The program of the Summer School of Arts includes tours around the city. Grodno is a city with a centuries-old history. It is one of the oldest cities on the territory of Belarus. Grodno is located on the border with Poland and Lithuania in a most beautiful place on the banks of the Neman River. This Belarusian city gives an impression of European thanks to the preserved architectural ensembles. During the tour you will see many interesting things: sights, ancient architecture, beautiful natural places, smiling and hospitable locals

Kalozhskaya Orthodox Church

Kalozhskayachurch, also known as St. Boris and St. Gleb Church, is an architectural pearl of the ancient Grodno, a unique monument of the ancient orthodox architecture of the 12^th century in Belarus and throughout Eastern Europe. Built in the north-west of Ancient Russ, Kalozhskayachurch is unlike any church in the world. The Orthodox Church, whose history has been counted for nine centuries, is included in the preliminary list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

A unique feature of the church is a multitude of ceramic vessels-voices built into the vaults of the walls and outwardly opening with the necks, thanks to which, for many centuries, wonderful acoustics are preserved here and the church choirs sound so beautiful. Another famous feature of the Kalozha is the decoration of facades and walls with insets of large polished stones and multicolored majolica tiles in the shape of crosses.

Today Kalozhskayachurch is one of the oldest working churches in Belarus, where divine services and sacraments are held. Also, at the St. Boris and St. Gleb Church, there is a Sunday school and a house church in honor of the icon of the God Mother of Kalozha.

The Old and the New Palaces in Grodno

The first defensive structure in Grodno, erected in the XI^th century on the bank of the Neman to protect against the Crusader raids, in 1389 by order of Vitovt turned into a stone Gothic castle – one of the main residences of the legendary prince.

The modern look of the palace and park ensemble in the Renaissance style the New Castle acquired during the reign of King Stephen Batory. Built in the beginning of the XVIII^th century next to the Old Palace, it served as a royal residence. It was here that the agreement on the third division of the Rzecz Pospolita was signed.

Today the Old and the New Palaces house a rich exposition of the Grodno Historical and Archaeological Museum, consisting of about 7000 exhibits.

St. Francis Xavery’s Catholic Cathedral

St. Francis Xavery’s Catholic Cathedral in Sovetskaya Square is an architectural dominant in the historical center of the city. In 1991, after the formation of the Grodno Catholic diocese, the church became the Cathedral. A majestic temple with a rich history, not subject to time, destructive wars and ruling regimes is the visiting card of the city over the Neman.

The cathedral was part of the complex of the Jesuit monastery, once the richest in the Rzecz Pospolita, occupying a whole block in the central part of the city (in the building of the monastery from the XIX^th century to the present there is a prison). The height of the towers of the cathedral is 65 meters. One of them has a clock – one of the oldest operating clocks in Eastern Europe.

The architectural style of the cathedral is baroque. The cathedral for a long period of time was the richest in all of Eastern Europe. Its interior decoration is amazing. In the decoration of the cathedral, architectural plastics, sculpture and painting were widely used. Particular beauty of the interior is given by a developed multi-sculpture composition (consisting of more than 40 sculptures) in the main altar and pillars decorated with decorative columns of iconostasis made entirely of wood. These decorative elements have high artistic value. Fresco painting consists of multi-figure compositions located in arched niches, arches and other. ThemainaltarisoneofthetallestbaroquealtarsinEurope (21 m tall).

At the ceremony of sanctification ofthe St. Francis Xavery’s Catholic Cathedral in 1705, there were such historical personalities as the Polish King August I and the Emperor of the Russian Empire Peter I.

Catholic Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross and Bernardino monastery

The architectural complex of the church and the Bernardino monastery were built in the XV–XVIII^th centuries, many times rebuilt. Different architects mixed in the buildings Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles. The church itself was built according to the rules of the Catholic basilica. The church is the oldest active Catholic Church in Grodno and one of the oldest in western Belarus. Here is a functioning organ of the XII^th century, the interior is decorated in the baroque style, there are sculptures of the apostles and great figures of the Rzecz Pospolita. In Soviet times, this church did not work, and today it houses a Catholic seminary.

