The Loshitsa manor and park complex in Minsk is one of the most beautiful parks in the capital of Belarus, located in the southern part of the city, in the homogeneous district Loshitsa. An old manor complex is located on the territory of the Loshitsa Park, around which the park itself was once formed. Nowadays there is a beautiful museum in the estate. Loshitsa Park is located along the banks of the Svisloch River, and covers an area of about one hundred hectares. In the southern part of Loshitsa Park there is a small artificial reservoir formed on the small river Loshitsa, which in this place flows into Svisloch.
Loshitsa Park is one of the best places for unhurried walks and family outdoor recreation in Minsk. But for lovers of outdoor activities, there is also all the proper infrastructure: cycling and jogging tracks (in winter - ski runs), various sports facilities, and rental centers for the necessary sports equipment. There are also several small cafes in the park, and in the warm season, pavilions with ice-cream and drinks are also added. In addition, there are several excellent children's playgrounds.
Loshitsa Park in Minsk is amazingly landscaped. Many beautiful shady alleys, beautifully designed walkways, flower beds, gazebos, exotic plants, small architectural forms such as bridges, benches, stylized lampposts, huge boulders - all this adorns Loshitsa Park and delights its visitors. Do not forget about the beauty of nature. There are green meadows, dense thickets of trees (including fruit), picturesque hills turning into steep banks of the river, and the Svisloch river winding in this place, and lowlands with bogs covered with reeds, and finally, a small lake with an island and gazebos on the shore. And all this inside the big city.
The history of Loshitsa dates back to the 10th century itself. At that time there was located a large settlement. Nowadays, it is on the site of this ancient settlement that several dozen large boulders are installed in Loshitsa Park. The territory of the modern Loshitsa Park in Minsk has been known as a private estate since the 16th century. But the prototype of the park itself and the large estate complex, which have survived to this day, were founded in Loshitsa in the second half of the 18th century.
The heyday of the manor-park complex in Loshitsa occurred at the end of the 19th century. At that time, a large number of outbuildings were built as part of the estate complex; the central manor house was reconstructed, were built a two-story outbuilding for guests, a gatehouse, a distillery on the shore of the pond, a tavern, a three-story stone mill, a chapel were restored. At that time, the Loshitsa household farm complex was exemplary, and the owners of the estate were famous for their passion for science. They paid great attention to their park where they planted seedlings brought from different countries, conducted experiments on plant crossing, and so on.
After the revolution, the history of the Loshitsa manor and park complex in Minsk was as follows. In 1925, the Belarusian branch of the All-Union Institute of Plant Industry was established in the estate. Then a huge garden was laid in the park and many exotic plants were planted. During the Second World War, the estate occupied the Minsk regional headquarters of the German occupation authorities. In 1946-47, a UN mission in the BSSR was located in the estate. In the second half of the 20th century, the Loshitsa manor and park complex in Minsk was in relative desolation. In 1988, the Loshitsa Park and the manor were declared a monument of history, culture and architecture. However, the full restoration and development of the park was started only in 2002, and was completed in 2011.
At the same time, work on the restoration of the manor house and the outbuilding was completed even later - in 2014. Then all the details and elements of these architectural monuments were beautifully restored, including: picturesque decor, stucco molding, unique tiled stoves and a fireplace. And finally, in 2015, the museum, located in the restored manor, opened its doors to visitors.
Until our time, many objects have remained in the Loshitsa manor-park complex in Minsk: the central wooden manor house (built in the 18th century on a stone foundation and rebuilt in 1895); wooden side outbuilding, it is the house of the steward, it is also a guest house (built in 1895); the ruins of a chapel built in 1788; distillery built in 1896; the ruins of a watermill erected in 1901; brama and the gatehouse, built in the same year 1895.
Nowadays, the Loshitsa manor and park complex in Minsk, as it were, is experiencing its second heyday. As already mentioned, the park is in a terrific condition, and the central manor house, side outbuilding and gatehouse are beautifully restored. The ruins of the chapel and the water mill are well preserved, and their current state to some extent even adds an old spirit to Loshitsa Park and emphasizes its originality.
In the central manor house and in the side wing nowadays there is a very interesting museum. The exposition of the museum is dedicated to the history of Loshitsa and Loshitsa manor and park complex from the 10th century to the present. Visitors to the museum will also be able to learn many new things from the history of the entire city of Minsk as a whole. At the moment, the museum presents the restored interiors of a residential building (large and small living rooms, a ballroom, an office, a pantry, a dining room and a sofa room) with authentic pieces of furniture, everyday life, decorative arts, painting and graphics are available for inspection.
In the backyard, the museum exposition is dedicated to the Belarusian urban and rural culture of the late 19th century. Here are carts, copper dishes, samovars, irons, sewing machines. Pottery, straw and wines, craft tools are also on display. A separate section of the exhibition is devoted to weaving. Here, items and tools for processing flax are adjacent to ready-made weaving, towels and tablecloths.
In addition to the permanent exhibition, temporary thematic exhibitions and various cultural events are held in the museum. Thus, the Loshitsa manor and park complex is one of the most interesting, educational, pleasant and beautiful places for a weekend getaway in Minsk. Loshitsa park and manor are very valuable Belarusian sights, which can be of great interest for a wide range of tourists.