Manor and park ensembles of Belarus

We go on trips around Belarus despite the rainy and windy weather. Colourful views will outshine even the most gloomy sky.

Zdravnevo museum-estate of Repin 

August 2024 marks the 180th anniversary of the birth of one of the most famous Russian artists. Ilya Repin is called the key figure of Russian realism. For the famous Russian artist, the house in the Vitebsk Region became a part of his life, which forever connected him with the Belarusian land. 

Zdravnevo museum-estate of Repin
Photo: www.belarustourist.by


Repin bought a small estate on the picturesque banks of the Western Dvina River and turned a modest one-story house into a fairy-tale palace, choosing the Art Nouveau style, the most fashionable at that time. The building surprised with bizarre shapes, size and colours. The house is decorated with a jagged turret resembling a chess boat, and a spacious veranda overlooks the oak forests and the river bank. Walking here in the fall is a special pleasure. Repin wrote more than sixty works in his estate near Vitebsk — Autumn Bouquet, Sunrise over the Western Dvina, Hunter and many others.
Repin’s house is always open for guests. Zdravnevo has become a place of power for contemporary artists: plein airs, round tables, creative meetings are held in the picturesque art space.

Architectural ensemble of the Rumyantsevs and the Paskeviches

In Gomel, it is impossible to pass by the Palace of the Rumyantsevs and the Paskeviches, a unique architectural monument of the late 18th — early 19th centuries. All streets and roads lead to it, this is the very heart of the city. Even if you have never been to Gomel, you must have seen this miracle of architecture — the palace is depicted on a 20-ruble bill. Inside, magnificent interiors of the century before last are recreated and collections of rarities are collected.

Architectural ensemble of the Rumyantsevs and the Paskeviches
Photo: www.planetabelarus.by

By the way, balls are arranged here to this day. At luxurious receptions with a live orchestra, ladies in long dresses and gentlemen in tailcoats enchantingly dance a polonaise, waltz or mazurka. The opportunity to feed the squirrels, who have chosen the Gomel Palace and Park Ensemble is a separate ritual for local residents and tourists. The tailed ones are not at all afraid of people and take treats directly from the hands. So do not forget to bring seeds or nuts with you.

The Palace of the Puslovskys

It is worth coming to Kossovo for the whole day to feel the mysterious and glorious history of these places, and just relax your soul. The Palace of the Puslovskys in Kossovo is one of the most recognisable and ‘photogenic’ sights, a fine example of Neo-Gothic architecture of the 19th century. The castle is decorated with faceted jagged towers, similar to chess rooks.
The Palace of the Puslovskys
Photo by Pavel Bogush


There are 12 of them — according to the number of months in a year. The four central ones symbolise May and the three summer months. In addition to its unusual appearance, the palace was famous for its interiors and surprises in the past. According to the legend, the building was designed in such a way that each of the 132 rooms receives the sun for exactly two and a half days every year. Each room had its own name: white, gold, black, blue, and they were not the same. The palace was richly decorated with tapestries, paintings and frescoes. It is said that one of the rooms had a glass floor, and under it — a giant aquarium!

Butrimovich Palace

Pinsk has a well-preserved unique old building, where you can wander for hours. Particular attention should be paid to the Butrimovich Palace. At the end of the 18th century, nobleman Matheusz Butrymowich invested a lot of effort and money in rebuilding his palace on the picturesque Pina River embankment. The appearance of the building combined Early Classicism and the Outgoing Baroque. Once it was the first residential building made of stone in the city. In the 20th century, the magnificent estate was first turned into a printing house, then into a cinema, and finally into the House of Pioneers.

Butrimovich Palace
Photo: www.korteg.by

Today a civil registration office is located here. It is not surprising that grooms and brides from all over the country come to the capital of the Belarusian Polesie for fabulous surroundings and peculiar photographs.

The Palace of the Potemkins and Golynskys

The palace in Krichev was built for Grigory Potemkin, a favourite of Catherine II, according to the design of Ivan Starov, who worked on the Tauride Palace in St. Petersburg. The palace consisted of 60 rooms and amazed with its luxury. An unusual view opens up on the building from a bird’s eye view. The letters ‘P’ and ‘E’ are guessed in it — the initials of the prince and empress.

The Palace of the Potemkins and Golynskys
Photo by Yury Mozolevsky


Today, the palace houses a civil registration office and a museum. This place has become the cultural centre of the city and the region. Potemkin Fun, Christmas Tree in the Palace, Potemkin Ball, Night of Museums, Music Salon costumed festivals are held here on a grand scale.

By Sofia Arsenyeva