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38-459 Kopytowa 1
A Polish manor has been one of the most characteristic objects in the countryside landscape. Wooden manors were the dominating element of the region although as of the beginning of the 19th century they started to change their look due to numerous renovations. Not too many of them survived until today. Architecture of the Polish manor was shaped by passing by ages and in a very clear way became characteristic for a Polish village. Manors became integral part of the landscape of a village. Their architecture is deeply rooted in the Polish culture, is simple created often by local carpenters and bricklayers. The Polish manor is not only a village building but also it is a centre of economic and social life, centre where preparations for fight for freedom, Polish language and culture were forged. Manor is the symbol protecting national traditions resistant to foreign influences. Inscription on the Pęcice Manor portico says: „Jam dwór Polski co walczy mężnie i strzeże wiernie" (Eng. „I’m the Polish Manor who fights bravely and protects faithfully”). A perfect complementation of the Polish manor is surrounding it park and ponds. Usually there was an lime-tree alley leading to such manor before which stood a stony gate – always open. It anticipated an atmosphere of hospitality. Another symbol of hospitality was also an open door to the manor’s porch. A small manor usually was a 5-9 axis building. It frequently had transitional rooms en suite. Front of the building usually faced South with a salon across from the main entrance. There was also a side entrance. On the ceiling beam in the salon inscribed was a date of construction and the old Polish saying „Panie Boże pobłogosław nam" (Eng. “Bless us our Lord”). Manor consisted also of other rooms as a dining room, kitchen, and bedrooms in the corners. Ceilings were usually wooden from sawn timber in the Polish style such as the ones which survived until today in Kopytowa. The Kopytowa Manor was built on the grounds of the old farm of the Cistercian friars around 1700-1750. After cassation of their cloister property by Austrians, the manor was purchased around 1830 by a landowner Mikołaj Kotarski, owner of many properties in the neighborhood of Jaslo. The same year the wooden part of the manor standing over the 18th century cellars was thoroughly rebuilt. The next owners of the manor are Bronisław Jordan Rozwadowski and his wife Eligia Kunaszowski. The Rozwadowskis around 1860 enlarge the manor by a new salon, bedroom and study. In the following years the roof is rebuilt by what the character of the manor is totally changed. Veranda is dismantled, columns – which once ideally organized the whole architecture of the manor – removed. In 1918 the manor is purchased by Maria Trznadel-Brzeska. The Brzeski family tries to improve the silhouette of the manor by remodeling one the verandas, cares about the park and ponds. In 1960 the manor is sold to a local farmer. Since that moment on the manor is being gradually seriously devastated. The salon changes its destiny and becomes a stable for cows and turning one of the bedrooms into a farm storage. He dismantles the remnants of the old roof to replace it with eternit (an asbestos and cement material). In 1996 the manor is bought by the Kołder family. In 1997 a development and complex plan of the renovation of the manor and park is made. Nowadays, the manor functions as an agro-tourism type of farm (the manor area of Kopytowa). The Museum of the Gentry – Manor House in Kopytowa is opened on July 15, 2007. Equipment of the manor The Kopytowa manor functions as a museum of
the manor interiors. Time span of its equipment ranges from the
end of the 18th century until the ’60 of the 19th century. Exposition
consists of mementos of national uprisings, furniture, domestic
and foreign paintings, carpets and knick-knacks. Division of the
interior was arranged based on typical rules of the past époque.
The following rooms/halls are available for visiting: lobby decorated
with hunting trophies and arms, kitchen with original equipment
(historic utensils and kitchen equipment), credenza room, dining
room, bedroom, solon with a collection of portraits of gentry
men and study of the owners with original counting-room of the
manor and library. Visitors can learn about the history of the
manor and the objects housed in there as well as about traditions
and customs of the gentry.
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