Market Square

Our route begins in the very heart of the city, on the historic Market Square, now known as Sovetskaya Square.

Since the 15th century, this square has been the center of urban life — a place where the city council met and where the main trading activities took place. Here, next to the trading rows and the houses of wealthy craftsmen and merchants, stood the city well and the town hall, where meetings of the city council — the magistrate — were held.

Nearby were the palaces of the powerful Sapieha and Radziwiłł magnate families, as well as two churches: the parish church of the Virgin Mary, founded during the reign of Vytautas the Great, and the church of the Jesuit monastery, dedicated to Saint Francis Xavier.

Unfortunately, after the destruction of the Second World War and post-war reconstruction, only the Jesuit church has survived to this day. For more than two centuries it has served as the cathedral of Grodno.

On the elegant northern baroque tower of the church you can see the historic city clock from the 16th century, which was transferred here from the former town hall.

Continuing our route, we will head northwest along Oktyabrskaya Street. At the first intersection we will turn right onto Bolshaya Troitskaya Street, one of the lively arteries of the former Jewish quarter.

In one of the cozy courtyards here a small gastronomic zone has been created, where everyone can find a café or restaurant to their taste. The highlight of this place is a large oak tree planted by local residents in the early 1950s. Today it is decorated with lights.

Passing through the courtyard, we will arrive at a large parking area.