Valozhyn - is a big town of Minsk region of Belarus, an administrative center of Valozhyn district. In the city of Valozhyn there are a few large and significant sights. Perhaps the central place among the attractions of the city of Valozhyn is the palace and park ensemble of the Tyszkiewicz. The palace and park ensemble in the city of Valozhyn includes: a palace, a greenhouse, several additional buildings, similar in appearance to the palace itself, several office buildings and a park. Most of the buildings belonging to the palace and park ensemble in the town of Valozhyn were erected at the very beginning of the 19th century. For example, the central buildings of this architectural complex, including the palace and magnificent additional buildings were erected in 1803-1806. The palace and park ensemble in the city of Valozhyn remained in the possession of the tycoon of the Tyszkiewicz family until 1939. Then, it was transferred to the state.
The palace and park complex in the city of Valozhyn is one of the largest, beautiful, lush and well-preserved objects of this type in the territory of Belarus. However, today in the walls of the palace in the city of Valozhyn and in the adjacent territory with a park there is a military unit. Entrance to the territory of the unit for travelers and tourists is strictly prohibited. It is possible to view the palace only from a distance behind the fence of the military unit. Two other large buildings, previously belonged to the palace and park ensemble in the city of Valozhyn, are occupied by the police station and the military registration and enlistment office. Accordingly, these objects are accessible. However, nevertheless, the fact that these buildings are located power structures imposes a certain imprint, both visually and psychologically. Tourist objects are difficult to name.
Also, due to the fact that the territory of the former palace and park complex is divided between the military unit, the police and the military enlistment office, at present the original composition, layout and atmosphere of this architectural complex with the park is already very poorly traced. This is also facilitated by the fact that next to the ancient buildings of the palace complex today there are modern farm buildings, fences with barbed wire, garages, abandoned shops and so on.
Nowadays, the palace itself and other buildings related to the palace and park complex in the city of Valozhyn are in good condition. Interiors, of course, completely lost, changed and adapted to the modern needs of building owners. But the exterior of buildings fully corresponds to its historical appearance. As soon as there is such a need in these buildings, ongoing work is carried out to maintain them in order. Thus, despite the fact that the palace and park complex in the city of Valozhyn is not actually a tourist attraction, it is nevertheless a very important architectural monument and a cultural and historical value of Belarus.
The next important sight of the city of Valozhyn is the Catholic church of St. Joseph. This majestic temple was erected from 1806 to 1815. The church in the town of Valozhyn is located very close to the palace. This temple was also founded and raised by the representatives of the Tyszkiewicz family. Under the choir of the church is their family burial vault. This monumental temple is located on one of the highest points of the whole contiguous locality, and the main facade of the church faces one of the central squares of Valozhyn. To this day, this temple remains the main architectural dominant of the whole city. Near the church in the town of Valozhyn there is a small bell tower, built in 1830. And in recent times, a monument to John Paul II was erected on the territory adjacent to the church.
The following important stages can be noted in the history of the church in the city of Valozhyn. So, in 1864 this temple was closed by the tsarists Russian authorities and transferred to the Orthodox Church. In 1921, after the city of Valozhyn became part of Poland, the church was returned to the Catholic Church. After the Second World War, during which the temple was badly damaged, the church was closed by order of the Soviet authorities. Further, the temple was used first as a storage room, and then there was even organized the production. In 1991 the church was returned to the Catholic Church again. After a long period of restoration and restoration work, the church managed to almost completely restore its original appearance. To date, the church in the city of Valozhyn is an active temple, an important architectural monument and the cultural and historical value of Belarus. The temple is in good condition, and since the palace in the city of Valozhyn is inaccessible to tourists, the church is also the main tourist attraction of the city.
The next interesting landmark of the town of Valozhyn is the wooden Orthodox church of Saints Constantine and Helena. This temple was erected in the city of Valozhyn in 1866. To date, the church is in good condition, functioning and is a cultural and historical value, an important and interesting monument of wooden architecture, as well as a landmark of Belarus. Already in our time, near the church was also erected a small wooden chapel.
Another interesting sight of the town of Valozhyn is the small Orthodox Savior-Transfiguration chapel. This small temple is located in the local cemetery. This chapel was erected in the city of Valozhyn in 1850, again, with the funds of representatives of the Tyszkiewicz family. Originally the chapel was Catholic. In 1885, the chapel was transferred to the Orthodox Church. Recently, this chapel was restored and, at the same time, significantly rebuilt. Two domes were added: on the tower that adorns the main facade of the chapel, and over the central part of the temple. Thus, in our time the chapel is in excellent condition, however its external appearance is somewhat different from the original one.
In addition to those mentioned, in the city of Valozhyn there are a few buildings that can be attributed to the ordinary urban historic buildings. These buildings mainly belong to the first half of the 20th century. In addition, as already mentioned, the city of Valozhyn is quite large. There are all the necessary elements of the basic tourist infrastructure, in particular: cafes, restaurants, hotels, bank and post offices, numerous shops, gas stations and much more.
However, it must be said that the tourist potential of the city of Valozhyn is not fully disclosed. Now it is not very popular with tourists, and for that there is an understandable reason: the stunning palace located here is closed to visit, in addition, the palace and park ensemble, which once formed a general architectural ensemble with a church and a central square of the city, and was located On a high and picturesque hill, and which could become one of the central sights of the whole country nowadays, is now built up by numerous, extremely unsightly economic buildings, fences and production And shops. These elements, completely deprive these places of any tourist attraction.
One can only hope that for the organizations that currently occupy the buildings of the palace complex, there are other suitable real estate facilities, and in the central part of the city of Valozhyn, some day its historical appearance will be restored, provided with tourist service facilities such as museums, galleries, restaurants and hotels and Will open all this potential splendor for tourists.
