Zweibrücken
In the almost 700-year history of Zweibrücken, one of the most famous figures was King Stanislaw Leszczynski. In anticipation of regaining the Polish throne, he lived here with his family between 1714 and 1719, thanks to the patronage of King Charles XII of Sweden, then owner of the Duchy, who was also instrumental in elevating Leszczyński to the Polish throne. Gaining political asylum and financial resources, the Greater-Polish king stimulated the economic and cultural life of Zweibrücken with his usual vigour. Its inhabitants worked both to maintain the ex-king's 150-strong court and to establish a suburban summer residence he had invented with the Turkish name Tschifflick (Sziflik). He entertained numerous guests there and delighted them with the unusual architecture and the cultural life taking place there. At the same time, he did not interfere with local relations, removing himself from the culturally and politically different Palatine castle in Zweibrücken. Leszczynski was already known as a benevolent ruler, about whom it was written in 1767:
Through his gentleness, his charitable work, his humanism, he won Stanislaus the love and great respect of the local people, and through his education, his mind and the circumstances of his fate, their esteem, sympathy and affection.
Reminders of his stay are information boards in the town and a local association of his admirers: Deutsch-Polnische Gesellschaft "Polenkönig Stanislaus im Herzogtum Zweibrücken" e.V under the resilient leadership of Werner Euskirchen. You can also get to know Leszczynski's memorabilia, but also the extremely interesting history of the place, in the very interesting City Museum.
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