Set on an island and surrounded by a landscaped park, Kórnik Castle is one of the
most picturesque castles in Poland. Its present appearance dates from the 19th
century, when it was rebuilt in the English Neo-Gothic style by Karl Friedrich
Schinkel. There have also been some subsequent alterations.

The castle’s original interior survives: the Moorish Hall is decorated in the
style of the Alhambra Palace in southern Spain and in the Dining Room the
ceiling is covered with the coats of arms of all the Polish knights who fought
at the Battle of Grunwald (1410). An inscription in Turkish on the ceiling of
one hall is an expression of thanks to Turkey, which refused to recognize the
partition of Poland. The castle also contains a collection of 18th- and
19th-century porcelain and other pieces.

The castle became the repository of the art treasures that were once kept at
Czartoryski Palace in
Puławy. In order to acquire the library at Puławy, Tytus Działyński
persuaded his son Jan to marry Izabella, heiress to the Czartoryski fortune.

The castle has an extensive library and a museum. The museum’s collections
include a display of 16th to 19th century Polish and foreign paintings, as well
as sculpture, drawings and an intriguing array of militaria, including a
complete suit of armour. The Kórnik Library  contains
manuscripts of Polish poets’ works and a substantial collection of prints and
maps. There is also a park that contains an arboretum with many rare species of
trees, and a walk here is a relaxing way to round off a visit.