In Byaroza, restoration of the famous Carthusian monastery has resumed
After a long break since 2014, when the historic entrance gate was restored, work has resumed in Byaroza to save the ruins of the famous Carthusian monastery. This time, specialists will focus their efforts on the restoration of the southern fence, the southwestern corner tower, and a distinctive decorative column integrated into the historic walls.
Southwestern tower of the monastery. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The Telegram channel "Spadczyna" drew attention to the resumption of work at the site.
As can be understood from public procurement materials, the work is being carried out by specialists from "Brestrestauratsia". About 1 million rubles have been allocated from the district budget for the project.
Despite the fact that the works are officially registered as modest ongoing repairs, the documentation, developed back in 2021 by the scientific and design center "Restabilys", provides for a full-fledged restoration. The renovation of the walls and tower is planned to be completed by the end of November 2026.
During the restoration process, the Soviet barbed wire, a legacy of the former military unit, will finally be removed from the historic walls.
Restoration of the Carthusian monastery wall. Photo: Telegram channel "Spadczyna"
Restoration of the Carthusian monastery wall. Photo: Telegram channel "Spadczyna"
Restoration of the Carthusian monastery wall. Photo: Telegram channel "Spadczyna"
It will also be necessary to excavate part of the fence down to the historical rubble plinth, as over the last century, during road works, the ground level was artificially raised, causing a significant part of the brickwork to be buried. The lack of drainage and excessive moisture led to significant damage to these structures.
Old plaster and later inappropriate cement patches will also be carefully removed from the facades. All losses in the masonry will be filled with solid ceramic bricks using lime-sand mortars, close to the originals, strictly without the use of modern cement, which is dangerous for the preservation of historical walls.
Column in the southern wall of the Carthusian monastery in the 20th century. Photo: from tender documentation
Column in the southern wall of the Carthusian monastery in the 20th century. Photo: from tender documentation
Column in the southern wall of the Carthusian monastery in the 20th century. Photo: from tender documentation
All that remains of the column in the southern wall of the monastery is the pedestal's projection. Photo: from tender documentation
The project envisages the restoration of lost profiled cornices. The newly plastered walls will be painted in historical colors. Based on physical and chemical studies, specialists have determined that the original walls had a warm ochre-yellow hue.
Special attention during the works will be paid to the restoration of the original column of the southern wall, which externally resembled a miniature turret, topped with something like a chapel. Only its pedestal remains today.
Simultaneously, restorers will address the polygonal southwestern corner tower, whose walls require urgent reinforcement.
Condition of the wall near the southwestern tower. Photo: Telegram channel "Spadczyna"
Wall and southwestern tower of the monastery in the 20th century. Photo: from tender documentation
Southwestern tower of the monastery in the 20th century. Photo: from tender documentation
The Byaroza Carthusian monastery is one of the most extensive and distinctive monuments of mature Baroque in Belarus. It was erected in 1648–1689 according to the design of the Italian architect Giovanni Battista Gisleni with funds from the Grand Chancellor of Lithuania, Kazimierz Leon Sapieha. It was the only monastery of the strict Carthusian order on the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, resembling a true fortress with towers, a monumental church, a hospital, a pharmacy, and a botanical garden.
The Carthusian monastery complex in Byaroza in a 1750 drawing. The wall being restored is depicted on the right, and the polygonal tower is in the lower right corner. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
After the monks' participation in the liberation uprising, the Russian authorities closed the sanctuary in 1831, and after the 1863 uprising, they began systematically dismantling the walls and the church for bricks to build military barracks. To this day, only the remains of the southern and western parts of the walls with the hospital, the ruins of a mighty bell tower, and the main gate restored in 2014 have survived from the magnificent ensemble.
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