The 15th, 16th and 17th centuries mark the era of excellence in the Polish history. Poland was one of the powers that counted in Europe. Already in the second half of the 18th century, however, the country found itself in an inconvenient geopolitical situation.

In 1795 Poland was partitioned by three powers: Russia, Prussia and Austria. The consequence of the partition, and of the Uprisings which resulted from it, was the political Emigration of many of the Poles and the Polish engagement in fight for their independence under the lead of other countries. The Polish devoted their national culture and arts (literature, poetry, paintings and music's) to the memory of the past of their country and to the hope of a free Poland in future. In 1868 the Liberty Column in front of the castle was founded and two years later the first Polish National Museum was opened in the castle.

© Copyright by Polish Museum Rapperswil 2005