The Pototsky family estate in Ross village, Grodno region

A small village of Ross is a real gem of Volkovysk district, situated on the small river banks with the same name, surrounded with picturesque forests. The settlement Ross was first spoken about in XIII century, but fully it was mentioned in the Great Duchy of Lithuania chronicles in about XVI century. The settlement of Ross is incredibly rich not only in historical events connected with it, but also in marvelous architecture monument, which attract a lot of tourists regularly. Grand Trinity Church, dated fr om the beginning of the XIX century and fully designed in classicism, is among its main attractions. The church is famous for the fact that a marble tombstone of Sofia Pototskaya is placed under its arches. Once she was a famous figure in those lands, and another attraction of this picturesque place – the Pototsky family estate in the village of Ross is connected with her.

Construction of the estate complex was started as back as in the XVI century, and that vast territory with household outbuildings belonged to the well-known family of Pototsky, and the estate went into possession of the Bronitsky family at the beginning of the XX century. The famous house hasn’t preserved to the present day. Only the picture of a talented painter Napoleon Orda represents its former beauty. All that was left to the descendants is a wonderful park of the richest estate, occupying the area of almost a dozen of hectares, surrounded with hills and canals, belonged to the local health resort.

The very first information about the estate dates back to the XVI century. Following replanning and constructions were built on the same foundation. First it was a one-storied building of wood, half of which was occupied with a huge hall with tens of window openings, wh ere the gentry Sejms took place. When the father of a big family, Peter Pototsky, died, his sons inherited their father’s property. The Pototsky family estate in the village of Ross went to his son Feliks – a wonderful speaker and well-known mathematician, who rebuilt the estate to his own taste in the XIX century. The richest library with rare editions in different languages, starting from Polish and French to Latin and English, was presented in the palace in Feliks’s lifetime. For a short period of time, Feliks developed a wonderful park as well – a landmark of the Pototsky family estate. The park is famous for its wonderful water system, connected with the local river Ross and with both local and exotic timber species. Today only a part of the park has left, but nevertheless it is of great historical and cultural value. Just several structures of high importance have been preserved to our days: an abandoned mill and a gardener’s house.