Routes around Belarus. What to see in Belarus by car

Of all the countries of the former USSR, the easiest way to get to Belarus is by car. Although the path from Moscow to Minsk is not short, 720 kilometers, it can be covered very quickly, in just eight hours, if you fully adhere to the speed limit.

Even at five in the morning, at the exit from Moscow there was already a slight traffic jam for 10 minutes due to road repairs. Photo: AiF/ Denis Sveshnikov

There are many photo and video cameras along the entire route, both from the Russian and Belarusian sides. The local traffic police does not forgive violators. Exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 km/h can cost up to 7,000 rubles. And this is not the harshest punishment. For a repeated violation, you will have to part with your rights for up to a year.

Roads in Belarus are of better quality than in Russia and are not as congested. Photo: AiF/ Denis Sveshnikov

Photo: AiF/ Denis Sveshnikov

There is no need to prepare to cross the border, because, by and large, there is none. All preparation consists only of purchasing a “Green Card” - a compulsory car insurance policy for traveling abroad. If you travel only within Belarus, the cost of the document will be only about 900 rubles. It is almost impossible to forget about this nuance - along the road, starting from Smolensk, there are always kiosks with huge “Green Card” signs. In order not to waste time on the road, it is better to arrange everything in advance.

Photo: AiF/ Denis Sveshnikov Directly at the border, customs officers can selectively stop cars to check documents, but this, in any case, does not take up time. You shouldn’t expect huge traffic jams and queues even on holidays. The quality of the road is excellent almost the entire route, with the exception of a couple of sections under repair with two lanes for traffic in each direction. The Belarusian part of the route is better in every sense and not only in terms of the quality of the surface. Firstly, the speed limit is higher here - 120 versus the Russian 90 km/h. Secondly, the highway never passes through populated areas, so you can drive all the way from the border to Minsk without changing your speed at all.

However, on long holiday weekends it is better to leave Moscow in advance. Although leaving at five in the morning on a weekend or on the night from Friday to Saturday can make few people happy, even half an hour of delay will affect the total time on the road. In addition to the traditional traffic from summer residents and other vacationers, the situation is aggravated by repairs in the Minsk direction in the Kubinka area. At 7-11 in the morning on the way from Moscow and at 19-22 when returning back, you can lose more than an hour here. As an option, go around via Novorizhskoye Highway and Ruza.

If you want to visit Brest, you can spend the night in one of the park hotels with private parking near the city. Photo: AiF/ Denis Sveshnikov It’s better to refuel up to the border “to capacity”, because in Belarus gasoline is on average 3-4 rubles per liter more expensive. The savings are completely insignificant, but still. Taking into account the trip to Brest and the outskirts of Minsk, with an average fuel consumption on our Suzuki Vitara of 7.8 liters per hundred, 7,500 rubles were spent on gasoline. Even if you travel not with a group, but at least with two people, it will be significantly cheaper than with any other type of transport.

It is worth taking care of the local currency immediately upon entering Belarus. There are a couple of exchange offices literally a few kilometers after the border. If you miss them, there will be nowhere to change money all the way to Minsk. However, there is still no problem. In Belarus, even in the most shabby roadside cafes, where it’s scary to just be there, they accept bank cards.

Mir Castle. Photo: AiF/ Denis Sveshnikov

Nesvizh Castle. Photo: AiF/ Denis Sveshnikov

You can see a lot in three days. Mir and Nesvizh castles with picturesque parks and the Dudutki museum complex are located very close to the capital; the journey will take no more than an hour. In Minsk itself, getting around by car is not difficult. The avenues are wide, the junctions are simple, and there are few cars. And the main attractions are concentrated in the city center. You can leave your car and take a taxi - given the small area of ​​Minsk, almost any trip will cost no more than 500 rubles.

There are many hotels in the center of Minsk with free guarded parking. Photo: AiF/ Denis Sveshnikov

Single rooms in three-star hotels on holidays cost an average of 2.5 thousand rubles. It’s convenient to rent an apartment for a company – it’s even cheaper for one person. And, of course, there is no limit to perfection.

In cafes and restaurants, Russians will feel like millionaires. True, you still have to try to dine for more than a million Belarusian rubles. Food in Minsk is inexpensive even during the influx of tourists. Without denying yourself anything, you most likely won’t spend more than 2,500 rubles a day in restaurants.

