— Arche Garnizon Białystok is a unique place where history meets modernity, and former architecture gains a new life. Four historic buildings and three newly constructed facilities form a cohesive hotel complex that draws on the area’s military heritage. By preserving the original spatial layout and characteristic brick architecture of the former barracks, we have created a space that combines a historic atmosphere with the comfort and functionality of a modern hotel. Located at 9A Depowa Street, 200 rooms offering a total of over 400 accommodation spots, including 13 suites, await guests. The character of the property is emphasized by arrangements inspired by the history of the former garrison, its style, and color palette. However, Arche Garnizon Białystok is not only a place to stay overnight, but also a space for relaxation, meetings, and organizing events. At our guests’ disposal are a restaurant, conference facilities, and a relaxation zone including a spa, massage rooms, a sauna, and a gym. We wanted to preserve the spirit of this place while giving it a new function and opening it up to the needs of modern guests. We believe that combining historic identity with a modern offering makes Arche Garnizon Białystok a place with character — one where the past is not merely a background, but an integral part of the guest experience — explains Klaudia Romanowicz, member of the Arche Management Board.
Furthermore, in the hotel’s conference center, the largest hall is over 600 square meters (with the possibility of division into smaller areas with a height of over 3.5 meters). Each comes with a projector and a comfortable foyer to handle conferences. In total, the property features 8 conference rooms, including historic interiors in the historic part with access to natural daylight. Provisions have also been made for approximately 100 parking spaces, including those with electric vehicle chargers.
The historic walls are complemented by interior design elements crafted by excluded individuals. Styled bedspreads and pillows sewn by employees of the Lena Grochowska Foundation, as well as paintings on the lids of military crates, complete the room decor, which is furnished with items made by prisoners employed by Arche SA. Here, at every turn, one encounters handicraft intertwining with history—from lampshades and display cabinets made from windows by prisoners, to washbasins made by individuals with disabilities. Beyond the obvious references to the military history of the property, where both names and decorative elements directly relate to militaria, elements of Białystok and Podlasie culture have also been successfully incorporated. Near the reception area, there is a contemporary mural inspired by double-warp fabric, natural macrame hangs in the suites, and the children’s area features educational dolls in traditional folk costumes. Some rooms also display paintings created by employees of the Lena Grochowska Foundation. It is also worth adding that the local restaurant can accommodate around 100 people and will serve signature regional Podlasie dishes. Meanwhile, a BazArche shop with ceramics, textiles, and souvenirs has been located near the reception. It also houses a branch of the Lena Grochowska Foundation with a ceramic and confectionery studio, running workshops for both residents of Białystok and tourists.
— We are pleased that another historic landmark has been saved and is returning in a new form to Poland’s tourist map, to the benefit of the local community. Tourism and the MICE sector, as I predicted, have returned to full strength after the pandemic and are growing stronger. We are not slowing down either and are developing our projects. It is worth adding that we are currently carrying out several other major investments across the country. We are flexible and constantly follow the needs of the market and our clients, all wrapped up in our strategy known as “impact investing,” which means socially engaged investing. This involves allocating capital with the intention of generating a positive social or environmental impact alongside a financial return — says Arche President Władysław Grochowski.
— The hotel market in our country is growing dynamically, driven by an increase in the number of guests, occupancy rates, and prices. In Poland, over the last decade, the number of guests has increased by over 60 percent, with domestic tourists remaining the foundation of demand, accounting for about 70 percent of the market. Meanwhile, demand from foreign guests only recovered to pre-pandemic levels last year. In the coming years, we want to have a total of 50 hotel properties across the country, and in subsequent years we intend to allocate more than five billion PLN for investments of this type. Furthermore, the company is preparing for an IPO debut on the Warsaw Stock Exchange — reports Adam Białas, Director of Communications and Operations (COO) and Spokesperson for the Arche Group.
It is also worth mentioning that an asset of the new property is the beautiful courtyard, which provides a perfect backdrop for an outdoor wedding arranged in a military style, where the seats for the bride and groom and witnesses are old military crates. The Garnizon houses a branch of the Lena Grochowska Foundation, featuring a ceramic studio that offers workshops for companies and individual guests, as well as a cafe open to everyone. The property is home to the second Lena Grochowska SPA, a place created with beauty in mind, understood as bodily balance, sensory tranquility, and a moment of true pause. Inspired by Lena Grochowska’s art, nature, and a mindful approach to well-being, it invites you into a world of rituals that envelop, regenerate, and restore inner harmony.
— Our offer to purchase rooms in the Arche System is enjoying great success there; investors will receive their first profits as early as November 2026. This will be a minimum of 5 percent per annum paid monthly. The current price is optimal at net PLN 13,900 per square meter of a finished and equipped unit. We feel local patriotism, as many investors are residents of Białystok and the surrounding area. This destination is also another choice for our regular investors. The impressive event space and new spot on the map for organizing family or religious celebrations in a city of 310,000 offer promising investment profitability prospects — summarizes Arche Sales Director Magdalena Sidorowicz.
Arche Garnizon Białystok is an example of revitalization that restores value to a place with a rich tradition. The history of this site dates back to the 18th century when the area of today’s property was part of the Pheasantry (Bażantarnia) belonging to the Branicki family — one of the elements of the extensive garden layout around the Branicki Palace. It was used for recreation and breeding pheasants, whose numbers reached over a thousand. After the decline of the family’s prominence, the area lost its representative character and turned into a private estate, retaining only the historical name. At the end of the 19th century, the area was taken over by the Russian Empire, creating an extensive barracks complex here. An orderly space was established with a central parade ground, as well as headquarters, residential, and utility buildings. In subsequent years, various military formations were stationed here — from tsarist cavalry to German troops, and later the Polish Army and post-war units, including the Border Guard. For decades, the place served an important military function. After 1989, the complex gradually lost its significance and fell into disrepair. The turning point was the acquisition of part of the area by the Arche Group and giving it a new function.
About Arche
The company carried out its first investments in Warsaw and Siedlce, and for two decades has been building across Poland. Currently, Arche is the largest Polish hotel chain with domestic capital, as well as a residential developer. The company started its operations 35 years ago and in its history has built over 12,000 apartments and houses, and recently launched the 25th and 26th properties in its collection: Arche Ożarów Mazowiecki and Arche Garnizon Białystok, bringing its total to over 5,200 rooms. For years, the group has been caring for historic buildings primarily out of a passion for saving our heritage, transforming forgotten properties into vibrant hotels, which constitutes their revitalization-based business model. Arche President Władysław Grochowski emphasizes that historic landmarks are an important element of identity that unites Poles and should not disappear. For nearly a quarter of a century, the company has been giving Poles the opportunity to earn in the commercial real estate sector through the proprietary Arche System, which goes far beyond the definitions of aparthotels and condohotels. For many years, Władysław Grochowski, together with his wife through the Lena Grochowska Foundation, has also been running extensive activities integrating communities and activating socially excluded individuals, those with intellectual disabilities, and those in the greatest need. For this, at the end of 2023 at a gala in Geneva, he received one of the world’s most important distinctions — the prestigious Nansen Refugee Award, granted by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. And at the end of 2024, the Mother Teresa of Calcutta Award in India. The company’s strategy, known as “impact investing,” has successfully combined financial goals with the generation of measurable social and environmental benefits for years.
