Picture a time when orange trees needed a winter home. That’s what the Nowa Pomarańczarnia is. It is more than just a building. It is a testament to royal tastes and architectural ingenuity.
The Nowa Pomarańczarnia stands in the Royal Łazienki Park. It is located in the southern part of the garden. The building dates back to 1860-1861. Adam Adolf Loewe and Józef Orłowski designed it. It became the second structure in Łazienki with this purpose. To distinguish it, the old Stanisławian Orangery became known as the Old Orangery.
This building was built to shelter exotic trees. Orange trees needed protection from the cold. During summer these trees adorned the gardens. The Nowa Pomarańczarnia became their winter sanctuary. Imagine the scent of citrus mingling with other exotic plants. Camphor trees, magnolias and myrtles thrived here. Pomegranates and cypresses added to the rich collection.
The building’s design ensured the plants got enough light. The south-facing facade is almost entirely glass. This design feature allowed sunlight to flood the interior. The central section has unique decorations. Two statues grace the space. These are Vertumnus and Pomona. They are mythological lovers linked to seasons and orchards. Above them are busts. These represent Autumn and Winter. Leon Molatyński created these sculptures.
Look closely at the iron columns. They are slender and elegant. These divide the windows on the south side. The north side is different. It features a ground-level segment. This is adorned with stone busts. These depict Spring and Summer.
Orangeries became popular in the 17th century. Royal and aristocratic residences across Europe had them. You could find them at the Louvre and Versailles. Kensington Palace and Kuskowo Palace also boasted orangeries. Poland followed suit. Wilanów, Radzyń Podlaski, Nieborów and Puławy also had them.
Since 1992, the Nowa Pomarańczarnia houses the Belvedere restaurant. Anna Woźniak-Starak owns it.
The Nowa Pomarańczarnia is more than a historical building. It is a symbol of Warsaw’s royal past. It is a place where architecture and nature meet. Take a moment to appreciate this unique blend.