The Palace on the Water was built between 1772 and 1793 by request of King Stanislaw August Poniatowski, on an artificial island surrounded by a lake. A French garden had been established here earlier and the palace is an example of the Classicist style. The king used to give his famous dinners at the palace on Thursdays, where writers, intellectuals and artists would discuss matters of politics, culture, art and science. There is also the Theatre on the Island close to the lake and between May and October tourists can go for a cruise on a gondola.