The main building of the future hotel is a historic mansion built in 1905, known in Grodno as the “House with Lions”. For more than a century, its façades have been adorned with ten lion mascarons.
They were the inspiration behind the name of the future brand.
What is a mascaron?
A mascaron is a sculptural representation of a person, animal, or mythical creature placed on the façade of a building.
For centuries, mascarons were more than just decorative elements. They were placed above entrances as symbols of protection, prosperity, and the status of the homeowner.
Each such house acquired a face of its own.
Why a lion?
There are ten lion mascarons on the façade of our house.
Throughout history, the lion has symbolized strength, dignity, courage, and composure.
It is believed that such images were especially associated with members of the military class. This fits well with the history of the house: its first owner was Prince Chelokaev, an officer of the Imperial Russian Army.
When a symbol becomes a philosophy
Over time, we came to realize that a mascaron is more than just an architectural detail.
It is a symbol of hospitality.
Just as a mascaron greets everyone at the entrance to a house, we want every hotel guest to feel care and respect from the very first moment.
That is why the name was given not only to the future hotel.
Today, our apartments are also united under the Mascaron brand.
For us, it represents a single standard of hospitality, regardless of where our guests choose to stay.
Why Heritage?
Once the name Mascaron had become part of the brand, one more question remained.
We are not constructing a new building. We are preserving a historic mansion, its architecture and its story, so that it can continue to live and welcome guests.
That is why the word Heritage became part of the name.
In English, it means “heritage”.
Heritage is about more than the age of a building.
It is the memory of a place, the stories of the people connected with it, and respect for the past.
And responsibility for the future.
More than a name
Today, the meaning we put into the name is simple.
Mascaron is the symbol of a house that welcomes and protects.
Heritage represents our desire to preserve this house, its history, and its atmosphere for future generations.
That is why the hotel is called Mascaron Heritage.
We are not simply restoring a historic mansion.
We want to continue the story of a house that has been welcoming guests with its lions for more than a hundred years. We hope that Mascaron Heritage will become the next chapter in that story.
The Krasko Family
House with Lions: the history and architectural features of an Art Nouveau building
