In the spring of 1815. Tadeusz Kościuszko stopped in Solura during his journey to the Congress of Vienna, to which he went to win representatives of the victorious coalition states for the Polish cause. Kościuszko then spent just one night in the town - from 8 to 9 May - at the Krone Hotel (then called De la Couronne), which is renowned to this day, not yet knowing that he would soon return to Solura and settle there permanently.

Hotel Krone

The baroque hotel was one of the oldest accommodation facilities on the city map. The four-storey building was built in 1669, designed by the architect Paolo Antonio Ascona. Located in the heart of the old town of Solura, from its inception it attracted many distinguished guests, including Napoleon, not only by its location but also by its elegant décor with Louis XVI and Biedermeier-style furniture.

Plaque commemorating Kościuszko's stay at the Hotel Krone

Today, in the entrance hall of the hotel, there is a plaque commemorating Kosciuszko's short stay there. It was donated by Polish and Swiss 'Kościuszko' people to mark the 185th anniversary of Kosciuszko's visit to the city. The ceremonial unveiling of the plaque took place on 7 October 2000, by the originator of the plaque, Polish historian Jan Konopka, together with a representative of the local community, Verena von Sury. The ceremony was attended, among others, by a member of the government of the Solura canton, Alfred Rötheli, the ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Switzerland, Marek Jędrys, and the director of the Polish Museum in Rapperswil, Teresa Sandoz. The ceremony was preceded by a mass in the O.O. church of the Jesuits. Jesuits, led by the city's general vicar with assistance from Polish clergy. The celebrations concluded with a reception in the ambassador's hall of the hotel.

Description of the plaque: the rectangular plaque made of Jurassic stone is decorated with an engraved inscription in German: "IM MAI 1815 WOHNTE HIER T. KOŚCIUSZKO (1746-1817) POLNISCHER FREIHEITSKÄMPFER UND PHILANTHROP. Gestiftet am 7.10.2000 von den Polen und Freunden Polens in der Schweiz" (In May 1815, T. Kosciuszko (1746-1817) - Polish freedom fighter and philanthropist - lived here. Founded on 7.10.2000 by Poles and friends of Poland in Switzerland).

Significance of the inscription

The plaque reminds visitors to the hotel both of the well-known merits of Tadeusz Kościuszko as a freedom fighter and of a lesser-known episode in his activities - philanthropy for children, the elderly and people with disabilities, to which he devoted himself after settling in Switzerland.