many things to consider: scope of work, location, state of the existing structure, building codes, zoning, etc. You should contact an architect in Poland to determine the cost of design and construction. I wish I could help you with the design! This would be a fun and incredible project.

It looks spooky!

This place must have been so beautiful in it's prime. What a shame that it is in shambles. It appears that most of the main structure is rotting or crumbling. If the repair costs far exceed it's fair market value and potential income - I think it be wise to pass on it. This is a huge undertaking and requires a multitude of professionals from restorers, architects, wrecking crews to construction workers - that's just to get it liveable. Then add in the costs to finish it and furnish it...seriously it could run you a million if not more. Can you buy it for the land, demo it and build a replica of it?

Anyone else craving some pierogie, Gołąbki and polish sausage? dziękuję

Yes Sharyn.it was beauty in its prime. I just talk to the lady that was born in it around 1960 it wasn't a ruin yet but there was school and the building was perfect. She can't look at it right now when she come back to that little village. I know it has to take a serious job and serious people profesionals. I know in poland there are many of them. I dont want to just restore as it was but i want to make it even more wow.something that is hard to see anywhere alse in poland. Most likely i will put on ecological technologies so after is much cheaper to run it and more plesant.i want to connect this palace with some modern so the beauty views can be seen. I dont know how big changes and where can be made but i know interiour is most likely left to free imagination and i love it. I will try to keep every detailed but connect with simple modern. If this would cost me a milion Sharyn i would probably started in hour or so;))) i am aware that it may be around twice that....or more...

Poland is famous for its restorers/architects. They should be able to do a great job.

Igner: I admire you - go for it!! Being of polish decent myself, when you are finished I would gladly stay here. Is it near Poznan?

That looks like a million dollar project to me. Spooky looking but could be amazing when completed!

TileWorks...I see your million and raise you three. Cheap at that!

Congratulations and good luck! I hope you are able to bring it back and post pictures along the way!

This is not a project you can work on with free design advice from a hundred different people on the Internet, some qualified and some not. You should hire an Architect and an interior Designer to work together and give you a master plan and some estimated pricing. But first you have to make sure you know exactly what you want to do with it.

Agree Ironwood, Get HGTV to make a tv show out of it, they may pitch in some $$!

It would be nice to know more about it, wonder what it was before it was a school...come to think of it , I was thinking this place looks somewhat like I have seen it before, yep, the shapes of the ceiling near the stairs and the stairs remind me of Harry Potter movie!

Momo there was a school but anly for about 20 years. In late 90' they sold the place private and thats when was end of this place.some locals destroyed interiors,steal all was left and thats what is left. This building started in 1327 and in 1750's was rebuild to that look. Many femous people stayed there even few Kings;) i want to be another;))) what is nice about it that is not too big. Most places available for sale are huge,crazy big.this is lokated in ńice quiet area reminding of toscany a little.there is a building right beside the old one.it was build during the school times,during comunizm so nobody cares about it looks. It has 200m square and i Can do whatever i want with this one.it would be nice to make a nice spa with the glass view on area with the underground path to the building.is only 6 meters away.
Ok only thinking;)))

wow thank you, certainly very interesting history! The delicate architectural designs of the building display a historical story and I visualize its builders working on it. If you restore this and succeed, then you should be king of it as it will take a lot of patience. I think you have the determination to see it through, just get the right people to help you. Best of luck! You would have to think of a great name for it too, something relating to its past.

Ok guys this is castle and i am expecting less work;) watch this and enjoyed.it give me more strength and imposible is nothing;)Dream Big;)
Check this out.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xm1lke_grand-designs-s09e08-the-14th-century-castle-yorkshire-revisited_tech#.UYWGt4waySN

Oh yes, I've seen that episode. Amazing.

I watched the video about the Yorkshire castle. Now there's courage and gritty determination! Always had a fascination for old places -- archaeology is my passion !(Decorating is next.) My first exposure was the replica of the Parthenon in Nashville. Inside was an art gallery, but at 7, I saw ceremonial processions of Greeks through the oversized doors! And I didn't even know what Greeks were! I weep for the losses and celebrate the restorations. igner, do it. If you have hte passion and the determination, it will happen! What a beautiful castle! It felt familiar. I have a european soul!

