Palace on the Water

Lonely Planet review

The centrepiece of Łazienki Park is the neoclassical Palace on the Water, the former residence of the king. It straddles an ornamental lake (gondola rides around zl6 /around zl4 per adult/child) and like most other Łazienki buildings was designed by the court architect Domenico Merlini. During WWII the Nazis attempted to blow it up, but succeeded only in starting a fire that destroyed much of the 1st floor. Renovated and refurbished, the palace is open to guided tours - highlights include the 17th-century marble reliefs depicting scenes from Ovid's Metamorphoses gracing the original bathhouse ( łazienki in Polish, hence the name), and the ornate ballroom.