Small Belarusian villages often keep really unique and original historical, cultural and architectural gems. We can often pass through some unremarkable location the outskirts of which can keep virtually amazing heritage. Only a few people are aware of them.

One of such little-known but very interesting architectural gems is in the tiny agro-town Lytsevichi. The location is really small; according to the data of 2009 its population is 507 people. The agro-town refers to the Vileika district (30 km from the district center). Lytsevichi is a terminal point of the route Lyuban – Izha – Lytsevichi. In a word, it is easy to come to the agro-town. And believe – it is well worth the effort.

The estate “Churleny” appeared in the territory of Lytsevichi in the early XX century. It is situated on a small hill and occupies surrounding territories. The estate consisted of a manor house, a small park of six hectares, a farmstead, a brew-house, a garage and a mill.

The house was located in the depth of the park. A stone road led from the central walkway to the lawn. By the way, the lawn was rather sizable: about seventy meters in diameter. In its middle there was the main circular court the driveway to which was edged with lush elms and maples. Along the perimeter the lawn was edged with the plantings of bushes interchanging with single trees. Today the bushes have enhanced and made a complete green ring of lilac, pea shrub, false spiraea and snowberry.  

One of the main features of the park is that there are five ponds in lower places of the northern and eastern parts of the estate. Height differences of this area offered amazing perspectives: from the manor part of the estate it was possible to see all the ponds – both eastern and western. The central walkway oriented from south to north was edged with maple trees. Single trees have survived. The compositional axis of the park did not come to the estate house but crossed it ending in the farmstead in the northern part of the estate; that was not typical for those times.

At the foot of the hill there was a landscape part of the park. At the time adornment plats grew there and even splendorous peacocks walked on the loose! Today the park has been almost completely cut down and has become wild.

The estate house, unfortunately, has not survived. But upon your visit to Lytsevichi you can watch buildings of the cowshed, steam-mill and garage. The buildings do not stand out for some special decoration or excessiveness; they are made of natural stone in the style of Utilitarianism. On the facade of the mill there has survived a board with the construction year – 1926. Besides, it is ornamented with rock-face stone and tracery made of black chipping.

Thus, a trip to the village Lytsevichi is sure to stick in your memory due to the partially preserved estate “Churleny”.