Collection of photographs and postcards of the Polish Museum in Rapperswil - part 5
History of the Polish Museum in Rapperswil 1868-1948
By The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
Seat of the Polish National Museum
People who lived in the late 19th century, educated with Romanticist literature referring to feelings and sensations, appreciated the Rapperswil castle not only in connection with its historical value, but also its picturesque assets. "(...) very beautiful, with towers, cloisters, unfinished stairs, dark, ancient (…) Immensely original and beautiful thing is the ivy wrapping around the entire courtyard with its unbelievable thicket” , Eliza Orzeszkowa wrote after her visit in Rapperswil.
Gate leading to the castle in Rapperswil.
Postcard "Rapperswil Castle"The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
A beautiful fragment of ceiling decoration from the late 19th century has been preserved to this day, together with splendid cartouche with a Polish Eagle, placed on the Powder Tower, as well as colourful decorations with plant and heraldic motives ornamenting some castle interiors and the ceiling.
Postcard "Rapperswil Castle"The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
Postcard "Main square in the town of Rapperswil"The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
By leasing the castle from the town and investing large amounts of money coming from his own savings, Władysław Plater saved it from a threat of demolishment.
Postcard "The Rapperswil Town Hall"The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
Postcard "Main square in the town of Rapperswil"The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
In Count Plater’s times, not only did the castle undergo a thorough renovation, but it was also adorned with numerous sculptures and paintings.
Postcard "Castle at the Lake"The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
Had it not been for Count Plater's activity, quite a different fortune would have awaited the castle: the building material from its demolished walls was supposed to be used for constructing the levee connecting Rapperswil with the opposite side of Lake Zurich.
Postcard "Castle at the Lake"The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
Postcard "Castle at the Lake"The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
When, in 1948, the authorities of the town of Rapperswil terminated the contract of lease, the castle was passed on to Schweizerischer Burgenverein.
Postcard "Castle at the Lake"The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
Postcard "View of the Castle and the Glarus Alps"The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
Postcard "Rapperswil Castle"The Polish Museum in Rapperswil
However, for over 20 years, the Burgenverein did nothing in order to make the Rapperswil castle an attractive touristic centre, such as the National Museum which served such function for nearly a century; it only erased the Polish traces in the castle architecture: the entrance to the Kościuszko Museum was walled up, the Bar Column taken away from the castle courtyard, the timber panels removed from the ceilings and walls, and the castle itself was deprived of its balconies, oriels and small towers.
Curator of the exhibition:
Radosław Pawłowski
Text correction:
Anna Buchmann
Anna Tomczak
Digitalization of postcards and photographs:
Radosław Pawłowski
Ewa Wąsik
Digitalization of postcards and old photographs, together with the current online exhibition, were financed from the funds of the Senate of the Republic of Poland within the framework of the programme strengthening the position of Polish and Polonia communities in the countries of their residence.
Developments of texts:
A. Badach, A. Piotrowska, "Muzeum Polskie w Rapperswilu", Warszawa-Rapperswil 2008,
H. Zielińska, "Die Polnische Freiheitssäule in Rapperswil, Rapperswil 1979,
Copyright: Archiwum Muzeum Polskiego w Rapperswilu.
www.polenmuseum.ch
Translation: Translation agency JUNIQUE
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