Brest Fortress. Photo: AiF/ Denis Sveshnikov

As for the upcoming Victory Day, events in Minsk at the Stalin Line complex will last from May 7 to May 9. You will be able to see a reconstruction of the Battle of Berlin. Fireworks will take place on the day of the holiday at 22:00. The concert program, also ending with fireworks, will also take place in the Brest Fortress. However, only residents of neighboring regions will be able to stay for the celebrations in Brest and return to work. The return journey to Moscow is more than 1000 kilometers, which, despite the good road, will take a lot of time and effort.

Dear Belarusian scholars, hello! There is an idea to visit Belarus in August. Initial data: adult and teenager 15 years old. What I would like to see: Brest, Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Khatyn, Mir, Nesvizh, Minsk. Maybe something should be excluded from the list or vice versa added? How to plan a route, where to start your trip around Belarus, where to end? We'll go from Moscow. How much should you budget for your trip? I don’t even know how to approach planning. I will be grateful to everyone for advice.

Sections: Belarus

1. Start your trip in Minsk, where you can visit many museums and just walk around the city.
2. Mir and Nesvizh, for these castles you need to budget at least two days for each castle.
3. Khatyn also takes at least half a day.
4. But for Brest and Belovezhskaya Pushcha, I think you need at least 4 days to explore Brest and the Brest Fortress, and for Belovezhskaya Pushcha you need to allocate one full day to visit the museum of nature, the estate with Belarusian Santa Claus and enclosures with animals.
The trip must be planned at least 7 to 10 days in advance.
How will you travel by train, plane or car?

About castles. These castles are considered the highlight of the Republic of Belarus, they need to be seen. They are very beautiful, both outside and inside. I rode in them and really liked them. Although I am from Moscow, I have seen a lot...
The distance between Minsk and Mir is 100 km, Mir-Nesvizh is 30 km.
In Minsk you can see the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus, the Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and, accordingly, in the central part of the city of Minsk, there are many museums in Minsk. If you are not interested in shopping, then you can devote 2 to 3 days to the city.
Where will you stay overnight?

They forgot about Grodno, one of the most beautiful cities.
But you don’t need much time to visit Minsk, it was all destroyed during the war, there is practically nothing historical there.
If you go to the castles by buses, they are an ambush, they go very poorly between Mir and Nesvizh, it is impossible to cover 2 castles in one day.

Mir and Nesvizh, for these castles you need to budget at least two days for each castle.


Tell me, please, what to do there for two days each? We went on a tour, walked around, well, okay, you can spend the night in each of them if you really want to, but then what? Of course, you could easily spend a whole day on Nesvizh - the church, the town hall, and the park are huge, but Mir is very tiny...

You can really see Minsk in one day, but maybe a week is not enough to see everything. Depends on the weather and interests. The historical center is small; on weekends near the town hall in the summer there are various concerts, performances, historical reconstructions, festivals of national cultures, evenings of classical and jazz music in the open air. Last year the events were sold out, we were at some of them - we liked both the atmosphere and the program. The announcement of the planned events is on the website of the Minsk City Executive Committee in the section “The Upper Town Invites” (http://minsk.gov.by/ru/freepage/other/verxnii_gorod/). The main attractions are located along the two main avenues of Independence and Pobediteley - if you take bus routes 1 (from the station to the Minsk Arena) and 100 (from Independence Square to the National Library), you will see them all. There are special excursion flights when audio excursions are broadcast in Russian and English, the schedule is on the website of the Minsktrans enterprise. A little to the side are the beautiful temple-monument of All Saints (you need to drive a few stops from the National Library. If time permits, it’s worth visiting there), the Loshitsy estate and park complex, a zoo with a dolphinarium and a dino park - this is more for families with small children. A teenager might be interested in the WWII history museum, rides along the bike path in Victory Park and further to the Drozdy recreation area (there are bicycle rental points on the embankment), a water park (a popular place, and therefore queues are likely. Last year in August, there were about 300 of us who wanted to swim. If it were not for the child (there is a separate queue for children under 3 years old), we would have to wait several hours to enter the aqua zone).