St. Mary Intercession Orthodox Cathedral

The cathedral is located in the old part of the city, which was declared a monument of town-planning and architecture in 1988 and is protected by the state. St. Mary Intercession Orthodox Cathedral is not only a religious building, but also a memorial. It was built in 1904 according to the project of M.M. Prozorov in memory of the soldiers who died in the Russian-Japanese War. The cathedral is a monument of architecture of the Neo-Russian style, it is decorated with beautiful domes and fine moldings. The main facade of the building is crowned with a bell-tower with a dome, it is made in a shape of an octagonal tent and its height is about 10 meters.

Today, theHolyProtectionCathedralisanoperatingOrthodoxchurch. There are several particularly revered holy things in it: the icon of the Kazan Mother of God, the relics of the martyr-child Gabriel Zabludovsky, and also the icons of the XIX^th century.

Unlike other religious institutions, it worked continuously both during the years of German occupation, and during the persecution of religion at the Soviet period. In the 2000s, on the eve of the 100^th anniversary, the complex was completely restored.

Catholic church of the Virgin Mary of Angels

The Catholic monastery of the Franciscans on the left bank of the Neman is an architectural monument of the XVII^th century. This is a whole complex of buildings erected in 1635 in the Baroque style: a bell tower, a gate with a fence, a church and a residential building. The monastery looks unusual, which contributes to the uneven terrain, which made its corrections to the composition of the buildings.

In general, the monastery looks strict, but quite bright – in the decor there are a lot of green and blue colours, there are murals in the style of Romanticism.

The church has seven altars. One of them is wooden, decorated with sculptures and skillful overhead carvings. Other altars are stone, decorated with sculptures and appropriate images. In the design of the interior several styles are combined – baroque of different ages and rococo.

Having visited the monastery, you will enjoy the atmosphere of peace and quiet and admire the beautiful views that open from the high bank of the Neman to the city.

Lutheran Church of St. John

The only operating Protestant church in Grodno. It was built on the means of a wealthy German community in the late XVIII^th century by German manufacturers with the consent of the Polish king. In 1912, the first reconstruction was carried out. After the two World Wars, when most Germans left Grodno, the church stood in desolation until the authorities adjusted it to a warehouse. In 1995, the building was handed over to the revived Lutheran community.

Great Choral Synagogue

The first Jewish church in Grodno was built in the XVI^th century according to the project of S. Gucci, but the building burned down in 1617. The same fate befell the next building. The modern and the third synagogue was built according to the project of I. Frunkin in 1905 in an eclectic manner with the predominant Moorish elements. During the Great Patriotic War, a rich interior decoration was badly damaged, which began to be actively restored in the 1990s.

St. Brigitte Cathedral and Monastery

The ensemble is considered an architectural monument of the early Baroque. It was built in the first half of the XVII^th century on the means of K. Veselovsky, a statesman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The decline of the monastery began in the XIX^th century, as a result of which almost all nuns left it by the beginning of the XX^th century. In Soviet times, there was a medical institution here, and in 1990 the complex was returned to Catholics.

Monastery of the Nativity of Mother of God

The Orthodox Convent was catholic up to the middle of the XIX century when Grodno came under the protectorate of the Russian Empire. A hegumeness and her novices moved there from Orsha Convent to start monastic life.

The Church of the Nativity of Mother of God is part of the Basilian Orthodox Convent. It was built in 1726 by an Italian architect I. Fontana. Before that time Prechistensky Temple could be found there. At first it was wooden and in the XII century it was made of stone.

The history of this monastic complex is rich in events. It was burnt and reconstructed, reformed and removed and restored again. Only in the late XX century monastic life in Grodno returned to its former state. The establishment functioned up to 1960s and then closed. Monastic life revived in 1990s alongside with the reconstruction of shabby buildings.

It’s interesting to know that in 1877 there was myrrh-streaming of a miraculous replica of Vladimir Icon of Mother of God. It lasted for six months. Myrrh was collected into a cross-shaped ark that is still in the Convent.

Sovetskaya Street in Grodno

One of the oldest and most popular sites in Grodno is pedestrian Sovetskaya Street. It is situated in the central part of the city and is 500 metres long. It starts from Sovetskaya Square. One can see a lot of places of interest here – ancient buildings as well as cultural places. Sovetskaya Street in Grodno represents European culture. Some buildings were erected in the 15^th century. One of the oldest pharmacies is located here. It was opened in 1709. The street is incredibly homely and nice.

