Rdultovsky palace and park ensemble in the town of Snov

Not many palaces have survived in Belarus (the main ones we have already mentioned in our guide). Most of them are manors that once belonged to noble people but not all of them can boast of good preservation. It was not for nothing that we mentioned Rdultovsky palace in the material about abandoned sights: although it has been well preserved, it is not currently in operation. A masterpiece of architecture is located in the town of Snov, and today VETLIVA will tell you the story of its origin.

Pages of history: how the palace and park ensemble appeared in Snov

Snov has been mentioned in chronicles since 1478. According to tradition, its center was a market square, where there was a lively trade. Snov like any other locality in Belarus, constantly passed from hand to hand and went down in history as a battlefield between the detachment of Captain Rokossovsky (the Polish division of General Ya. G. Dombrovsky of the great army of Napoleon) and the Russian Cossacks.

The funds for the construction were given by the owner — Kazimir Rdultovsky himself.

One of the largest palace and park ensembles in Belarus was built here from 1825 to 1827. In two years, an impressive complex has grown on the banks of the river Snovka: it is believed that there were at least 100 rooms in it!

An interesting fact from VETLIVA: there are various rumours about many residences of gentry dynasties. For example, it is believed that a lion was released in Kosava Castle at night so that it scared off intruders. Or that the Radziwill residences in Mir and Nesvizh were united using a tunnel (which, incidentally, is still being sought). All this you will find in the selection of mystical facts about Belarus.

The palace in the style of classicism was built under the direction of the architect B. Tychetsky. The internal layout has repeatedly changed, but the appearance of the structure has not changed much. The length of the manor house is about 140 m, but the length is concealed through the use of different-height volumes: the central part of the palace and flanking risalits are two floors high, while the right and left wings are single-storied.

An interesting fact from VETLIVA: this composition is clearly very similar to Potemkin Palace, located in Dnepropetrovsk. However, at the same time, the attraction of Snov is considered to be a more refined and sophisticated building.

Once inside the palace on the ground floor there was a lobby, to the left of which was the main front hall. It was decorated with a beautiful tiled stove, as well as a cornice located on the top of the wall. The side wings of the building and pavilions were reserved for office and utility rooms, the second floor — for living and sleeping rooms for gentlemen.

Rdultovsky Palace in Snov was devastated during the First World War. In 1925, the last owner of the estate, Heinrich Harting, sold it to the Polish Border Guard Corps. After that, an office, living rooms of Polish officers and even a casino were located inside the architectural monument!

The current state of Rdultovsky palace in the agricultural town of Snov

Rdultovsky palace and park ensemble is not in vain included in the list of places that a tourist needs to visit: even now, in an abandoned state, it catches an eye and amazes with its scale. Around it, there is a landscape park, which is surprisingly well preserved. It spreads over 10 hectares of land, on its territory there are benches, bridges, arbors, etc. A picturesque artificial pond, connected with the river Snovka by canals, has also been preserved.

Until 2014, the headquarters of the military hospital of the border troops were located within its walls. Currently, the palace is looking for a new owner to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of Belarus, who will be engaged in the reconstruction of the architectural monument. And then, perhaps, it will become the new tourist Mecca of Belarus. The main thing is that it is not added to the list of lost heritages: it would be a pity if such a beautiful building simply turns into ruins ...

Advice from VETLIVA: if you are interested in what other estates of Belarus have an abandoned status, read our article.

Источник фото:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/