Polotsk. The former Jesuit college.

The Jesuit College in Polotsk was opened in 1580 by decree of King Stefan Batory. It became the first educational institution of the order in the territory of present-day Belarus, where children studied regardless of religion, and the duration of education was 8-9 years and was free.

  The stone buildings of the collegium were built in the 18th century.  By the end of the 18th century, the monastery complex consisted of more than ten stone buildings of various storeys. The main building was St. Stephen's Church with towers almost 60 meters high.

The college also trained teachers in various disciplines for other Jesuit educational institutions. A school theater was built under him. In 1812, the school was transformed into the Polotsk Jesuit Academy, which had university privileges.  The Academy was the largest educational center in Belarus. He had more than 50,000 volumes in the library, a printing house, a museum, an astronomical hall, physics and chemistry faculties, and published the first literary and scientific journal in Belarus.  In 1820, after the expulsion of the Jesuits from the Russian Empire by decree of Alexander I, the Academy was liberated.

 In 1835-1915, the Polotsk Cadet Corps was located in the building of the former Jesuit Academy.  

Today, the building of the former collegium is a cultural heritage site and attracts tourists interested in history and architecture. This is an important element of the region's historical past.

In 2015, an unusual exhibit appeared here – a "Mechanical head". It's a scientist's handiwork. Gabriel Gruber, who made a huge contribution to the development of culture, education and science in Belarus and abroad. By the way, the master worked for a long time in the walls of the collegium in the 18th century.

The exhibit is the head of a gray-haired sage with moving eyes. You can ask any questions in any language to this elder-sage. At the same time, the sage answers loudly, logically and absolutely correctly! Such an unusual mechanism delights the guests of the collegium and arouses great interest among both children and adults.