Часовня-усыпальница Завишей, Pyramid chapel and tomb in Uzda, Belarus
The Zavisha chapel-tomb is a four-sided stone pyramid built from rubble stone, located at the Catholic cemetery and marked by an arched entrance with a window above it. The interior contains two levels: the lower section houses a crypt with three rows of burial niches, while the upper room serves as a prayer chamber.
The chapel was built in 1800 by General Kazimir Zavisha, according to one account, while other sources place it in the second half of the 19th century. It was erected from rubble stone and brick as a family tomb. In 2011 it was added to the State List of Historical and Cultural Values of the Republic of Belarus. No burials have survived inside.
The chapel stands on the Catholic cemetery on Pervomayskaya Street in Uzda and belongs to the Zavisha family. The sources do not record why General Kazimir Zavisha chose a pyramid form, and no family graves survive inside. In 2025 the Belarusian writer Denis Nyrkov set his story "The Necromancer's Pyramid" in the chapel.
The cemetery is freely accessible, but be respectful as it remains a sacred space for local visitors. The best time to visit is on mild days when the paths are dry and easy to walk.
The chapel's lower crypt has three rows of burial niches on each side, but no burials survive inside. In 2025 Belarusian writer Denis Nyrkov set his story "The Necromancer's Pyramid" here. The reason General Kazimir Zavisha chose a pyramid shape is not documented.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,321 contributors worldwide.