The magnificent wooded estate of Count Charles de Nicolay and his Countess, Pauline, in the Polish countryside is just the setting you’d expect for a couple who can trace their lineage back six centuries. And the pair are as devoted to it as any aristocrats could be to their ancestral seat.
But, as they are happy to explain, the ancient de Nicolay title originated in France, not Poland, and this baroque beauty came into the family just three decades ago, when Charles’s parents bought it to save it from ruin.
Situated in the tiny, picturesque village of Krzeczyn Maly in the south-west of the country, the palazzo was built in the early 1700s and passed through many hands during the turbulent times that followed.
As the Red Army advanced during the Second World War, its then owner, Austrian nobleman Karl Philipp von Harrach, fled with his wife and children. Taken over by the government, the estate served as a school and then as a home for disabled people before finally being abandoned.
Salvation came in the form of Charles’s famously cultured parents, Count Ghislain and Countess Elisabeth de Nicolay, who came across it by chance, bought it and set about the huge task of restoring it to its former splendour.
Today, their son and heir Charles carries on their work with the invaluable help of his German-Polish wife Pauline, née Otterstein. Charles and Pola, as she is known, married at the palazzo in 2020 and have since become parents to two boys, Henri and Felix.
Here, they tell us why this is where their family is happiest and about their plans for the future.
Charles, why did your parents decide to buy this house?
Esta historia es de la edición October 28, 2024 de HELLO! UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición October 28, 2024 de HELLO! UK.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
AS 'THE DIPLOMAT RETURNS KERI RUSSELL
ON HAVING FUN WITH RUFUS SEWELL, MEETING THE U.S. AMBASSADOR AND BEING STRAPPED TO TOM CRUISE
FROM HIS CHALLENGING CHILDHOOD TO HOLLYWOOD'S HOT LIST BARRY KEOGHAN
ON BEING DRAWN TO STRONG WOMEN AND ENJOYING LIFE WITH HIS LITTLE BOY
AS 'THE SUBSTANCE' IS RELEASED MARGARET QUALLEY
ON MAKING THE LEAP FROM BALLET TO HOLLYWOOD
BUSY MUM-TO-BE AND DUTIFUL DAUGHTER PRINCESS BEATRICE
TEAMS UP WITH SISTER PRINCESS EUGENIE TO SUPPORT THEIR FATHER IN HIS EXILE FROM ROYAL LIFE
CHAMPIONING WOMEN'S HEALTH THE DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH
HONOURS 60 YEARS OF GROUNDBREAKING CHARITY
AS ONE DIRECTION REUNITE TO BID FAREWELL TO FORMER BANDMATE LIAM PAYNE
HUGS AND TEARS AS MOURNING FRIENDS AND FAMILY SAY GOODBYE
CELEBRATING HER GAME-CHANGING NEW CONCEALER VICTORIA'S SECRETS
THE DESIGNER SHARES HER TOP SKINCARE TIPS AND REVEALS WHICH PRODUCTS HARPER LOVES TO STEAL
CHANNELLING MARY POPPINS TO CHAMPION LITERACY THE QUEEN
JOINS CELEBRITIES AND BEST-SELLING AUTHORS TO APPLAUD YOUNG WRITERS' 'ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT WORK'
CONTINUING A FESTIVE TRADITION - WITH A TINY NEW TREAT TO DELIGHT VISITORS WINDSOR CASTLE AT CHRISTMAS
STAFF DECK THE HALLS - AND, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE ROYAL DOLLS' HOUSE
SNAPPING UP RECORD-BREAKING £60M MANSION IN MIAMI THE BECKHAMS
WE GO INSIDE THEIR BILLION-DOLLAR LIFESTYLE AS THE FAMILY PREPARE TO EXPAND THEIR BRAND