Travel Guide Halshani (Гальшаны)

HalshanySituated 20 km south of Achmiany, this small village was at the time an important cultural and economic centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. His foundation dates back to 1280, then belonged to the princes of Halshany. In 1525, following marriage between Elena de Halshany and Pavel Sapieha, he became the property of the powerful Sapieha family. It was thanks to their grandson Pavel Stefan Sapieha that at the end of the th century a castle appeared in the surrounding area. The economic growth of the village was interrupted by the Northern War. In the th century, it began its final decline. Today, however, it retains many traces of its glorious past. When we arrive here, we have the impression that time has stopped: along the two main streets, Savieckaja and Borunskaja, there are stone houses that belonged to artisans and traders. Nearby, the river Halshanka crosses the village, opening a beautiful panorama of the church and the Franciscan monastery. A place steeped in history, to visit absolutely.