Arkadia Park

Mazovia & Podlasie


With its overgrown ruins, peeling pavilions, temples and follies, the landscaped garden at Arkadia Park is a romantic pagan enclave in a sea of Catholicism. The park was laid out by Princess Helena Radziwiłł in the 1770s as an 'idyllic land of peace and happiness', but after the death of the princess, the park fell into decay. Most of the works of art were taken to Nieborów's palace and can be seen there today, and the abandoned buildings fell gradually into ruin.

Nowadays, an air of decay only adds to the charm of the place. Tree-shrouded ruins are dotted throughout the park, including a red-brick Gothic House (Domek Gotycki) perched above Sybil's Grotto, a 'Roman' aqueduct, and the impressive Archpriest's Sanctuary (Przybytek Arcykapłana), a fanciful mock ruin dominated by a classical bas-relief of Hope feeding a chimera. The focus of Arkadia is the Temple of Diana (Świątynia Diany), which overlooks a large lake and houses a display of Roman sculpture and funerary monuments.

Arkadia is on the Łowicz–Skierniewice road, Hwy 70, about 4km southeast of Łowicz. There's free parking at the north entrance to the park as well as a snack stand. It's reachable by bus from Łowicz. You can also hike or bike along a specially marked cycling path, known as the 'Prince Bike Trail' (Szlak Książęcy). The blue-marked path runs about 14km and starts at the Stary Rynek in Łowicz, near the entrance to the Łowicz Museum.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Mazovia & Podlasie attractions

1. Nieborów Museum

2.83 MILES

The stunning, late-17th-century Nieborów Palace is a classic example of baroque architecture. It was designed by Tylman van Gameren for Cardinal…

2. Łowicz Museum

3.18 MILES

Museum housed in a 17th-century missionary college designed by Dutch architect Tylman van Gameren; its highlight is the former priests' chapel, with its…

3. Piarists' Church

3.25 MILES

Near Łowicz's grand cathedral is this similarly impressive church. It's a baroque marvel when you can get access. If it's during a service, stay quietly…

4. Łowicz Cathedral

3.28 MILES

Originally Gothic, this vast 15th-century church underwent several renovations and is now a melange of styles, including Renaissance, baroque and rococo…

5. Chopin's Birthplace

17.28 MILES

The tiny village of Żelazowa Wola (zheh-lah-zo-vah vo-lah), 53km west of Warsaw, is the birthplace of Frédéric Chopin, and the house where he was born on…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "poland/western-mazovia/attractions/arkadia-park/a/poi-sig/1421912/1327730",
      "destination": "Mazovia-&-Podlasie",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Poland",
      "region": "Mazovia-&-Podlasie",
      "position": "superzone"
    }