A Guide to Belarus and its Cities

Communism has fallen but Belarus is full of mystery and still a rather closed nation. Not frequented by too many travellers nor well understood, it is the only former Soviet state that still uses the KGB, and one of the few that still reveres Lenin. The symbol of the Soviets, the sickle and hammer, is visible everywhere. Belarus is a country moving forward under the guidance of a few, but being forced backwards by others. In spite or maybe because of this perplexing situation, the country is a fascinating place.

Reaching Belarus is not easy but it is a true adventure and you will not regret making the journey!

This Belarus destination guide will help you plan your perfect holiday, and the many highlights you should check out. A perfect way to do this is taking a local tour. We also have some more useful travel information about Belarus. You can also check out all the local exciting things to see and do in Minsk.

Blessed with great natural beauty, Belarus has numerous lakes, rivers, forests and a variety of wildlife. The history of the nation is a part of the daily life here, with the remnants of oppression, suffering, war and survival visible all around. Almost all aspects of Belarusian culture, including the fortresses and churches, have retained their rich traditional atmosphere. In spite of the many decades of Soviet rule, the Belarusian culture of dance, crafts, and opera are still a huge part of the cultural life here.

Culture

Belarus has a rich and diverse culture. The Belarusian Ballet and the many museums showcase the history and culture of the country. Notable among them are the National Arts Museum, the National Museum of Belarusian History and Culture, the Museum of Old Belarusian Culture, and the Museum of History of the Great Patriotic War. A few museums feature famous Belarusian writers such as Bogdanovich, Brovka, Kolas and Kupala, and the National Gallery celebrates many national icons.

Museum Hours: 10:00 to 19:00, Tuesday to Sunday.

Museum of the Great Patriotic War

World War II is called the Great Patriotic War by the Soviets. This twenty-eight-room museum graphically explains the horrors of the war and helps visitors understand the Belarusian obsession with the war. One in every four Belarusians lost their lives in World War II.

Museum Hours: 10:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Sunday.

Brest

Brest is a border town and one of Eastern Europe’s busiest rail and road border junctions. The city has delightful side streets, a relaxed atmosphere, and very friendly local people. Brest is a treasure trove of Soviet monuments, culture and war memorials.

Brest Fortress is an astonishing structure that was used to push back German forces during World War II. The museum inside the fortress relates the history of the place until the 13th century. More historical exhibits are housed in the Museum of History and Archaeology.

The puppet theatre of Brest is famous and popular. Another place worth a visit is the elegantly designed and well-known Kamenets Tower, more popularly known as Belaya Vezha or White Tower. The tower was built in the 13th century.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha, the state national park, is in the countryside around Brest. The park has 500-year old trees, 900 types of plants, and 60 types of animals. Belovezhskaya or wild European bison are known to wander around the area.

Sports and Nature

Belarus offers many activities that sports lovers can enjoy. The Raubichi Olympic Sports Complex located 22 km (14 miles) from Minsk offers great cross-country skiing. Mountain skiers can go to the modern resorts of Silichy and Logoysk, both located 30 km (19 miles) from Minsk. Skating is another popular activity.

Located in the north and northeast of Belarus is the Braslav Lake District. Located very close to the borders of Latvia and Lithuania, it is the best place to enjoy a boating holiday. The 30 lakes in this forested area form a network of canals. Small dachas near the lakes offer ample accommodation.

Rare animals such as bears, bison and wolves can be seen in Belavezha Wood, where animals still live in their natural habitat. The Nature Reserve of Berezinsky starts from the source of the Berezina River and stretches till the Palik Lake. The region is rich with flora and fauna, marshy lands, rivers, and ancient forests. UNESCO has listed this unique area as a protected biosphere. In the old days, the reserve was part of a trade route that connected the Black Sea countries with those of the Baltic Sea. The route was known as the way 'from the Varangians to the Greeks'.

The Museum of Folk Architecture

Parts of buildings that are more than hundred years old are displayed at this museum. It is located at Ozerto, 15 km (10 miles) to the southwest of Minsk.

