Gardener's House in Supraśl

On ul. Konarskiego in Supraśl, right next to the monastery complex, stands a wooden, shingle-roofed house that locals know by three names: the Gardener's House (Dom Ogrodnika), the Old Post Office (Stara Poczta) and the Old Inn (Stara Karczma). Each name tells a different chapter of its story – from lodgings for the monastery gardeners, to a tavern, to a post office.

A history in three names

The house was built in the second half of the 18th century for the gardeners who tended the gardens of the Supraśl Orthodox monastery, whose history goes back to 1501. It was later converted into an inn, and after the First World War it housed the post office. Since 1956 it has been a residential building and is privately owned. It is a listed historic monument.

What to look for

The house has a compact rectangular plan measuring 9 × 19 m and stands on a plastered base. It is a log building, with beams joined by dovetail notches – this distinctive joint is easiest to see at the corners. The eye is drawn to the Polish mansard roof covered with wooden shingles, with two slopes of different pitch, typical of old Polish manor houses. Inside, the rooms are arranged in two bays, but the interior is not open to visitors. From the street you can see the white monastery buildings and tower behind the house, which shows how close to the monastery the gardeners once lived.

Tripto tip

The Gardener's House is a 5–10 minute stop on a walk round central Supraśl. View it from the pavement and do not enter the property – people live here, and there are no opening hours or tickets. Treat it as a prelude to visiting the monastery and the Icon Museum, a few steps away. The best photos are taken from the street when side light falls across the shingled roof.