Opytnaya

The village of Opytnaya is in Verhnedvinsk district, Vitebsk region. In the latest history, it was known as the residence place of workers of the experimental agricultural station that had existed here sometime before World War II. Hence the name of Opytnaya village derives. It is a small settlement, located on the side of the major national roads. The nearest track is P-20.

The village life doesn't abound seemingly interesting events. The agricultural station doesn't exist anymore. However, the village area is located in the border area, so its houses were used for the border guards. But that time has passed.

What might be interesting in such a seemingly insignificant settlement?

Archives suggest that, apart from the modern history of the village, there is a layer of events, dating back at least to a century ago. The noble family of Nitoslavsky (on some versions Mitoslavsky) is forever inscribed in the annals of the region’s history.

Persons who had that name are mentioned in the biographies of the important figures of the Russian Empire. For example, writer Fyodor Dostoevsky applied to lawyer Nitoslavsky upon the entry into inheritance of the land in the territory of modern Belarus. This name is also heard in other regions of the country mentioned as the name of the former owners of landed estates. As for the village of Opytnaya, it has a nearby town of Bigosovo, and it, in its turn, is successes the name and the history of Bigosovo estate. And it is associated with the name of Nitoslavsky - Witold Nitoslavsky who erected the brick manor house, giving it the name of Bigosovo. According to the local legend, the name comes from the Polish dish - bigos. It was such a fad of Pan Nitoslavsky.

The Noble Nest was left by its owners

But don’t let the name seeming funny mislead you. The manor project is seriously thought out. The dwelling house, the nearby outbuildings, the park with a pond is thoroughly planned. Experts-architects and historians refer all these buildings to the neo-classical or late classical style.

The buildings are so solid that even the winds of wars and revolutions were unable to wipe them off the map. Although the park is forgotten, the overgrown pond with the artificial island in the middle recalls of the old noble intentions and plans that were successfully implemented. The owners were less fortunate. They left the estate in February 1917.

Then at the territory of the manor there was the Agricultural College.

Now the following buildings are available for visiting:

The Residential building (the preserved colonnade at the entrance and a beautiful gable);

The Exterior wall of the manor house (it resembles a ceiling height of halls and rooms, the conviviality that reigns there, and the atmosphere of that time can be thought out);

The outbuilding with the columns (the building can compete with the best examples of such buildings with the significance of its construction);

The shed with thick walls and a peasant low roof.                            

There was even a Catholic chapel that was not preserved to the present day.

Historical and aesthetic associations

The ineradicable charm of country life, the regularity and the quality of life, priorities and spiritual values of the time - all of this can be felt during penetrating into the atmosphere of Bigosovo estate. And the spirit of the past era can be caught at the estate which is abandoned but hasn’t lost noble dignity and nobility.

Map location


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