Żyrardów: Karl Dittrich Mansion

It is sometimes referred to as "Little-Łódź": The city of Żyrardów in the western foothills of the Warsaw conurbation was the first and most important industrial location for textile production in the then Russian Empire from the early 19th century. Even today, the cityscape is characterized by mighty industrial buildings and numerous architectural monuments, which give the city a hip character. Trendy business premises and lofts have been created in the former production buildings and workers' houses, and numerous real estate projects are also currently (2022) underway.

The names Philippe de Girard and Karl Dittrich are inseparably connected with Żyrardów. The French engineer is considered the town's namesake, his special weaving machines helped the flax spinning mill founded in 1930 to achieve initial success, but it was the Hille & Dittrich company that developed Żyrardów into a major textile industry location, and it was under Karl Dittich (junior) in particular that the town reached its economic peak towards the end of the 19th century.

Neo-Renaissance villa of the factory owner Karl Dittrich in Żyrardów

In Considering Karl Dittrich's economic success and compared to the opulent palaces of Łódź factory owners, the villa built around 1896 must almost be described as sparse in its execution. Along with the Sobański Palace in Guzów further to the northwest, it is one of the rare Mazovian palaces in a distinctly French guise.

The palace is surrounded by an English park, which today forms the city park. The completely renovated palace houses a museum documenting the industrial history of the city and western Mazovia.