The Legend of Puławy

The Princess’ Lions

Princess Izabela Czartoryska,née Fleming was a great Polish patriot.

After the loss of Poland’s independence when Poland wasn’t on the world maps, the princess decided to find the most valuable polish memorabilia of famous Polish people.

Not to forget about the national identity ,Izabella built Temple of the Sibyl – the first Polish museum, also known as Temple of Memory. The temple was built in the park, near the palace, on the bank of the river Vistula.

The goods which belonged to Polish kings and princes and those which told about glory years of Polish history were brought to the museum.

Princess Izabela was worried about her collection. She was afraid of destruction her precious things. To protect her treasures she put two marble lions in front of the temple’s door.

Above the door she carved the inscription “The Past for the Future”. If the memorabilia had been in danger, the marble lions would have come alive and protected the whole treasure for the future generations.