Looking at the photos, one can clearly see the layout of the village that formed back in the 16th century, when the land of Bielsk was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. A land reform (the so-called Volok Reform) was introduced in the royal estate which encompassed Plutycze at the time. Settlements scattered around the area were aggregated and peasant houses were moved to form a linear settlement along the main road. Houses had to face the street, farm buildings were behind them, while the barns were built a litle further by the back back road.

Villages inhabited by the nobility were completely different. There was no architectural order, because who could have compelled the nobility to build their houses or divide the land in a certain way. They did whatever they liked. There are many such villages westwards of Plutycze.

In Poland there are many linear or ribbon-type villages. What’s special about Plutycze is that the layout of the village has remained almost unchanged since the 16th century. Unfortunately, storks are the only inhabitants of our village that have the privilage of admiring it from their nests. We have to make do with Google Maps 😉