The Guest Palace in Białystok is a part of a larger residential complex that in 18th century Europe was referred to as the Polish Versailles. This Versailles in Podlasie owes its existence to Jan Klemens Branicki (1689 - 1771), Grand Hetman of the Crown and the first lay senator in the Kingdom of Poland, i.e. the Castellan of Cracow (customarily referred to as Pan Krakowski), who until the very last days of his life had been altering his residence to make it more attractive. As a result, the works had not been finished upon his death. Such was the case with the Guest Palace on the road which joined the Old Town and the New Town in Białystok (fragment)