Pharmacy Museum in Grodno

Pharmacy Museum is an interesting site in Grodno. It is situated in Sovetskaya Street. It was founded in1709 and traced a lot of historical events. The pharmacy functioned during the war and at the time of other cataclysms. It’s no wonder that today it is both a pharmacy and museum. In one part of the building there is a museum, in the other one – a functioning pharmacy. The museum part exhibits various specimens: old drugs, pharmaceutical utensils, books, etc.

Water Towers ‘Kasya’ and ‘Basya’

These two towers are 20 metres high. They are considered to be the monuments of industrial architecture of the XIX - the early XX centuries. Nowadays art workshops are located here. One can find such constructions in many Russian and Belarusian cities. But only in Grodno these two towers are placed side by side, which was caused by specific aspects of water supply system. During the reconstruction one tower was painted in pastel pink, the other one – in beige.

The Fire Tower and the Fire Fighting History Museum in Grodno

The Fire Station and the Tower appeared in the city after a major fire in the late XIX century which destroyed 600 houses. After the tragedy the citizens decided to spend money once so as to avoid a series of fire outbreaks in future. The tower is a six-tier construction, made of brick. It adjoins the station which has rectangular configuration. The upper tier is a viewing platform. A spiral staircase leads there.

October 10, 2008 there was a ceremonial opening of the fire part and the museum exhibition. In the left wind of the building adjacent to the country’s oldest fire tower there is the Fire Fighting History Museum. The museum contains two exposition halls and exhibition facilities of the Tower. Its exhibits reflect practically all stages in the development of national fire fighting starting with the Middle Ages when all citizens used various items at hand to extinguish a fire and finishing by hard work of today’s fire fighters The exhibits, collected in different parts of the country, give a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the history of fire fighting in Belarus and get acquainted with the heroic deeds of several generations of fire fighters who did their best to protect and save our people.

Maksim Bogdanovich Museum in Grodno

M.A. Bogdanovich, a Belarusian classical poet, was born in Minsk. He lived with his parents in Grodno from 1892 to 1896. The museum was created in their house in 1986. It required a lot of work to reconstruct the interior and collect family belongings and archival documents. By 1995 there were more than 13 thousand objects in the collection.

House-Museum of Eliza Ozheshko

Eliza Ozheshko was popular not only in Belarus – her literary work is highly praised in Poland. The museum, named after her, is located in the house which is an exact replica of the building where Eliza lived till her death in 1910. The museum was created in 1958. In 1976 it was decided to reconstruct the whole building.

Grodno Yanka Kupala State University Museum

The University museum collects and displays, promotes and preserves historical and cultural heritage, contributes greatly to mass education and spiritual growth.

The museum carries out scientific research, performs cultural and educational, ideological and informative work using all major achievements of contemporary pedagogical science and technology.

Grodno Zoo

Grodno Zoo is the largest zoo in Belarus. It was founded in 1927. Its total area is 5,35 hectares. It has more than 3000 animals of various species. One can see mammals, amphibians, rodents, birds, fishes, etc.  

Zhiliber’s Park (Zhiliber Public Garden)

Grodno Zhiliber’s Park is situated in the city centre. The park is named after the person who made a lot for the city – Jean Emmanuel Zhiliber. April 8, 1775 a famous French scholar laid Grodno Botanical Garden, the site of which is now a city park. Two years later there grew 1200 species of exotic plants and a year after – 2000 of them.

Zhiliber’s Park is a wonderful place suitable both for family active recreation and calm relaxation. Today it is a place with benches and pavements, kiddie rides and a sound-and-light fountain. There is a concert venue in the park too. Zhiliber’s Park is famous for its picturesque walking paths, bowers, rivulets, open-work bridges and numerous statues.

Forest-Park ‘Pyshki’

‘Pyshki’ is one of the largest recreation forests in the city. It once had unfavourable reviews. Nowadays it’s an improved site with a great number of coniferous trees and a health path. Those who like walking can get a real pleasure and benefit from the air rich in phytoncids. One can listen to music here too.

‘Pyshki’ differs from other city parks in the way that you can hire a bicycle and enjoy active pastime. Or you can see pillboxes which were built here before World War II.