The celebration of Prince Józef Poniatowski’s birthday is scheduled for May 5 and 6 in the courtyard of the Royal Castle, in front of the Copper-Roof Palace and in the palace itself. There will be plenty of attractions for those interested in the military and… fashion. The program includes battle reconstructions, dance workshops and period cosmetics shows. The youngest will be able to look for the treasure hidden in the palace.
Prince Józef Poniatowski was born on May 7, 1763 in Vienna. He was the nephew of Stanisław August Poniatowski, general and minister of war of the Duchy of Warsaw.
– We will celebrate the birthday of Prince Józef Piłsudski here in the courtyard of the castle, in front of the Copper-Roof Palace and in the palace itself. The program of the birthday includes gunshots, battles and skirmishes of reenactors from the era of the Duchy of Warsaw, and inside the palace there will be fashion and dance workshops conducted by ladies in Napoleonic costumes, said Dr.
Re-enactments, fashion shows and dance workshops
On May 6 at 11.00, in the courtyard of the Copper-Roof Palace, you will be able to see the shows of reenactment groups: Regiments of the 2nd, 4th and 12th Infantry of the Duchy of Warsaw, which will present: skirmish, duels, drill, using weapons, changing of the guard.
Then the ladies who will lead will lead the way workshops entitled “Evolution of women’s fashion in the era of Prince Joseph”. At 12.00 and 15.00, children aged 7-12 will be able to discover the secrets of the Copper-Roof Palace during the game “Ladies and Lancers. Palace Life”.
At 14.00 the show “The Delight of the Paris Boulevard” will begin. During the “Colors of Paris” show at 3 pm, cosmetics from the era will also be presented, and visitors to the palace will learn what natural materials were used to beautify their beauty in the past. The cosmetics will be made on the basis of 18th and 19th century recipes.
There will be plenty of dances at the birthday party, which everyone will be able to try during the dance classes “Pałac pod Roch się się” at 16.00. In turn, embroidery workshops entitled “Painted with thread” will be held at 12.00 and 17.00. There will also be something for cooking enthusiasts, at 13.00 and 17.00 there will be workshops “Palace chef’s corner”, during which old flavors will be recalled.
Another of the attractions will be battle games involving thousands of figures in the Black Powder system by Warlord Games. The battles will be held between 11.00-14.00 and 15.00-18.00. We will see the following battles: Fuentes de Onoro 1811, Bautzen 1813, Waterloo 1815.
Prince Józef Poniatowski’s apartment to see
Throughout the day of the picnic you will be able to see the interiors of Prince Józef Poniatowski’s Apartment and see the temporary exhibition “Those hellish lancers! / Los infernos picadores!.” It will present militaria, memorabilia from the era as well as painting and graphic representations related to the combat trail of the lancer regiments in which Poles served under Napoleon’s orders.
Admission is free to all events.
Main photo source: Royal Castle in Warsaw