For unusual architecture and the spirit of an abandoned history, you can go to the village of Yastrembelwhere is preserved Manor of the Kotlubaev family. The former family estate evokes the idea that real magicians and wizards used to live here, such a manor building on the territory of Belarus was definitely not common.
Today, the estate is still popular with travelers and historians who often visit these places. According to the guard, cars come one after another on weekends.
History of the estate in Yastrembel
These lands have a rather serious history, the first written references, then still the Yastrebel manor, date back to the very beginning of the 16th century. From 1663 until the middle of the 19th century, the estate was owned by Rdultvoskie from Chernikhovo (they also had a home there). Spring 1851 Yastrembel sold out Mikhail Kotlubay, with whose name the manor house will be associated.
Partial merit for the construction of the manor house belongs to one of the sons of Mikhail, - Edward Kotlubai, a young and talented engineer who received the best technical education at that time.
It is the ideas Edward formed the basis of the project for the construction of the family house and the subtleties of the layout of the park area around the building. However, apparently, the estate that can be seen today was built by his son Heinrich and dated 1897 year.
The house had 18 rooms decorated with stucco. The walls were covered with frescoes based on ancient history, the floors were covered with parquet. All these elements individually were works of art. Alas, none of them survived inside.
It is generally accepted that this house is an “unfortified castle”. The central part of the Kotlubaev estate is crowned with a hipped tower.
The architecture of the estate seems to have declared war on the rules of symmetry - everything is very unusual and mysterious. The result is an original and memorable family estate.
The last owner of the Yastrembel estate was Zygmund Kotlubay, who was arrested and imprisoned with the advent of Soviet power.
The estate began to be used as a children's boarding school since 1972, after new brick buildings were built, the building was abandoned.
In the 90s, the manor house was partially renovated: the roof was replaced and even windows were installed. In addition, a plan was developed for a complete reconstruction, which unfortunately did not work out.
The estate still stands on the territory of a boarding school, but you can see the house without any problems. From other buildings of the Kotlubaev family survived distillery, is a bit out of the way. The park area is also partially preserved, with some rare species of trees and plants around the estate.
The manor house is located in the vicinity of the city Baranovichi. From Minsk easier to get by car, below the mark:
An old overview video of an abandoned estate:
If you are in these parts, I recommend visiting the Church of the Intercession in Krivoshin. Other sights of Belarus on the mapand excursion options.