Belarus

The City of Minsk

This city originally known as Mensk dates back to 1067 when it was a fortress in the Russian principality of Polostk. It geographical location as a East European trading post and gateway to Asia has led to it been the centre of many battles. During WW2 it was devastated and most of the buildings in the city are less than 60 years old.

It is a very clean city and not a tourist hot spot. Minsk is a very quiet and civil city which is not famous for its nightlife but its hotels and indigenous people are friendly to visitors. Tourist Board information is not in an abundance for Minsk even though it is a capital city.

Some hoteliers are very entrepreneurial and will arrange sightseeing tours complete with english speaking guide and Transport. A two person three to four hour tour should cost around $50.

Sightseeing and Attractions In Minsk

Historically sightseeing Minsk is the home to the National Art Museum of Belarus which has many examples of Belarussian Art over the last five hundred years.

For those interested in ethnology and archeology the Ancient Belarussian Cultural Museum will be of interest, as will the Raubichi Arts and Crafts Museum which features national costumes from Belarus and neighbouring regions.

A walk around The Botanical Gardens, which is sponsored by The Belarussian Academy of Sciences has a distinctly international air about it - with trees and shrubbery from all over the world.

Attractions & Sightseeing Near To Minsk

Another place worth visiting is the nearby town of Nesvizh which apart from a 16th family century castle also is the home of a similarly dated Catholic Church which is beautifully decorated inside. Also within travelling distance is The Khatyn Memorial and Glory Mound. Until March 1943 Khatyn was a small village with about 150 residents, half of whom were children. The residents were murdered when the Nazis burnt the village to the ground. This memorial is dedicated to those villagers and the villagers of another 150 villages who suffered a similar fate.

THE BEST SPOTS IN BELARUS TO VISIT

"Belavezhskaja Pushcha Naure Reserve is about 1300 sq km of primeval European forest."

"It stretches north from the town of Kamjanjuky, about 40 km north of Brest. A small part of it is in Poland, which administers it jointly with Belarus. Some 55 mammal species including elk, deer, lynx, boar, wild horse, wolf, badger, ermine, marten, otter, mink, and beaver live here, but it is most celebrated for its 1000 or so European bison--a species which was near extinction in the 20's before individual animals from Germany and Sweden were brought here."

"There is a nature museum and enclosure where you can view bison, deer, boar, and other animals. Only a few buses a day go from the Brest central bus station to Kamjanjuky, the main town just inside the reserve. To visit the reserve in your own vehicle without a guide, you may need a police permit, depending on current regulations.

“Belovezhskaya Pushcha”.

(The national park “BELOVEZHSKAYA PUSHCHA” (bel. “forest”) lies in the southwest of the Republic of Belarus, 340 km from the city of Minsk. Its total area is about 90000 hectares. It was established in 1939, however deforestation & hunting for bison has been prohibited there since ancient times. In December 14, 1992, UNESCO inscribed the park to the list of the World Heritage; in 1993 it was awarded the status of a biosphere reserve & in 1997  the Council of Europe rewarded it with a diploma.

BELOVEZHSKAYA PUSHCHA is a unique region of primeval forest. Mixed & broad-lived woods (over 1000 oaks aged from 300 to 700 years, 450-year-old ashes, 220-year-old pines & 150-year-old junipers are registered in the Pushcha)., meadows & water systems are shown here in the natural conditions. Fauna in BELOVEZHSKAYA PUSHCHA is represented by a wide variety of rare species of plants, such as the only in Europe flat population of the white fir, various species of oak, spruce, pine, hornbeam, ash & other kinds of more than 900 species of trees, about 600 species of mosses & lichens, over 1000 species of mushrooms. The animal world of BELOVEZHSKAYA PUSHCHA consists of 59 species of mammals, 11 species of amphibian, 7 species of reptiles & over 900 species of insects, including the wolf, the European bison, the red deer, the wild boar, & the great variety of fish & birds. A substantial number of species inhabiting the BELOVEZHSKAYA PUSHCHA are exposed in the Museum of Nature,  which is located in the center of national park in the urban village of Kamenyuki.

