Location: Hajciunishki Map
Constructed: 17th century
Hajciunishki Manor, also known as the Nonhart Residence or
Haytsyunishki Manor, is a historic fortified estate located in the
village of Haytsyunishki (Hajciunishki) in the Voranava District of
the Grodno Region, Belarus. Built in the early 17th century, it
represents a blend of residential and defensive architecture,
reflecting the turbulent historical period of its construction. The
manor is situated at coordinates approximately 54°15′12″N
25°26′02″E, on the left bank of the Zhizhmy (Zizma) River near its
confluence with the Voishelk (Vaišvilkas) River. Originally a
private noble residence, it has evolved over centuries from a family
estate to a state-owned facility, currently serving as a psychiatric
hospital closed to the public. The site holds cultural significance,
potentially inspiring the fictional village of Soplicowo in Adam
Mickiewicz's epic poem Pan Tadeusz. With its Dutch-influenced design
and defensive features, the manor exemplifies early modern
Belarusian architecture amid regional conflicts.
The estate's
total area historically included a courtyard, outbuildings, stables,
vegetable gardens, and fenced areas, though much has been altered
over time. As of 2025, no major recent developments or restorations
are reported, and access remains restricted due to its current
function.
Haytsyunishki village and the manor are nestled in the flat, riverine
landscape of northwestern Belarus, part of the Grodno Region's lowlands.
The site is positioned on the outskirts of the village, adjacent to a
pond formed by the Zhizhmy River, with the Gismu River flowing nearby to
the southwest. This watery environment, including deep moats that once
surrounded the manor, underscores its strategic defensive placement. The
surrounding area features forests and agricultural fields, typical of
the region's rural character.
The climate is humid continental
(Köppen: Dfb), with mild summers, cold winters, and moderate
precipitation. Summers are comfortable with average highs around 23°C in
July, while winters can drop to -5°C in January, often accompanied by
snow and overcast skies. Annual precipitation averages about 650 mm,
with the wettest period from June to August. The time zone is Moscow
Standard Time (UTC+3), without daylight saving.
Hajciunishki Manor (also known as Haytsyunishki, Hajciuniški Castle,
Nonhart Residence, or fortified manor house of the Nonhart family;
Belarusian: Гайцюнішкі, Polish: Gojcieniszki / Hajciuniszki, Lithuanian:
Gaičiūniškės) is a rare early 17th-century fortified manor house
(sometimes called a small castle or "zameczek") located in the village
of Haytsyunishki, Voranava District, Grodno Region, Belarus, on the left
bank of the Zhizhma (Żyżma) River.
The village first appears in
records in 1562, when the estate was granted to Łukasz Łęski, a royal
chamberlain (łożniczy Jego Królewskiej Mości). It was sold in 1589 to
Sebastian Pakosz and acquired around 1600 by Piotr (Peter) Nonhart (c.
1550s–1614?), a figure of Dutch origin who served as horodniczy (city
governor/administrator) of Vilnius. Nonhart received Polish-Lithuanian
nobility (nobilitacja and indygenat) in 1590 from King Sigismund III
Vasa for his military and engineering services during Stephen Báthory's
wars (Livonian War era). He likely collaborated with another Dutch
engineer (Van Doden/Van Dodin) and oversaw or designed the residence
himself, building on an earlier wooden structure.
Construction of
the fortified manor occurred in 1611–1612 (sometimes dated to 1612–1613
or early 17th century) as a defensive residence in a Western (primarily
Dutch/Renaissance-Mannerist with Gothic elements) style, uncommon for
the northeastern borders of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It
measures roughly 15 × 34 meters (two main stories plus a three-story
central gate risalit/entrance tower), features thick walls (up to 1.5
m), four cylindrical corner bastions/towers with loopholes and
machicolations, surrounding moats (originally water-filled) and ramparts
with bastions, defensive cellars (including a well for sieges), and
interiors with a grand dining hall (eight windows, tower-shaped
fireplace, musicians' balcony), family quarters upstairs, and service
areas below. Some 17th–19th-century wall paintings (hunting scenes)
survived into later periods. Later modifications included a large porch
(1900–1905 under Edward Rymsza), enlarged windows, and a
pillar-supported terrace (~1910). It blends Renaissance symmetry,
Mannerist details, pointed Gothic arches, and practical fortifications
suited to a noble residence amid regional instability (e.g., Livonian
War, Swedish conflicts, Northern War siege in 1708).