What's interesting outside the city? Mir and Nesvizh (they have already been mentioned, I support the opinion that it is most convenient to book an excursion and see both castles in a day), the Dudutki museum complex (there is a public transport schedule on the complex’s website), the historical and cultural complex “Stalin Line” (get there you can take a minibus that goes towards Molodechno from the control station "Druzhnaya" with an interval of 20 minutes), Khatyn, the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life "Strochitsy", the Aviation Museum, the Minsk Sea...
As for the route, it seems to me that it is better to start from Minsk, then go to Brest. Trains run frequently. From there - to Belovezhskaya Pushcha. I would advise you to stay there for a few days and see Brest and the Brest Fortress on the days of your arrival and departure. If you want to add Grodno to your route, then there are buses from the Brest bus station, here is the schedule: http://av.brest.by/mezgorod.htm. One day is enough to visit Grodno.

It’s an amazing fact that the sights of Belarus a month ago were not even considered in my rhythm of life, and I didn’t even think about traveling independently by car around Belarus to its monuments and interesting places.

But the circumstances were such that at the beginning of April I decided to go to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, for the weekend. And already in the process of preparing for this trip, the thought came to both the sights of Belarus and the possibility of traveling by car around this country.

Suddenly, school memories of the beauty of Belovezhskaya Pushcha and the legendary Brest Fortress came back to mind. After analyzing the Minsk-Brest route, I discovered many more interesting places that could easily be seen along the route by car.

This is how my excursion route gradually took shape, in which in just one week I was able to visit many amazing historical and modern places, walk through ancient parks and climb narrow stone stairs in the ancient towers of knightly castles, see many unusual representatives of the animal world and even meet with a fairy tale in the person of such an unusual character as Santa Claus! 🙂

Well, now, first things first... To find out more about any excursion or tourist attraction, you can follow the link.

It was spring. Nature gradually came to its senses after its winter sleep. It was drizzling in the early April gloomy morning in the Moscow region. The airfield of Vnukovo airport and the planes getting wet on it also looked sad.

Flight UT835 on the Moscow-Minsk route from UTair departed as scheduled. At 10 o'clock in the morning we boarded a small plane. Outside the windows the Moscow morning was still gloomy, but in my soul, oddly enough, it was sunny and a little exciting about the unknown.

This always happens at the very beginning of a trip. And this is the feeling that probably attracts you on every journey.

The flight lasted only 1 hour 20 minutes, and I began to study in more detail the details of the preliminary route of my independent trip. I carried out the initial steps, such as transfer from the airport, renting an apartment in Minsk, and booking a car at home. But the entire excursion program was not yet thought out at all.

What can you see in Belarus by car? In front of me were interesting sights of Belarus and the general direction where I would like to go. And where I would stay, how long it would take to inspect each object, on what day I would end up in what place - it was still very vague.

Day 1-4. Hello, Minsk city

First impressions

And now I’m already there, at the international airport of the Belarusian capital, in Minsk. It is also cloudy here, but dry and warmer.

The first thing I decide to do is acquire local currency. Money in Belarus is a completely different matter. Receiving full millions for your Russian rubles... it's cool! You immediately feel like, if not Rockefeller, then at least his relative. 😀

Having given 10 thousand Russian rubles, I received almost 3 million Belarusian rubles in return.

It turned out that this is a very pleasant activity - “rustling” with millions. 😆

It's good to have friends! Especially in those places where you plan to visit. My old friend met me at the airport and very quickly took me to the capital, telling me as well as any guide about the main intricacies and secrets of Belarusian life. 🙂

The first feeling from the view outside the windows is amazing cleanliness! And this despite the fact that it is also still the off-season here, that is, fresh grass does not cover winter debris. There's simply nothing to cover here. In contrast to the Russian highways, it looks amazing!

We arrived in Minsk very comfortably, and I went to meet the owner of my rented apartment. I will tell you a little more about renting housing and a car, as well as about traveling by public transport and taxis at the end of this article.

I spent the first 4 days in Minsk: 2 of them were mainly devoted to studying, and the rest of the time I just walked around the city. I came to the apartment in the evening, just to spend the night. There was so much I wanted to see that I said to myself: “I’ll rest at home.”

Now let's move on to the sights. Additionally, all of them are indicated on the map at the bottom of this article; it will be easier to navigate what is where and how to easily get to each attraction.

