Naman Shrestha
Adapted from the novel titled ‘Lalka’ written by Bolesław Prus, Netflix’s ‘The Doll’ is a Polish historical romantic drama series directed by Paweł Maślona. The narrative centers on a self-made merchant named Stanisław Wokulski, whose ambition drives him to climb the social ladder and earn high-society status. Things become complicated when he becomes obsessively infatuated with an intimidating, strong-willed aristocrat named Izabela Łęcka, who is determined to make her own place in society.
Although Stanisław and Izabela form an unbreakable bond, their relationship becomes complicated by external factors, such as the power of wealth, a deep class divide, and a longing for freedom. Originally titled ‘Lalka,’ the modern retelling of the classic Polish novel explores a series of prevalent social issues, with the makers using the visuals to convey the same to the viewers. The massive castles and crowded streets featured in the show transport the viewers to a different era altogether.
The Doll Filming Locations
The shooting for ‘The Doll’ was conducted entirely in Poland, particularly in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Masovian Voivodeship, Łódź Voivodeship, Podkarpackie Voivodeship, and Lublin Voivodeship. From what we can tell, principal photography for the miniseries commenced in July 2025 and continued for about three months before seemingly wrapping up in October of the same year. The costume designer, Marzenka Wojciechowska, described her time on the project in a social media post, stating, “More than 10 months of the work of our costume vertical led by the outstanding Dorothee Roqueplo. This was one of the coolest projects we’ve done, there’s a piece of the heart of everyone on our team!!”
Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland
A major portion of the filming of ‘The Doll’ took place in Lower Silesian Voivodeship in the southwestern part of Poland. To paint the visual canvas of Polish society in the 1870s, the production team settled on many historic sites across the region, including several spots in Wroclaw, the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. In the historic Old Town, shooting was conducted at Opera Wroclawska on Świdnicka Street. Situated precisely at Świdnicka 35, the opera house is a vibrant cultural landmark and a significant example of 19th-century Neoclassical architecture. The cast and crew were reportedly spotted filming at the city center as well.
In addition, Szajnochy Street and Geppert Street also hosted the production of the television show. Filming also took the team to University Square, located at Plac Uniwersytecki 1, 50-137 Wrocław, right in front of the University of Wroclaw’s main building. The scenes set on the horse farm in the Netflix original were actually lensed at Ksiaz Castle, the third-largest in the country, nestled at Piastów Śląskich 1 in Walbrzych, Wałbrzych County. The wartime history of the castle, combined with its diverse architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and neo-Rococo, made it an ideal backdrop for depicting the period atmosphere of the narrative.
Masovian Voivodeship, Poland
The production team also utilized the locales within the Masovian Voivodeship to fill the visual canvas of ‘The Doll.’ Specifically, the capital, Warsaw, served as one of the prominent production locations for the period drama series. During the shooting process, the cast and crew members were spotted taping important scenes near the Nicolaus Copernicus Monument on Krakowskie Przedmieście, a section of the Royal Route, and in the Służewiec neighborhood within the Mokotów district.
To add a layer of authenticity, the makers redressed many shopfronts and businesses with signs in Polish and Russian. For shooting the winter scenes, they also added layers of artificial snow to the streets. However, due to the inconvenience caused to the locals by the closure of certain streets and areas within the province, they voiced their frustration and anger. The filming unit also took over the Jabłonna Palace, located in the village of Jabłonna near Warsaw, to tape multiple indoor and outdoor scenes.
Other Locations in Poland
Additional portions for ‘The Doll’ were also lensed in many other locations across Poland, including the Łódź Voivodeship. In September 2025, the production team set up camp in and around Karol Poznański’s Palace at Gdańska 32 in Łódź to shoot key scenes for the Polish miniseries. Moreover, the Nieborów Palace, situated in the village of Nieborów, features in several scenes. The city of Lublin also hosted the production of ‘The Doll’ as the cast and crew took over numerous streets, including Rybna Street, Olejna Street, and Noworobna Street in Lublin’s Old Town. For the purpose of shooting, the cast and crew also took over the Łańcut Castle at Zamkowa 1 in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship’s Łańcut.
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