Description

The garden in Arkadia, bounded from the west and partly from the south by the Skierniewka (formerly Łupia) Brook, has an elongated, irregular shape. The contexture of the garden's composition is a very rich philosophical and literary programme. Temples, artificial ruins, arcades, an amphitheatre, an aqueduct, a circus, huts, sculptures, columns, urns, sarcophagi, and numerous inscriptions form a variety of scenes intended to evoke certain feelings in the visitor to the garden. The compositional idea was included by Helena Radziwiłł, the creator of the garden, in a guide she compiled for visitors to Arkadia.

The large pond

Arkadia was meant to imitate a mythical Greek land, and architecture was the basic element of the spatial composition. The spatial centre of the site is a large pond with the Isle of Sacrifice, around which the most important buildings are located, including the Temple of Diana and the aqueduct. Plants were an essential accessory and together with the topography they created the scenery, co- created backdrops and frames, and created the garden interiors.

The greenery gave the site an impression of "ageing" by absorbing the buildings. This effect was achieved by introducing fast-growing species and a large number of climbing plants and flower meadows. Today, Arkadia is dominated by native tree species characteristic of riparian and oak and hornbeam communities. The stand, which includes 45 species, has over 3,000 trees, 56 of which are over 120 years old.

Gallery of pointed-arch arcades

The Gothic House is adjoined by a gallery with pointed-arch arcades, probably erected together with the building. It is an artificial ruin running from the House towards the south, down an artificial hill. Fragments of a late Gothic tomb slab with a minuscule inscription were built into the arcades.

Circus

The former circus is located in the southern part of the garden. Designed and built by Enrico Ittar in 1801 on the model of the Roman circus. Only the central obelisk and two extreme cylindrical "metas" have survived to this day, which set the scale of this foundation on the ground. On the obelisk, Princess Helena placed the inscription MUNIFICENTIAE AUGUSTI HELENA POSUIT, dedicated to the Emperor of Russia, Alexander I, to whom she owed the materials – marbles and granites used for the construction of the Circus.

Ittar’s Pillars

Historically, the garden was excited by a gate made of two rectangular blocks of pink Ingrian limestone, called after its designer Ittar's Pillars, which were topped with marble masks in the shape of acroteria (the masks have been removed and secured in the Museum, they will return to the site in the form of copies). Currently, the pillars enclose an alley that leads to a gate with utility functions.

Caretaker’s House

The building located in the northern part of the establishment was constructed after 1936 in the form of an architecturally modest cottage with a brick homestead. After the war, it was adapted for utility rooms.