The hotel “Viskuli” is a historic place, where Russian, Belarusian & Ukrainian official signed a treaty of creation of CIS, thus the USSR disintegrated into independent states. The hotel accepts 24 guests & offer a sauna, game meat dishes & a reception at the guest glade.

The hotel “Kamenyuki” can accept 60 guests. It provides all facilities for meetings, conferences & symposiums. There is a tennis court & bivouacs for picnics. Close to the hotel there are pens where visitors can see animals typical for BELOVEZHSKAYA PUSHCHA (bison, deer, wild boar, etc.) in the natural surroundings. Experienced guides conduct fascinating excursions to the most picturesque places).

THE BEST SPOTS IN BELARUS TO VISIT

Vitebsk was an important fortress and merchant center at the north-eastern border of the Polatsak Principality and later of the Grand Duche of Lithuania (GDL); a famous medieval state which became the cradle of Belarusians and Lithuanians. Vitebsk was included into the GDL in 1320 and its citizens obtained some merchant privileges and a self-government. In 1597 Vitebsk was granted the Magdeburg Code of Law.

On July 15, 1410 a troop of armed Vitebsk citizens took part in a glorious battle near Grunwald (in Eastern Prussia) where united army of the Grand Duche of Lithuania, the Polish Kingdom and volunteers from the Czech Kingdom won the army of German knights (Tevton Order).

During the Napoleon campaign in Russia (1812) Vitebsk noblemen supported Frenchmen because the latter promised to restore self-government in the former Polish - Lithuanian kingdom, but Belarusian peasants were mobilizing by Russian army. In 1812 Vitebsk was burned again. After war ended among few other cities Russian czar ordered to put in Vitebsk the monument in honor of 1812 battles.

In 1840 after suppression of 1830-1831 insurrection Russian government abolished ancient Belarusian constitution (the famous 1588-year Statute of the GDL) and open Russian colonization of Belarus began.

The World War II was a very serious trial for Vitebsk people. Soviet Army soldiers and people's voluntary detachments did their best to save the town. Yes, it was captured by Hitler's invaders but never subdued.

On the June 26, 1944 day Red Army troops cleared the town of fascist occupants laid in ruins and only 118 people survived in the basements from about 170 000 of population before the war. Only in the end of 60s population of Vitebsk achieved the level of 1939.

Since then every year Vitebsk people celebrate this date. In its centuries long history Vitebsk had never been devastated like that. The town's new life began after the liberation. New factories, plants, dwelling houses, schools, hospitals, streets and avenues were built in place of the charred ruins.

Vitebsk today is a major industrial, scientific and cultural center of the republic Belarus.

Cultural life flourishes in Vitebsk as well. The Belarusian State Academic theater named after Yakub Kolas is one of the oldest in the state. Picturesque neighborhood of Vitebsk and its ancient streets was always attractive for painters.

Vitebsk was the native land of Mark Chagall, the world famous artist, who died in Paris but he always dreamed about Vitebsk. He was inspired by his native town of Vitebsk, which he often depicted in his works.

A famous Russian painter Iliya Repin lived and worked near Vitebsk during some years in the end of XIX century. Some of his works are presented at the Vitebsk art museum.

Although Vitebsk much suffered from numerous wars, some architectonic sights are saved such as: Rathaus (Coloncha, former City Hall) (1775), Governor's palace (before 1772), St.Barbara's Catholic church (1785, rebuild in end of XIX), St.Michael church (XVIII century), some buildings of Basilian and Bernardin Catholic monasteries (XVIII century) and some nice quarters of old town. Before the Governor's palace a monument in honor of 1812 battles near Vitebsk was stated in 1912.

In 1988 Vitebsk was chosen to hold Slavic Bazar musical festival that gathers hundreds of musicians from all around the world who sings songs on Slavic languages and attracts thousands of tourists. The festival is a major event in the city's life.