Minsk. The building of the men's gymnasium.

    In the historical center of Minsk, on Freedom Square, there is a 17th-century building that housed a men's gymnasium during the Russian Empire.

       The building was built in the 17th century and belonged to the Uniate monastery. After the partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the governor's palace and government offices were located on the square. The building of the Uniate monastery was transferred to the government offices. 

        The Minsk gymnasium was established on the site of the provincial school. The provincial school was opened in 1799 and was called the provincial College. In 1803, during the reign of Emperor Alexander I, the school received the status of a gymnasium.

     During the war with Napoleon in 1812, the gymnasium building was occupied by French troops. Then the Russian troops placed a military hospital in the building.

      In the period 1819-1822, a secret student society worked in the gymnasium. The charter for the society was developed by poets Adam Mickiewicz and Tomasz Zan. While studying at the gymnasium, Zan met the Vereshchaka brothers Jozef and Michal. And then I met their sister Marylia Vereshchaka, who later became the lover and muse of the brilliant poet Adam Mickiewicz. And Mickiewicz, in turn, was introduced to Marylia by T. Zan.

   In 1844, a special building was built for the men's gymnasium on Gubernatorskaya Street. And this building was further used for offices.

     Several institutions are currently operating in the building, including regional trade unions.