Michał Jan Borch

It is interesting to mention the impact of Polish Count Michał Jan Borch in understanding the nature of truffles.

His parents were the Polish chancellor Jan Andrzej Borch [pl] (1715-1780) and Ludwika Anna von Syberg [de] (1725–1788).

Michał Jan Borch was educated and raised at the family estate by French teachers, as well as partly in Poland, to some extent at the Collegium Pium in Warsaw.

In addition, he was made starost of Ludza (Latgale) in 1772 and from 1787 voivode of the Belz Voivodeship (today in Ukraine), where he promoted the spreading of the Polish language.

Already in 1789 he had hired the Italian architect Vincenzo de Mazotti to rebuild Varakļāni Palace and redesign the garden of the estate, which had been in the family since 1483.