Ownership
passed through several noble families via inheritance, dowries, sales,
and marriages:
After Piotr Nonhart's death (tomb with wife, née
Mrzygłódówna Szemetowa, dated 1614 in the local Calvinist church), it
went to his daughter Zuzanna (Susanna) Nonhart, who brought it as dowry
to Jerzy Chreptowicz (Chrapowicki), Voivode of Nowogródek.
Around
1660: Colonel Wilhelm Korff (dworzanin JKM).
~1700: Szretter
(Shretter/Shroter) family, who added hunting-scene interiors and early
renovations.
1753: As dowry of Dorota Szretterówna to Wawrzyniec
Puttkamer, stolnik inflancki.
Later: Polonized branch of the
Osten-Sacken (Osten Saken) barons.
~1835: Through dowry of Weronika
Osten-Sacken to Adam Rymsza; held by the Rymsza family until the 20th
century (last private owner Edward Rymsza died 1937; they added
neoclassical elements).
In 1633, Zuzanna Nonhart erected a
Calvinist (Protestant) church/zbor (chapel-mausoleum) nearby, which
served as the family burial site (with buttresses giving it a
fortress-like appearance); it later shifted to Lutheran/Catholic use,
was plundered and partially dismantled for bricks in the 1940s–1950s,
and now stands in ruins. The Nonharts were Protestant (Calvinist) in a
predominantly Catholic region, adding to the site's religious-historical
interest. A possible earlier hillfort site ("Stary Zamek" or "Stare
zamczysko") lies about 0.5 km away near the river.
In 1877,
Polish-Lithuanian artist Napoleon Orda depicted it as "Zamek Rymszów
dawniej Nonhartów, Sakenów." An inventory from 1648 survives in the
Radziwiłł Archives (AGAD, Warsaw).
Cultural significance includes
local and scholarly suggestions that the village or the fortified manor
inspired elements of Adam Mickiewicz's Pan Tadeusz (1811–1812 epic poem
set in Soplicowo village in Lithuania; the manor possibly as prototype
for the Horeszko castle, per researchers like Ryszard Kiersnowski in
"Gawęda Gojcieniska" and Tomasz Krzywicki). These connections are
interpretive rather than definitively proven.
After the Soviet
annexation in 1939 and nationalization in the 1940s, private ownership
ended. Since 1956 (republican status 1993), the manor has served as the
administrative center/building of the Republican Psychiatric Hospital
Gaytyunishki (Hajciunishki), a 280-bed forensic psychiatric facility
under the Belarusian Ministry of Health for compulsory treatment. It is
a protected historical-architectural monument with restorations (e.g.,
major work ~2000 addressing ~30% damage after four centuries), but
access is heavily restricted for security reasons (closed to the general
public; occasional guided tours for educational/professional groups).
The chapel ruins persist nearby.
The manor is a rectangular, white-plastered structure with a high red tiled roof, embodying Dutch architectural influences from Peter Nonhart's heritage. Designed for defense amid wars with Moscow and Sweden, it features 1.5-meter-thick walls, corner towers, a three-story central tower over the entrance, surrounding moats, and bastions. The castellated design includes castle-like elements for protection against revolts or invasions. Interiors were once adorned with hunting scene paintings by artist Shretter (Shroter). Auxiliary 19th-century outbuildings and the ruins of the 1633 Calvinist chapel (a small family tomb) add to the site's architectural ensemble.
As of 2025, the manor is state-owned and functions as part of the Republican Psychiatric Hospital for compulsory treatment of violent offenders, established in 1956. It is closed to the public, with no tourism access. The main building remains intact, though adapted for medical use, while the chapel and some outbuildings are in ruins. Preservation efforts are minimal, focusing on its operational role rather than heritage tourism.
Due to its restricted status, Hajciunishki Manor offers limited attractions for visitors. External views of the structure are possible from public areas in the village, highlighting its white facade and red roof. Nearby ruins of the 1633 chapel provide historical interest for those exploring on foot. The site's literary connection to Pan Tadeusz may appeal to literature enthusiasts, though no guided tours exist. The surrounding rivers and ponds offer scenic walks, but tourism infrastructure is absent. Proximity to Radun (57 km) allows integration into broader regional itineraries focusing on Belarusian history.
Haytsyunishki is accessible via regional roads from Voranava or Grodno, with the nearest major city being Grodno (about 100 km away). Public buses connect to nearby towns, but private transport is recommended for rural access. The closest airport is in Minsk (approximately 150 km east), with train services available from Grodno station to regional hubs.