State Institution "Museum of the History of the City of Gomel" (Hunting Lodge)

The Hunting Lodge is a historic mansion located in Gomel, which was built in 1818-1822 for Count Nikolai Petrovich Rumyantsev. The architect of this wonderful building was Ivan Dyachkov. The mansion was conceived as the count's summer residence and became part of the manor ensemble, which was a system of buildings that harmoniously fit into the surrounding landscape.

The construction of the "Hunting Lodge" was carried out in the Empire style, which emphasizes its architectural value. The building was built on the basis of a wooden log house, previously used as a store, and was funded by Count Rumyantsev himself. It is a rectangular one-story building, and the main facade is decorated with a majestic six-columned portico of the Doric order, which gives it a special solemnity and elegance.

From the 1830s until 1919, the Hunting Lodge was owned by the noble families of the Krushevskys and Lisovskys. According to one version, the landowner Vincent Krushevsky was a close friend of Prince Fyodor Paskevich, and it was to him that the Rumyantsev mansion passed.

During the Soviet period, the building was used to house various government organizations, which, unfortunately, affected its condition.

From 1993 to 1997, the Hunting Lodge was under restoration, which made it possible to preserve its historical value and architectural features.

In May 2009, the Museum of the History of Gomel was opened in this historic building, which has become an important cultural center where residents and visitors of the city can get acquainted with the history and culture of the region.

The Hunting Lodge has become not only an architectural monument, but also an important part of Gomel's cultural life, attracting the attention of tourists and researchers.

The Gomel History Museum, created in 2009, is located in the so-called "Hunting Lodge". This city mansion was built in 1820 according to the design of the architect Ivan Petrovich Dyachkov. In the archival documents of Count Rumyantsev it is mentioned as "a house for the count's summer residence". The house is built in the classical style of brick and wood. In the center of the main facade there is a six-column portico with a terrace above it. The architectural accent of the composition is the attic with a large semicircular opening and an attic finish protruding from the roof volume. The layout is enfilade. In the center of the vestibule there is a staircase to the attic. The architectural decor of the building uses rustication, bas-reliefs, molded wreaths, triglyphs, and a keystone. The design is mixed: a wooden frame with an outer layer of plastered brickwork. Three tiled stoves and a profiled frame of spotlights have been preserved in the interior. The location of the building on the outskirts of the city at that time may have been the reason for its being called the Hunting Lodge from the mid-19th century. Count Rumyantsev himself was never interested in hunting and was indifferent to it.

On February 28, 2002, the "Hunting Lodge" as an architectural monument was awarded the status of historical and cultural value of the second category. The Museum of the History of the City of Gomel was opened in the "Hunting Lodge". The grand opening of the museum was timed to coincide with the International Museum Day and took place on May 18, 2009. At the time of the creation of the museum, there were no funds of its own, the exposition was replenished by acquiring rarities, as well as gifts from Gomel residents and various institutions.

The museum's expositions "History of Gomel from Antiquity to the Beginning of the 20th Century" and "Walks in Old Gomel" present a retrospective of the city's development. Here visitors have the opportunity to see objects found in Gomel, coins from the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire, documents, photographs, building projects signed by the city architect S.D. Shabunevsky (whose works define the architectural appearance of Gomel in the late 19th - early 20th centuries) and much more. Walking along the improvised streets of Gomel, you can study the ethno-confessional composition of the city's residents, find yourself in the bustle of the train station, look into a photo studio, a grocery store, or a bazaar. The expositions "Interiors of a city mansion of the late 19th - early 20th centuries" and "Walks in Old Gomel" feature a variety of works. XX century": Small living room, Bedroom, Study, Dining room - allow the modern viewer to figuratively approach the living conditions and everyday life of urban families who lived in such houses, and to feel the atmosphere of a bygone era.

The main activities of the museum:

• Organization and holding of stationary and traveling exhibitions on the history of the city of Gomel

• Conducting tours of the museum's exhibition halls

• Lectures on the history of the city of Gomel

• Photo and video shooting in the museum exhibition halls: "Walks around old Gomel, the history of Gomel from ancient times to the beginning of the 20th century"; in the museum exhibition halls, foyer for individual visitors and groups of up to 15 people

• Wedding ceremonies in the museum halls and on the adjacent territory, as well as holding anniversaries

• Sale of souvenirs, works of art, decorative and applied art items, advertising publications about the museum’s funds and activities, about Gomel