Cross on Chestnut Avenue
Kasztanowa Avenue was established in 1815 as a driveway from Góra Kalwaria to Wilanów, providing a quick and comfortable route for Tsar Nicholas II.
It's easy to guess why Kasztanowa (Chestnut) Avenue got its name – from the planting of chestnut trees along the road.
Wondering why there is a large wooden cross here? Behind it lies a story of sacrifice and love. In 1863, Karol Karniewski worked for Count August Potocki, leasing hectares of his land. The Count, at that time, was involved in aiding the insurgents of the January Uprising (pl. Powstanie Styczniowe) – organizing arms supplies. Brave Karniewski, when one of the arms shipments fell into the hands of the Tsarist gendarmerie, took the blame himself (to shield the Count) and was sentenced to exile in Siberia. His beloved Cecylia wanted to go into exile with him, so they hastily got married the day before departure.
Fortunately, the story of Karol Karniewski and his wife ended with their escape from imprisonment (the Count redeemed them both) and, in addition, they received the land that the man had leased as a token of gratitude for his heroic stance. In appreciation for being saved from a crisis, Karniewski erected a wooden cross on the edge of the estate.
Interestingly, to this day, the descendants of Karol and Cecylia live on the lands received from the Count and cultivate an orchard.