Old Castle — Attraction in Hrodna

Great historic place! General Seimas of the First Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth passed here.

In this building, during the last Sejm of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1793, an agreement was signed on dividing the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with Russia and Prussia, and in 1795 the Polish King and Grand Duke of Lithuania Stanislav Avgust Ponyatovsky signed the act of renunciation. The king lived in it until 1797.

In one part of the palace were the royal chambers, in the other - the premises intended for the meetings of the Sejm. For the needs of the Seym, in 1726, a special building was constructed. After 1750, a dome-covered chapel was built, and the entrance gate was also partially preserved. After the division of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian authorities staged a hospital and barracks in the palace.

The Old Castle in Grodno is a truly fascinating historical site that offers a deep dive into the medieval history of Belarus. The location is stunning, perched on a hill overlooking the Neman River, and the views are absolutely breathtaking. Walking through the castle grounds feels like stepping back in time. Some areas are currently under renovation, but it doesn’t take away from the overall experience. The museum inside is small but interesting, with artifacts that give insight into the region’s past. If you’re visiting Grodno, this place is a must-see — both for history lovers and anyone who enjoys beautiful architecture and panoramic landscapes! 🏰 We were here on Belarus Independence Day 🙌

I think my favorite part was the collections of butterflies and other stuffed animals. My kids loved it too. There is an extensive book collection, which I loved and fellow bibliophiles will find interesting. In Belarus, it is very common to keep all lights off in the rooms until you go into them. So if it isn't busy there will be people following you around (especially if you have kids haha) to turn lights on and to make sure you don't mess with anything. That might seem strange to foreigners, but we've gotten used to it. One of these ladies stayed with us throughout the last floor carrying my youngest and explaining things to him. So friendly and kind.