Grodno. Batorievka, or Sapieha Palace.

     In Grodno, on Sovetskaya Square near the Catholic church, there is an old building called the Batorievka, or Sapieha Palace. The building was built during the time of King Stefan Batory, and was used as a royal residence. It is believed that after Batory's death, it was in this building that his anatomical examination and embalming were carried out. Therefore, the building is named after Stefan Batory (1533-1586).

            Then there was the residence of the Pototski magnates. In the 17th century, the building belonged to the Sapieha magnates, so the building is also called the Sapieha Palace. 

           The next owner of the palace was the King of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, August II the Strong (1670-1733). For him, the building was rebuilt by architects from Saxony and adapted for the king. The building had the status of a royal residence. Several sejms of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were also held here.  

            After the construction of a New Castle in Grodno, the building no longer served as a residence. At the end of the 18th century, the house became the property of the famous noble family of Brzhostovsky.

             In the 19th century, the Central Hotel was built here. The building was also used as a girls' gymnasium, which was graduated from by the famous Belarusian writer and poetess Zoska Veras (1892-1991).

            The building is now occupied by Grodno Medical University. The Grodno Kunstkamera, an anatomical exhibit with 80 exhibits, operates in the basement of the institution.

There is a legend that a yellow dwarf lives in the house.