The history of the village of Barzyna, also known by its Prussian name Wiese, dates back to the 14th century. In 1374, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, Konrad III Zoellner von Rotenstein, granted the land near today's Elbląg Canal to three Prussian brothers. From the 16th to the 19th century, Barzyna was closely tied to the history of the von Bodeck family, who completed the construction of the palace in 1693, architecturally combining Baroque and Neo-Gothic styles.
The Palace Combines Baroque and Neo-Gothic Styles
The central part of the Barzyna Palace features a small entrance projection. The left wing of the main part was covered with a mansard roof, while the right side was built in a Neo-Gothic style with corner towers and a flat roof. Until recently, the palace housed a Baroque portal with scrollwork, adorned with the original von Bodeck family coat of arms.
The Palace in Barzyna Was Expanded Multiple Times Until 1829
In 1829, the last member of the von Bodeck family passed away without leaving a male heir. The palace was taken over by Prussian Major Kazimierz von Huelsen from nearby Jarnołtowo, where the philosopher Immanuel Kant had worked as a teacher between 1750 and 1754. After the major, the estate was inherited by Baron Bernhard von Sanden, who was married to Urlika von Bodeck, the daughter of Albrecht Christoph, the last of the Bodecks.
One of the most intriguing names among the subsequent owners of the palace was the Frankenstein brothers, who acquired the estate in 1868 and managed it until 1910. It's worth noting that around the same time, in 1818, Mary Shelley's novel "Frankenstein," considered a precursor to the science fiction genre, was published. Interestingly, the Frankenstein brothers resided in the Barzyna Palace until 1910, the year the first film adaptation of the famous horror story was made. Who knows what secrets are hidden within the centuries-old history of this mysterious palace...
The Barzyna Estate Had a Rich Agricultural Background
According to data from 1889, the palace and its surrounding lands covered over 570 hectares. In addition to gardens and numerous old oak and beech trees, some of which still survive, the estate included three farms during that period. They raised Merino sheep, and there was a large pheasantry nearby. By the outbreak of World War II, the estate had expanded to over 900 hectares, with 100 hectares being forested. Today, nature has largely taken over the modest remnants of the palace, which, even in ruins, still bear clear traces of its former grandeur.
The Last Prussian Owner of the Palace Committed Suicide
Little is known about the palace's history during the period of 1939-1945. In January 1945, the Soviet offensive in East Prussia took place. Von der Groeben, the last Prussian owner of the palace, committed suicide. He shot himself when the first Soviet troops reached Elbląg. It is known that he was a lieutenant in the Volkssturm, which was utilized in combat during the final stages of World War II.
Today, the Barzyna Palace is a shadow of its former glory. For a time after the war, it housed a kindergarten, and later, apartments for former State Agricultural Farm (PGR) workers. Currently, the palace is privately owned, and it appears that it will continue to deteriorate, despite needing renovation and conservation for years. Visiting the ruins is both sad and risky, as a significant portion of the roof has collapsed, and the walls are in danger of falling. Many of the palace's historic elements have been saved and relocated to the well-preserved Donhoff family palace in nearby Kwitajny. Since 1968, the Barzyna Palace has been listed in the register of historical monuments.
