Work Has Begun On Restoring An Old Mill And Chapel In Minsk's Loshitsky Park
- 20.09.2026, 12:30
It has been revealed what they will look like and what will be displayed there.
Last year, a distillery and farm buildings in Minsk’s Loshitsky Park were restored and transformed into a multifunctional complex featuring a wedding hall, a hotel, restaurants, and cafes. Work has now begun on restoring the historic mill and chapel, according to "Minsk-Novosti".
In the 18th century, a uniquely shaped chapel was built in Loshitsa—a building with eight walls, crowned by a dome. However, only two fragments of the walls have survived from the original structure. The chapel’s appearance will be reconstructed in brick based on historical documents, facts, a watercolor landscape by Józef Peszka, and photographs that have survived to this day. Once the work is complete, the interior is planned to house permanent and rotating thematic exhibitions.
The three-story brick mill with an attic was built on the Svisloch River by landowner Evstafiy Lyubansky according to a design completed in 1901. It became the largest facility of its kind in the entire Minsk suburbs. After the end of World War II, the mill was converted into housing. The former industrial building served this purpose until the mid-1970s. But when all the residents moved out, it began to rapidly fall into disrepair. Only two floors have survived to this day.
After renovation, the mill building will once again become a four-story structure, including an attic. The first two floors will house a tasting room, a dining room, and a banquet hall. A Belarusian oven will be a distinctive feature of the interior of one of these spaces. The third floor will be used as a kitchen for the dining areas and for staff needs.
The fourth floor will house engineering equipment, including supply and exhaust ventilation systems.
The single-story annex will also be restored to its original location; it will house the milling mechanism, while the waterwheel itself is planned to be placed outdoors—at the end of the annex.
“It will serve more as a demonstration, since while it is possible to maintain a constant water supply under modern conditions, it is impractical,” the experts explained.
This phase of the reconstruction is scheduled to be completed in 2027.