62 Jana Pawła II Avenue in Białystok, house in Białystok, Poland
The customs house at Jana Pawła II Avenue is a classical brick structure topped with a distinctive domed roof and supported by a columned portico. The walls taper gradually upward, and the rounded form of the rotunda creates a balanced silhouette that distinguishes it from surrounding buildings.
Built in 1851, it served as a customs station marking the border between the Congress Kingdom of Poland and the Russian Empire until 1918. After the empires collapsed, the building lost its border function and was later designated a protected monument.
The building sits along an avenue named after a significant religious leader, and locals know it by its functional past rather than its architectural features. Its distinctive rounded shape makes it a recognizable landmark in the city's layout.
The building is visible from public spaces and situated in central Białystok, easy to locate from the main avenue. It is best viewed from the outside, where you can observe its classical features and rounded form from different angles.
It is often called Napoleon's House by locals, even though it was built long after Napoleon died. This common local legend shows how stories about places can diverge from what actually happened.
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