The Dudutki Open Air Museum

This fascinating open-air museum is a must-see. It is near the sleepy little village of Dudutki and brings to life 19th century rural Belarus. Wood and hay houses built in the old style display traditional crafts such as handicraft making, pottery, carpentry and baking.

Visitors love to wander around, look at how a farm worked a century ago, enjoy the fresh air, relax on the bales of hay, climb the windmill, or go horse riding.

The highlight of the museum is the food. Meals are prepared at the site using traditional methods and recipes. Some of the dishes are Draniki or potato pancakes, bread, homemade cheese, pork sausages, and kolduni or stuffed potato dumplings. A shot of the local samagon or moonshine is a popular way to end the meal. Do make sure you don’t drive after that! This delicious and hearty meal is priced very reasonably.

Raubichi

Raubichi is a picture perfect village located 22 km (14 miles) from Minsk. An old disused church in the village houses a fascinating ethnographic museum.

The lovely Minsk Lake is located 10 km outside Raubichi. It has several small islands and is thickly surrounded by pines.

Minsk

The Belarusian capital city of Minsk is located 120 km to the southeast of Vilnius and 340 km northeast of Warsaw. The city was first written about in 1067 AD but very little remains of the original city. Some 17th century buildings are all that remain. Minsk was an important hub of communication during World War II but was severely damaged during the war. Modern Minsk is built on the banks of the Svisloch River, wide embankments bordering both sides of the river.

To catch a glimpse of old Minsk, don’t forget to visit Troitskove Predmestve, a suburb of Minsk. It has wonderful examples of 19th century Minsk and colourful facades of houses line the streets. Certain cathedrals are perfect examples of baroque architecture, such as the 1613 Cathedral of St Peter and Paul, and the 1642 Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. The Maryinsky Cathedral has been restored to its former glory.

Zhirovitsa

Located 190 km (119 miles) from Minsk is Zhirovitsa. The wonderful 15th century Monastery of Assumption is in this village. Also located in the monastery complex is a theological seminary, built around the 17th–18th century, and a convent.

Mir

Mir is a small town located 120 km (75 miles) from Minsk. The Mir Castle of the15th century is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Jewish cemetery here is frequently visited.

Nesvizh

The town of Nesvizh is near Mir. Several old and attractive buildings still stand here; among them is the Radzivill family’s former home. One of the most beautiful palaces in Belarus, it stands amidst a huge park with lovely gardens and many lakes. Bernardoni, the well-known Italian architect of the 16th century designed the magnificent Catholic Church located nearby.

Polotsk

Polotsk was founded in 862 AD. The oldest city of Belarus, it was the hub of Christianity at the time of the first Russian state, Rus. The Church of St. Sophia from the 11th century exhibits the typical architectural style of those times. Other monuments worth visiting are St. Ephrosinia of Polotsk, a convent from the 12th century, the Epiphany Monastery of the 16th–17th century, and two other castles nearby.

Pinsk

The Brest region’s second largest city, Pinsk, is located 300 km (186 miles) south of Minsk. The city is filled with architectural, cultural and historical monuments. Also famous for its natural beauty, it is in the middle of the watery and misty low-lying land called the Belarusian Polesye.

Grodno

Both the Old Castle and the Kalozh Church are from the 11th century and together with the Old Town centre, they draw the crowds to Grodno. Grodno is the fifth largest Belarusian city.

Gomel

Gomel is Belarus’s second largest city and is situated in the southeast, the centre of the Chernobyl atomic energy catastrophe. Although it was a military stronghold during the 15th and 16th centuries, and is one of the oldest towns, Gomel is not significant historically. At the start of the 19th century, brick houses replaced many original wooden homes leaving very little to remember the classic architectural style of those times. The Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace is one of the rare monuments displaying the old style. The region’s economy is limping back to a better state after the bad days brought on by the fall of the Soviet Union and the disaster at Chernobyl.

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