Choroszcz Palace Park

"A beautiful, small park, worth visiting at any time of year; the views are wonderful.

One of the most beautiful parks in the Białystok area.

When the weather is warm, you can spot many ducks and birds, especially storks.

A large parking lot."

Demi nik

"A place for a walk, numerous alleys, a water system with bridges and weirs, atmospheric surroundings."

Joanna K.

"Choroszcz, Białystok County, Podlaskie Voivodeship. Choroszcz is one of the oldest urban settlements in the region. Archaeological research indicates that the first traces of settlement date back to the Mesolithic. It was here, nestled in the dense forest, that the Holy Grove was located. At the end of the 16th century, Choroszcz was the property of a boyar from the Kiev region, voivode Ivan Chodkiewicz, bearing the Kościesza coat of arms. Married to Princess Agnieszka, daughter of Ivan Bielski, he was an Orthodox believer. Ivan's son, Alexander, married Princess Wasylisa Hołowczyńska, Łabędź coat of arms (died May 11, 1552), daughter of Jarosław Hołowczyński. Alexander founded the Supraśl line of the Chodkiewicz family. He was a prolific farmer, clearing the forest, building mills and fulling mills, and bringing in settlers from Ruthenia and Masovia. In 1506, Alexander granted Choroszcz to the Supraśl monastery. The monks built an Orthodox church there and provided pastoral care to the local population. In 1533, Choroszcz returned to the Chodkiewicz family. In 1507, thanks to Aleksander's efforts, Choroszcz received town privileges from King Sigismund I, with the obligation to provide an armed force in case of war. The 16th century was very favorable to the town; Choroszcz was then the center of the surrounding estates, and roads connected it with the more significant centers of Podlasie. Markets and indulgences were held here, religious life flourished, and the town was bustling with life. In 1587, Anna Chodkiewiczówna brought the Choroszcz estates as her dowry to Paweł Pac. He was the son of Mikołaj, the Lithuanian chamberlain, and Aleksandra Holszańska. In 1573, he confirmed the election of Henry Valois as King of Poland. Their heir was Mikołaj Stefan Pac, Paweł's son from his first marriage, Voivode of Trakai and future Bishop of Vilnius, who brought the Dominican Order to Choroszcz in 1654. The 17th century was not a memorable time in Choroszcz's history. Unfortunately, a fire in 1683 completely destroyed the town, burning down 600 houses, the monastery, the church, and the Orthodox church. Furthermore, epidemics decimated the population. In 1703, Choroszcz and its surrounding villages were purchased by Stefan Mikołaj Branicki from General Jerzy Mniszech. Unfortunately, in 1707, another fire contributed to the town's decline. In 1709, the Choroszcz estates became the property of the Grand Crown Hetman Jan Klemens Branicki. The residence in Choroszcz began to be built at a time when rural estates located within easy reach of the main aristocratic residences were becoming fashionable in Europe. And we remember that the hetman's headquarters were located in Białystok. Choroszcz, located nearby, was therefore ideally suited for this purpose. Around 1757, Branicki began construction of a palace situated on an artificial island. A guardhouse and a steward's cottage were built at the entrance gate. Naturally, a park designed by the French architect Pierre Ricaud de Tirregalle was also a must. The Branickis' guests at feasts and hunting parties included prominent figures of the time. In Choroszcz, Jan Klemens entertained King Augustus III and Stanisław August Poniatowski. Unfortunately, the hetman's death halted the residence's development, and with Izabela Branicka gone, the entire estate began to fall into disrepair. During the November Uprising, the Russians converted the buildings into a military hospital. In the mid-19th century, the Moes brothers leased the complex, which they rebuilt for a textile factory. Some of the palace buildings were converted into factory buildings, a farm, and pastures for draft horses were established. The guest pavilions were converted into official apartments and office space, and looms were set up in the annexes. During this time, the palace garden also fell into disrepair. The war of 1915 destroyed the palace, pavilions, annexes, and some of the regularly spaced factory buildings. Following the war damage, the palace, along with other buildings, became the property of a psychiatric hospital in 1930. Unsecured, it fell into increasingly dilapidated condition, beginning to be demolished in 1933. In the early 1960s, reconstruction of the palace began based on 18th-century designs."

Jaroslaw