Winter Garden and Tower, Homieĺ, Sunroom and observation tower at Homieĺ Palace Complex, Belarus.

The Winter Garden and Tower at Homieĺ Palace is a glass structure housing tropical and subtropical plants beneath glass walls and ceilings. The observation tower rises above this ensemble, offering views across the surrounding park landscape.

Built as a wing of Prince Paskevich's sugar factory, the building was converted into a winter garden in 1877 on the order of Prince F. I. Paskevich. The factory had ceased operation after a fire in the 1850s. Two Russian stoves in the basement heated the greenhouse in winter.

This space provided shelter and leisure for the ruling families during harsh winters, allowing them to enjoy exotic plants year-round. The glass structure reflects how European aristocratic tastes shaped the interior spaces of Eastern European palaces.

You can explore the grounds on foot and survey the park landscape from the tower top. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as pathways are paved and the tower staircase has steep steps.

The garden occupies a former workshop of the Paskievich sugar factory, which stopped production after a fire in the 1850s; the greenhouse was converted in 1877. Two Russian stoves in the basement heated it in winter, and the interior walls are faced with natural minerals that let climbing plants form a living green carpet.