City tour of Minsk
The tour provides an acquaintance with the most beautiful and famous sights and includes:
— complex of both Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches and monasteries, Merchants’ house, Town Hall and other survived buildings of the past in the Old City. Visit to the 17th century Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Spirit where one can admire a wonder-working Icon of Our Lady of Minsk. As the legend says the Icon flew upstream the Dnieper and Berezina rivers from Kiev to Minsk in August 1500.
— administrative centre and its unique buildings of pre-war & post – war periods, drive through the main, Independence Avenue presenting a grandiose post-war reconstruction in the “Stalin Empire” to have a glimpse of its squares, parks and monuments..
— Victory Square with a high and slender yet solid Victory monument made out of granite and labrodorite. Four bronze bas-relives by the outstanding Belarusian sculptors duly commemorate army men, partisans and resistance fighters in fact all Belarusian citizens who by a sacrifice of 2,700,000 lives made the day of the liberation in July 1994 a reality.
— “Island of Tears” to see a memorial which includes highly expressive sculptural compositions The memorial was erected to honor “the sons who have fallen in Afghanistan to embody the wish of Belarusian mothers that no evil will ever again reign in this and other lands”.
— new landmarks in the architecture including diamond-shaped building of the National Library, House of Charity, “Arena” Sports Centre, New Russian Orthodox Intercession Church.
National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus
The museum’s five halls are currently displaying three collections: a retrospective exposition of the12th – the first third of the 20th century Belarusian art, the late 16th– early 20th century West European art, a collection of Russian and Belarusian pre-revolutionary art. The only existing portrait of Mark Chagall made by his first teacher Yu.Pen is exhibited here.
Address: 20, Lenina ulitsa, metro: oktyabrskaya/kupalovskaya
Tel: +375 17 227 56 72, 227 45 62
Website: www.artmuseum.by
Belarusian State Museum of the Great Patriotic War
This is perhaps the richest World War II museum in the ex-USSR. The exhibition is dedicated to all major defensive and liberation battles of the Soviet Army, partisan and resistance movement on the territory of Belarus. There are documents, photographs and other exhibits reflecting the contribution of the countries of the Anti-Hitler Coalition. The collection of paintings “Figures on the Heart” of the peoples’ artist of Belarus, survived “Ausweis” prisoner Mikhail Savitsky will certainly produce an unforgettable impression.
Address: 25a Nezavisimosti prospekt, metro Oktyabsrjaya/kupflovskaya,
Tel: + 375 17 226 15 44
Website: www.warmuseum.by
«Stalin Line» Historical and Cultural Complex
Distance from Minsk — 30 km
Open-air museum of the 1930-s military fortifications is probably the most interesting excursion for those who are interested in World War II history. The defense line with anti-tank obstacles and ditches as well as machine gun pillboxes can be observed. Worth visiting is the exhibition of World War II military weapons and equipment.
Address: Loshany village, Minsk district, Minsk reg., Belarus
Tel: + 375 17 503 20 22
Website: www.stalin-line.by
«Khatyn War Memorial»
Distance from Minsk — 54 km
The memorial was erected on the site of the Belarusian village of Khatyn burnt down by the Nazis in March 1943. A six metre bronze sculpture of the «Unconqued Man», common grave of the villagers of Khatyn, «Wall of Sorrow», «Wall of Life» and other highly expressive sculptural compositions dully commemorate every fourth citizen of Belarus who died during World War II.
Address: Logoisk distr. Minsk region, Belarus, 223110
Tel: + 375 17 745 57 87
Website: www.khatyn.by
The Town and the Castle of Mir
Distance from Minsk — 100 km
This tour is certainly for lovers of the antique. The main attraction of the town is a Castle, an example of a purely Belarusian stone defensive architecture of the 16th century. It is the only castle & palace complex on the road from Brest to Moscow. It was included into the UNESCO Heritage List n the year of 2000.
The Town of Nesvizh
Distance from Minsk - 130 km.
This town has been famous as a cultural centre of the 16th century. Among its attractions are:
— a magnificent Catholic Cathedral of the Divine Body of the Christ built in 1593 to a design of an Italian architect Yan Mariya Bernardoni, the first temple in the Eastern Europe built in the baroque style. The Cathedral is famous for a family burial-vault of the many generations of the Radziwills and its frescoes
— Nesvizh parks presenting unique monuments of park & garden art arrangement.
— Nesvizh Palace (under reconstruction) – the Residence of the Radziwills, representing the most distinguished dynasties of those days.
“Dudutki” Ethnographical Museum of Ancient Folk Handicrafts and Technologies
Distance from Minsk — 40 km.
An open–air museum which recreates an economic mechanism of the country estate of the 18th-19th centuries. The tour includes:
— visit to workshops of wood-processing, a porter’s, smithy, bakery, cheese dairy, distillery as well the only surviving wind mill in Belarus;
— watching fascinating technologies of making a ceramic pot, wooden spoon, horse — shoe.
You will certainly enjoy tasting of bread, cheese, butter and “samogon” (moonshine) made on the basis of recreated ancient recipes. The excursion is a fascinating combination of learning and entertainment.
Address Ptich village, Pukhovichi distr. Minsk reg. Belarus
Tel: + 375 1713 7 25 25
Fax: +375 1713 7 57 47
Website: www.dudutki.by
Belarusian State Museum of Folk Architecture (Strotchitsa)
Distance from Minsk — 15 km
A Skansen museum of People’s architecture and everyday life of the -18th — 19th century presents an original wooden architecture of a Belarusian village, traditional interior, household premises, handicrafts, production and rites. The museum also recreates the aura of the past. You will experience such a feeling while visiting a wooden Orthodox church, public barn, primary school, a pub; dwelling houses of villagers both of middle class and rich, of Orthodox and Catholic believers, a smithy, a wind-mill and other interesting constructions.You may enjoy dishes of the Belarusian national cuisine at the 19th century pub under the accompaniment of local musicians.
Address: Ptich village, Pukhovichi distr. Minsk reg. Belarus
Tel: + 375 1713 7 25 25
Fax: +375 1713 7 57 47
Website: http//etna.by
Berezina Biosphere Wild Life Reserve
Distance from Minsk - 120 km
Berezina Biosphere Wild Life Reserve was founded in 1929. Since then its territory has been prohibited for industrial production. It is distimquished by the virgin forests, inhabited by rare animals and birds (black stork), pure water of the Berezina river with the Europe largest beaver population. The reserve territory is the cleanest one in Belarus.
Address Ptich village, Pukhovichi distr. Minsk reg., BeLarus
Tel: + 375 1713 7 25 25
Fax: +375 1713 7 57 47
Website: www.berezinskiy.com
