In 1751 the area called Bochotnica, which belonged to Aleksander Gałęzowski, was purchased by the Wąwolnica Starost Stanisław Małachowski, who in 1772 renamed the entire estate as Nałęczów – after his family’s Nałęcz Coat of Arms. He erected an imposing residence, called the Małachowski Palace, for his wife Marianna Potocka. At the beginning of the 20^th century, the curative qualities of local water springs were discovered and then exploited on a larger scale by three ex-Siberia exile doctors: Fortunat Nowicki, Wacław Lasocki and Konrad Chmielewski, who in the late 19^th century modernized the spa that previously operated through the funds of Michał Górski, the then owner of Nałęczów. Thanks to his efforts, the town-garden of the present shape was created and Nałęczów itself became a highly valued health and cultural centre. The spa visitors included Stefan Żeromski, Bolesław Prus and Henryk Sienkiewicz, among others.

The heart of Nałęczów consists of the Bochotniczanka River Valley and the Spa Park located within its borders, which features a sanatorium, pump room, Palm House, Old Bathhouses and the Małachowski Palace. The latter features a museum dedicated to the life and oeuvre of the most outstanding Polish positivist, Bolesław Prus. The vicinity of the park boasts several Art Nouveau villas and buildings in the Swiss and Zakopane style, such as the Chapel of St. Charles Borromeo and one of the oldest literary museums in Poland – the Stefan Żeromski Museum, which is located in the writer’s former studio (open Tue–Sun 10am-4pm, phone: +48 81 501 47 80).

If you’d like to learn about the stories associated with the spa, discover the mysteries of the Ravine Forest, feel the atmosphere of the former yews and take a tour around the town of Bolesław Prus – you should definitely participate in the Quests of the Nałęczów Discoverers’ Expeditions, which present the history of the town in an original way. At present, the following four quests are available: “The Ravine Mysteries,” “Traces of John Paul II,” “With the Tube on the Trail of the Velocipede and the Successful Love-Suits in Nałęczów” and “The Source of Adventure.”