Ostrogski Palace, otherwise known as Ostrogski Castle, is a large manor in the city centre of Warsaw, at Tamka Street. Started in early 17th century by the mighty Ostrogski family, who gave the name to the building.
At first Ostrogski decided to build a small castle there, so he financed a bastion on which the manor was to be constructed. The castle soon became an important building in Warsaw, the seat of the local parliament gatherings. After Ostrogski's death it was bought by a diplomat Jan Gninski, who hired the famous architect Tylman van Gammeren to rebuild it. The construction built on top of the bastion was to become one of the wings of a huge future palace. However, it was never completed and as the unfinished manor it never served its original purpose and with time became neglected.
Since 1778 it served as a hostel for students, then in 1806 was converted into a military hospital for many years, until 1859, when it was bought by the Musical Institute for a music conservatory of Warsaw. Here the world famous pianist of the first half of 20th century, Ignacy Paderewski studied.
Today it houses the Fryderyk Chopin Society and Fryderyk Chopin Museum with a permanent exhibition about his life and travels.

Now let me tell you a wonderful Warsaw legend, about 200 years old, about a GOLDEN DUCK.

As the palace was one of the grandest buildings in town, the inhabitants of the ancient Warsaw often told the story of the exceptional treasure kept in the vaults underneath. It was rumoured that one day a poor soldier entered the vaults at midnight. After many hours of wandering he found a small pond surrounded with gold and diamonds, with a duck floating on it. In fact it was a princess, changed into a golden duck. To free her, she said, the soldier had to spend a pouch full of golden ducats in one day entirely on his own living and desires. Not a single penny could be given away or left for another day. The hand of the Princess and the riches would be the price.
A drunkard and bon-vivant, he had no trouble spending all the money on drinking with his friends. However, shortly before returning to the cellars beneath the castle to claim the fortune and princess' hand, with his pouch almost empty, certain of his success, he met a begging crippled soldier. His heart ached and he gave the beggar his last small coin.
The duck disappeared taking all the riches away, but the soldier lived his life happily ever after, they say.
A Golden Duck is supposed to be still swimming in the hidden underground lake. Maybe some day another poor boy will find the way to her dwelling...?