Archaeologists Discover 17th-Century Royal Palace Remains in Vistula River
Archaeologists in Poland have made a remarkable discovery in the Vistula River, uncovering remnants of the 17th-century Villa Regia royal palace. The artifacts, including a 440-pound marble piece, provide new insights into a tumultuous period in Polish history. The Museum of Polish History announced the discovery in a Sept. 10 press release, highlighting the significance of these finds.
The Villa Regia, described as ‘one of the most magnificent palaces of 17th-century Europe,’ was looted and destroyed during the Swedish Deluge, a period of intense conflict between the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Swedish forces. Historical records estimate that as much as a quarter of the population was lost during this time, marking one of the most destructive chapters in the nation’s history.
The Swedish military occupied the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1655 to 1660. In 1656, Swedish troops attempted to take valuables from the palace but their vessel sank in the Vistula River, causing the loss of the stolen artifacts. The remains of the palace, including architectural elements like marble claddings, tiles, and fragments of monumental staircases, were carried off and some were sunk in the river.
Among the artifacts retrieved was a fragment of an arcade arch weighing over 440 pounds. Archaeologists also found the fragment of a pillar’s capital, or top, which was ‘previously unknown in the context of finds from this site,’ according to officials. These discoveries will allow new measurements and provide valuable information for reconstructing the royal residence Villa Regia.
All recovered fragments have been secured and transferred to the collections of the Museum of Polish History, where they will undergo further conservation and research. Krzysztof Niewiadomski, the Museum of Polish History’s deputy director of programs, mentioned a plan to reconstruct the palace staircase using the retrieved artifacts. ‘With this monumental structure, we will tell the story of the power and wealth of the old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and, by referring to the Swedish Deluge, about the crisis of the state,’ he noted.
Poland has been the site of several exciting archaeological discoveries in 2025. Recently, a hobbyist group in Poland found ancient treasures while searching for World War II rockets. In the summer, archaeologists in Gdańsk uncovered an elite knight’s burial beneath a former ice cream parlor.