Finckenstein Palace (German: Schloss Finckenstein; Polish: Pałac w Kamieńcu) is a ruined Baroque palace situated in the village of Kamieniec, about 25 mi. (40 km) south of Elbląg, in northern Poland. Formerly part of West Prussia, it was designed by the architect John von Collas and erected in the years 1716–1720 by Prussian Field Marshal, Marquess, and Count Albrecht Konrad Reinhold Finck von Finckenstein. It remained in the possession of the Finck von Finckenstein family until 1782.[1] After that the Counts Dohna-Schlobitten lived in it until 1945. Red Army soldiers set the palace on fire January 22, 1945, during their conquest of Prussia in World War II. The last owner/resident was Alfred (1917–1988), son of Hermann Dohna-Finckenstein (1894–1942).[2]
The palace became famous in 1807, when Napoleon made it his residence from April through June of that year. When he saw the palace for the first time, he said: Enfin un chateau ("Finally, a castle").[3] The Treaty of Finckenstein between France and Persia was signed here.[3] Here, Napoleon met his Polish mistress Maria Walewska, with whom he lived in the palace.[3] The Hollywood movie Conquest depicted the palace with Greta Garbo and Charles Boyer[4] but was actually filmed in Monterey, California.[5]
Palace ownership:[6]
| when owned | name | relation to previous owner | years owned | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1720-1735 | Albrecht Konrad Finck von Finckenstein (1660-1735) | - | 15 | |
| 2 | 1735-1741 | Friedrich Wilhelm Finck von Finckenstein (1702-1741) | son | 6 | |
| 3 | 1741-1782 | Friedrich Ludwig Finck von Finckenstein (1709-1785) | brother | 41 | |
| 4 | 1782-1825 | Friedrich zu Dohna-Schlobitten (1741-1825) | son-in-law | 43 | |
| 5 | 1825-1831 | Alexander zu Dohna-Schlobitten (1771-1831) | son | 6 | |
| 6 | 1831-1845 | Wilhelm zu Dohna-Schlobitten (1773-1845) | brother | 14 | |
| 7 | 1845-1850 | Fabian zu Dohna-Schlobitten (1781-1850) | brother | 5 | |
| 8 | 1850-1900 | Rodrigo zu Dohna-Finckenstein (1815-1900) | son | 50 | |
| 9 | 1900-1912 | Georg zu Dohna-Finckenstein (1850-1912) | nephew | 12 | |
| 10 | 1912-1929 | Alfred zu Dohna-Finckenstein (1852-1929) | brother | 17 | |
| 11 | 1929-1942 | Hermann zu Dohna-Finckenstein (1894-1942) | nephew | 13 | |
| 12 | 1942-1945 | Alfred zu Dohna-Finckenstein (1917-1988) | son | 3 |