The main fountain and the orangery
Returning through the wooden Park Footbridge, we reach the castle grounds from the southern side of the palace, with a view of the driveway with the ramped orangery with a terrace and the four plane trees growing in front of the courtyard, now named after the four daughters of Peter Biron, from the right: Wilhelmina, Paulina, Joanna, and Dorota.
To the left was the Cavalier House - Kavalierhaus - Gartenhaus, which no longer exists today, built in a neoclassical style in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six on the initiative of Peter Biron, located one hundred meters southwest of the palace, as well as the carriage house, utility buildings, and stables, the construction of which began in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five. King Frederick William the Fourth, a great friend of Duchess Dorota, who almost every year, starting from one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, visited Żagań, created his vision of the orangery, with driveways from both sides and a lavish terrace, from which a magnificent, wide view unfolded, with particular emphasis on the Biron Line Axis, which ended in the Upper Park on the high bank of the Rear Bobr. There was supposed to be the mausoleum of Peter Biron located there, but it quickly ceased to exist, probably due to a flood in the year one thousand eight hundred and four, and then the developing railway line towards Głogów. The driveway was decorated with pots, vases, orange trees, colorful parrots, glass balls, and lanterns. It was called the Ramped Orangery or Rampenorangerie. Above the large windows, the coat of arms of Duchess Dorota Talleyrand-Périgord is visible.
At the foot of the orangery, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, the first high-spouting fountain was created (with a water jet over thirty meters high, operating alternately with five different streams), which fit perfectly into the landscape of the Great Meadow. It was called the Main Fountain (Haupt-Fontaine), "Giant" or "Large". The fountain was modeled on the one located at the foot of the Royal Palace of Sanssouci in Potsdam. Preserved to this day, beautifully restored. The area was planted with Duchess Dorota's favorite rose species, gathered in flower beds with one hundred shrubs of various species and colors. Today it also serves as the central point of the palace park area. The area is currently used for numerous meetings on the occasion of the spring festival "May Day", Michael's Fair, occasional cultural events, including musical, outdoor, entertainment, or sports. Alexander von Humboldt, a friend of Duchess Dorota, a scientist, wrote: "The King appreciated the built residential complex of special beauty, saying it is larger than Windsor".
Duchess Dorota's Boulevard leads from the Great Meadow with the Main Fountain west along the Mill Canal, opposite which the city pool is located, towards the city center, to the market square.Duchess Dorota's Boulevard leads from the Great Meadow with the Main Fountain west along the Mill Canal, opposite which the city pool is located, towards the city center, to the market square.
To the left was the Cavalier House - Kavalierhaus - Gartenhaus, which no longer exists today, built in a neoclassical style in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-six on the initiative of Peter Biron, located one hundred meters southwest of the palace, as well as the carriage house, utility buildings, and stables, the construction of which began in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five. King Frederick William the Fourth, a great friend of Duchess Dorota, who almost every year, starting from one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one, visited Żagań, created his vision of the orangery, with driveways from both sides and a lavish terrace, from which a magnificent, wide view unfolded, with particular emphasis on the Biron Line Axis, which ended in the Upper Park on the high bank of the Rear Bobr. There was supposed to be the mausoleum of Peter Biron located there, but it quickly ceased to exist, probably due to a flood in the year one thousand eight hundred and four, and then the developing railway line towards Głogów. The driveway was decorated with pots, vases, orange trees, colorful parrots, glass balls, and lanterns. It was called the Ramped Orangery or Rampenorangerie. Above the large windows, the coat of arms of Duchess Dorota Talleyrand-Périgord is visible.
At the foot of the orangery, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, the first high-spouting fountain was created (with a water jet over thirty meters high, operating alternately with five different streams), which fit perfectly into the landscape of the Great Meadow. It was called the Main Fountain (Haupt-Fontaine), "Giant" or "Large". The fountain was modeled on the one located at the foot of the Royal Palace of Sanssouci in Potsdam. Preserved to this day, beautifully restored. The area was planted with Duchess Dorota's favorite rose species, gathered in flower beds with one hundred shrubs of various species and colors. Today it also serves as the central point of the palace park area. The area is currently used for numerous meetings on the occasion of the spring festival "May Day", Michael's Fair, occasional cultural events, including musical, outdoor, entertainment, or sports. Alexander von Humboldt, a friend of Duchess Dorota, a scientist, wrote: "The King appreciated the built residential complex of special beauty, saying it is larger than Windsor".
Duchess Dorota's Boulevard leads from the Great Meadow with the Main Fountain west along the Mill Canal, opposite which the city pool is located, towards the city center, to the market square.Duchess Dorota's Boulevard leads from the Great Meadow with the Main Fountain west along the Mill Canal, opposite which the city pool is located, towards the city center, to the market square.