Things to Do in Pruzhany, Belarus

Quick facts: The palace complex is adorned by two imposing towers and a facade with 22 statues of ancient goddesses and muses. The manor was built in the 19th century by the wealthy Švykovský family on the site of an older homestead, and the original tiled stoves and fireplace have been preserved here to this day.

Highlights: One hall features a unique alabaster fireplace with reliefs of Greek myths. When touched, you can feel the cold, smooth surface of the stone, which was brought here all the way from Italy. Above the fireplace hangs a huge mirror in a gilded frame, which once reflected countless balls and receptions of the nobility.

Quick facts: It stretches over 16 hectares and is home to more than 50 species of trees and shrubs. In the middle of the park stands a manor house that once belonged to the Švykovský family, and the park was established in a romantic style with beautiful lakes and canals.

Highlights: Water plays a major role in this park through a system of artificial canals and ponds that create the impression of a Venetian atmosphere in the middle of Belarusian forests. It is most picturesque in spring when dozens of rhododendrons bloom and their reflections color the lake surface pink.

Quick facts: The wall paintings inside recall a unique mix of Baroque and folk motifs, which you will not find anywhere else in Belarus. During the Second World War, the Nazis used the building as a warehouse, which paradoxically helped preserve the original decoration.

Highlights: The Aron Kodesh, the holy ark on the eastern wall, retains its original painting with three domes of Jerusalem, which glows in the dim light. Locals say that if you stand in the center of the room and close your eyes, you can hear the whisper of prayers from the time when over 1,000 worshipers gathered here.

Quick facts: At this location stands a monument commemorating 143 soldiers and partisans who fell during the liberation of the city in 1944. Every year, memorial ceremonies are held here, attended by hundreds of local residents and veterans from the surrounding area.

Highlights: The monument is not just an ordinary column, but consists of a series of concrete pillars symbolizing the broken defensive lines. The eternal flame, which has been burning here since 1975 and is cared for with pride by the locals, leaves the strongest impression.

Quick facts: This wooden church from 1893 is a masterpiece of folk architecture. Its bell tower is adorned with four smaller towers symbolizing the four evangelists.

Highlights: Inside there is a unique wooden iconostasis with 37 icons painted by a local painter in the 19th century. You can smell the scent of old wood and incense that has woven into the alcoves over 130 years.

Quick facts: In Pruzhany, there is a monument commemorating the nuclear disaster that affected the lives of thousands of Belarusians. The local community built it on their own initiative without official support.

Highlights: The monument is adorned with a real bell cast from metal that comes from the contaminated zone. Every anniversary of the disaster, local residents ring it, creating a moving echo across the entire square.