What connects Stanisław Lem, horses, and the palace in Rozdil? A fascinating exploration by historians.

Local history researchers in the village of Rozdil, Lviv region, have uncovered intriguing new facts about its residents from archives. Historian Oksana Lobko discovered that the father-in-law of the science fiction writer Stanisław Lem was involved in horse breeding at the estate of the Lyanckoronsky family in Rozdil. The project page "Palace Rozdil" shared details about these familial and professional connections.

The future father-in-law of the famous writer, Władysław Leśniak, was an agricultural engineer who worked on the estates of the Lyanckoronsky family. He implemented new farming methods, including fish and special breed livestock breeding, as well as the cultivation of new agricultural crops. In 1934, Leśniak became the manager of the large estate of the Lyanckoronsky family in Yahilnytsia, Ternopil region, and moved there with his family. The Lyanckoronsky family had horse breeding farms, so Władysław Leśniak, who was engaged in horse breeding, frequently visited the palace in Rozdil, where the main stable was located.

Candidate of Historical Sciences Oksana Lobko found correspondence between Władysław Leśniak and the manager of the Rozdil estate in the Central State Historical Archive of Lviv.

«Engineer Władysław Leśniak worked for many years at the estates of the Lyanckoronsky family in Rozdil, Yahilnytsia, and Kawentyn near Krakow, where he was involved in horse breeding and responsible for organizing the breeding program, as it was an important part of the economic activities of the estates for the Lyanckoronsky family. It can be confidently stated that Leśniak visited the Rozdil palace, where the main stable was, likely with his family, including little Barbara», noted researcher Oksana Lobko.

When Galicia was occupied by the Russians during World War II, engineer Władysław Leśniak and his family moved to his native village of Kawentyn (now part of the village of Seprav in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship of Poland). During the years of German occupation, their home became a refuge for many residents of Lviv, including well-known scientists and artists such as Professor of Surgery Adam Gruz, botanist Stanisław Kulczyński, and sculptor Jadwiga Horodyńska.

Władysław Leśniak's daughter Barbara became the wife of the famous science fiction writer Stanisław Lem in 1953. Lem, born in Lviv, met Barbara Leśniak at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, where he was studying medicine while Barbara was training to become an X-ray technician.

«For three years, he pursued her hand and heart, but she was hesitant and scrutinized the unusual suitor. Eventually, in 1953, Barbara agreed to become Stanisław's wife; they had a church wedding, followed by a civil registration the next year. Their only son, Tomasz, was born during the marriage», the historian recounts.

The historical research was conducted as part of the "Rozdil Travels" project, funded by the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, which is developing interesting tourist and local history routes in the region.

All archival photographs were provided by Oksana Lobko and project manager Anna Havryliv