Strolling through Bialowieza and its famous palace park, one is bound to come across many fascinating places. Prominent among them is the celadon cottage, known as the Grodno Governor’s Mansion. Situated in the centre of the park, on a small hill, this unique building impresses with its Russian-Swiss architectural style. The streets paved with coarse stone leading to the manor invite you to discover its history and charm.
The Grodno Governor’s Mansion was built in 1845 and served administrative functions from the beginning. It was a place to stay for officials and high-ranking guests such as Governor-General Fyodor J. Mirkovich and Tsar Alexander II. Initially the building had a simple, barracks-like appearance, but in 1860 it underwent significant reconstruction, gaining a new wing and floor and numerous, almost lace-like architectural details.
The manor house in 1895. Photo from the album “Царская охота в Беловежской пуще”
In later years, the manor became a tsarist hunting pavilion, thus hosting Russian tsars, grand dukes and other prominent figures. To commemorate these events, a museum was set up in the manor house, where numerous memorabilia were kept, including a guest entry book and an album of photographs of Tsar Alexander III’s hunting trips. In 1894, the construction of the magnificent Tsar’s palace, which stood adjacent to the manor house, was completed. The building was burnt down by the retreating Germans in 1944 and was never rebuilt. The history of the estate is described HERE.
The Governor’s Mansion in 1927 and 2021. Source: NAC – National Digital Archive www.nac.gov.pl/ and Mateusz Koc, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
During the First World War, the manor house housed a field hospital and later an officers’ casino. During this period the building underwent modernisation. A new wing was added on the west side and the exterior of the manor house was changed, removing all wooden ornaments and greatly simplifying its decoration. A large terrace also appeared. The casino also functioned in the inter-war period and during the Second World War. After 1945, a “Tourist” inn was arranged in the building. It later functioned as an eatery and, finally, as a restaurant, which in the 1960s served around 600 people a day during the season. A further refurbishment was carried out in 1960. The manor house then served other functions, including being the headquarters of a tourist office and a kindergarten.
The building in 1937, after many alterations and today, after renovation. Source: szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl and LMPogoda, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In 1986, a team of architects led by Kazimierz L. Wasilewski, M.Sc. developed a project to modernise the entire building for the purposes of the BPN Nature Education Centre. At that time, the building had already been heavily transformed by numerous modernisations, so that its former character had been lost. This work was carried out between 1991 and 1994, when the kitchen area, the so-called bracket linking the east wing with the west wing and the terrace were removed. After comprehensive renovation, the building once again looked like it did in its heyday and became the seat of the Bia這wie瘸 National Park’s Nature Education Centre, which still operates there today.
The manor house before and after the recent renovation. Photo Mpfiz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons and LMPogoda, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In 2019, the Grodno Governor’s Mansion underwent another major refurbishment to restore it to its former glory and bring it up to modern standards. The renovation included work to strengthen the building’s foundations and load-bearing structure to ensure its stability for years to come. The façade was cleaned and refurbished, restoring its historic appearance by removing layers of old paint and applying new paint in keeping with the original colours. The old roof was dismantled and replaced with new tiles, made of durable materials that also maintain the original aesthetics. The interiors of the building were painstakingly restored, which included the restoration of the historic plasterwork, stucco and wooden elements such as the staircase, doors and windows. In addition, modern electrical, heating and plumbing systems were installed to bring the building up to modern requirements. Special attention was also given to the conservation of the decorative details of the façade and interior.
All works were carried out under the supervision of the provincial conservator, as the Governor’s Mansion is listed in the register of monuments of the Podlaskie Voivodeship. Today, the renovated building not only impresses with its architecture, but also serves as an important venue for cultural meetings, exhibitions and nature education.
Source: cabin-lover.pl, encyclopedia.puszcza-bialowieska.eu
Read also: Architecture in Poland | Elevation | History | Villas and residences | Travel | Interesting facts
