- Type
- Castle
- Origins
- 1825 · 19th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Style
- Neoclassical architecture
- Architect
- Kazimierz Chrzczonowicz
- Coordinates
- 53.8989°, 27.5481°
History
The building was put up in 1825 to a design by the architect Kazimierz Chrzczonowicz on land owned by the Pishchala (Piszczałło) family, who gave it its name. From the start it served as the provincial prison; in the 19th century its inmates included participants of the January Uprising. In Soviet times victims of political repression were held here. Today it houses Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1, popularly called the Valadarka after Valadarskaha Street. Plans announced in 2008 to move the detention centre and turn the building into a hotel never materialised.
What to see
The building is a working detention centre and is closed to visitors, but it can be seen from outside on Valadarskaha Street in central Minsk. It is a massive rectangular block with round towers at its four corners, battlements and pointed-arch windows, combining a Neoclassical plan with Gothic Revival dress. Guards may take a dim view of anyone photographing the prison.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q2567982
Popularity: articles about this site in 14 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).