I'm so hoping that you can make your vision into reality, igner11! Perhaps you can temporarily continue the building's history as a school...by having experienced and talented people work on the building while teaching their trades to the next generation.

That is a wonderful idea orangecamera! I do hope something can be done to save this beautiful structure! What a shame that it was neglected.

Igner11-my husband is a retired historic building conservation officer here in Scotland. He looked at the pics (biggest concerns are the damp at the central staircase, and roof, for starters) and said if you think you can get the EU conservation funding that you should strongly consider 'going for it'. The cost, of course, as you know, will depend on structural concerns but since it's only been stripped by vandals and the damage is fairly new, the building may be in much better condition than it appears.

Your first step, if you are serious about this, is to contact a historic conservation professional-please note, do not contact the local authority officer but find a private consultant well versed in Polish conservation law and with certifications in historic building conservation. Schedule a visit to the property with the estate agent and take the conservation consultant with you to view the property.

This gorgeous property should cost at or under €2m to restore and refurbish depending on building structural integrity-€3-4m if majour plumbing, electricals, and structural repairs are needed. He was also concerned about the roof-is it slate, is that bare wood showing up there near the chimneys, and the bigger ticket price should include a new roof and repair of chimneys.

Depending on the terms of your EU conservation grant and your proposals re post-conservation and refurbishment use, you may be able to make this work for everyone all 'round. This property would be an amazing venue for all kinds of events and would provide local employment opportunities (the grant council loves hearing that magic phrase ' local employment opportunities', they also love any proposal emphasising the historic focus).

You could offer a range of all inclusive bookings for individuals and groups: weddings, 'mystery', historic re-enactment and 'fantasy royal' bookings anywhere from 3-14 days, historic tours base, private rentals for retreats and conference...

If you take this on, be sure your grant scheme is written to include installing high-end styled ensuites to each bedroom. While clearly important to obtain a steady flow of bookings (nothing sells bookings better than luxurious ensuites, nothing! Word gets around about the conveniences, lol-and the lack can break your dream), there are some conservation grants that forbid ensuites unless already in-situ and needing restoration.

If there is grant money available so that you don't have to get out what you put in to make a success of the project and you've dreamed of this since you were little then I encourage you to go for it. I have never gone wrong when I followed my passions. I usually win beyond my wildest expectations.

Don't let fear keep you from your dreams. Fear can be overcome easily by changing your perspective. It is looking at what you don't want (failure) and feeling the emotional hit of that thought. Change your thought to what you do want and if this project is what I believe it is to you, you'll feel excitement and passion instead of fear - just by changing your focus.

I would pull a team together, I would have an inspection to ensure it is not about to fall down in the next windstorm.

Enjoy your journey.

Just had a thought when reading sunnie2day's post - My business has retreats and plans for annual cruises where our programs that increase human thriving are given. After you finish this it would be really cool to have one in your palace - a living example of someone successfully pursuing their passion. Other than personal experience, meeting someone is one of the best ways to inspire and help others believe their dreams are achievable. My Clientele is international and I would love to visit Poland.

Is it possible you can get a few investors to go in with you to help with the costs? Silent partners when you open it as a hotel? Just an idea.

I know this is an old thread. What a beautiful place! What happened after 2013? How is the palace now?

Restoration is underway, looks like it didn't start until 2015. Here is a website about it: Palac Piszkowice

Thanks for the info! :-) I am wondering if OP was the one who bought the palace In 2015.

I started watching their progress on Instagram, gorgeous!

Would make an excellent movie set!

It looks so beautiful now. I wonder if anyone is living in it? I am going to follow the progress. Summersrhythm this is the link. http://piszkowice.com/

Thanks Mottles Murals! What a beautiful place!!

The amount of damage in the interior was incredible-- it looked like most of the plaster was gone from the walls, but here and there were hints of the ornate work that had been. I haven't spent much time looking at the website. I wonder if they had some photos of the place when it was intact, to go by in the restoration.