Archaeologists in Warsaw have pulled up pieces of a 17th‑century royal palace that once floated on the Vistula River, shedding new light on a dark chapter of Polish history.
The Museum of Polish History announced the find on September 10. The ruins belong to Villa Regia, a grand residence built for Polish kings in the 1600s.
Villa Regia was one of the most magnificent palaces in Europe, but it was looted and destroyed during the Swedish Deluge, a war that raged from 1655 to 1660. Swedish troops seized the palace’s valuable marble, tiles and staircases in 1656, hoping to sail away with the loot. Their ship, however, sank in the Vistula before they could leave Warsaw.
During recent underwater digs, workers recovered a heavy arcade arch weighing more than 440 pounds and a previously unknown pillar capital. “These pieces give us fresh data to rebuild the palace’s layout,” said Krzysztof Niewiadomski, deputy director of programs at the museum.
All fragments have been safely stored at the Museum of Polish History for conservation and further study. Niewiadomski plans to use the artifacts to recreate the palace’s staircase, telling a story of Polish‑Lithuanian power and the crisis struck by the Swedish invasion.
This discovery follows a string of exciting finds across Poland in 2025, including a knight’s burial in Gdańsk and war relics uncovered by hobbyists searching for World War II rockets. The latest work highlights Warsaw’s rich archaeological landscape and the ongoing effort to preserve Poland’s cultural heritage.
Source: New York Post
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