And I’ll start my review of the trip with a trip to.

Walking around the city

Independence of Belarus

Perhaps it would be more logical to start from the main square of the city - Independence Square (or, as it is funny called in Belarusian, Independence Square). What beauty all around!

Over the course of its long history, the square has changed its name 14 times. Until 1991, it was, like all central city squares, Lenin Square. Now, decorated with fountains, it attracts the attention of tourists with its unique beauty. And locals love to stroll here in the evening, when the lights turn on and the square is illuminated with delightful light.

A huge shopping center with parking has been built underground here. Independence Square gives rise to Independence Avenue, which runs almost through the entire city. Here is the main building of the country - the Government House.

The first Belarusian skyscraper is how Minsk residents proudly and respectfully call this building. A seven-meter monument to V.I. Lenin still stands in front of the entrance. During the war, the monument was destroyed, but after the Germans surrendered it was quickly restored. And the building itself, like the nearby Catholic Church of Saints Simon and Helen, became one of the few buildings that survived the war years without much destruction.

Catholic church with a sad history

Nearby stands the Church of Saints Simeon and Helen, built entirely of red brick.

In memory of two children who died early from illness, it was built with their own money by inconsolable parents - Edward and Olympia Voinilovich. Once Elena saw this beautiful building in a dream, and in the morning she drew it. And now it is rightfully considered one of the decorations of the Belarusian capital.

If you're nearby, be sure to go inside. It is very beautiful and a little mysterious here. Beautiful sculptures, bronze details of the temple, superbly painted walls and vaults, amazing stained glass windows - all this creates a solemn atmosphere. And in combination with the music of the organ, one of the oldest in Europe, it’s simply an amazing experience.

The temple contains one of the seven copies of the Shroud of Turin. An extensive library of ancient books has been collected. The ashes of the founder of the church, Edward Voinilovich, also rest here. Right at the entrance there is a statue where Archangel Michael - the patron saint of Belarus - pierces the winged serpent of darkness with his sword.

Right there, very close by, is another monument, “The Bell of Nagasaki”, it was erected in memory of those killed in nuclear disasters. Very dramatic!

Belarusian Bastille

Now it carries out the death penalty for criminals - execution. Quite unusual: an execution in the center of a metropolis... although! “Crosses” in St. Petersburg, Lubyanka with its cellars in the center of Moscow...

Blessed place

Next, your attention will undoubtedly be attracted by the white stone.

This majestic building was originally built as a Catholic church. But over time, after some repairs, it became Orthodox. In addition to other Orthodox shrines, the cathedral houses the icon of the Mother of God, now called the Minsk icon.

It was once written by the holy Apostle Luke. Many events happened in the life of the icon; she visited many churches. According to legend, the Svisloch River sailed to Minsk and was placed, not immediately of course, in the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. And now this miraculous Image helps everyone who turns to it for help in difficult life situations.

And so I went to the prygazhuni embankment (that’s how the word “beauty” will sound in Belarusian) of Svisloch! How beautiful it is here!

The birds are singing, the sun is shining, making the water surface shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow. Seagulls fly and scream, ducks swim near the shore. If you have a desire and a bun in your purse, you can feed them, then they will swim closer.

Beautiful weather and, what is immediately noticeable, the surroundings are perfectly clean and tidy! And not only here! It is immediately clear that the janitors do their job conscientiously, and Minsk residents, of course, care about the cleanliness of their hometown. Well done!

Happy memory to the heroes!

A small shaped bridge leads to an artificial island located not far from the shore. A monument to soldiers who died on the battlefields has recently been unveiled here. At first, this monument was conceived as a tribute to those killed in Afghanistan.

But, unfortunately, there were many more terrible events in the world where Belarusian soldiers took part. This monument is dedicated to all of them.

The figurine of the little Weeping Angel is very touchingly made, crying inconsolably for those who died, who could not return to their beloved and loving wife, mother or bride.

Trinity Suburb - history and legends

Directly opposite there is a very beautiful place, which still retains the spirit of old Minsk. This is the Trinity Suburb - the historical center of the city.

There are a lot of benches to sit and breathe fresh air and a large number of all kinds of cafes and restaurants. And yet such beauty is hidden in the greenery of the trees.

“Girl with an Owl” is considered a symbol of the Trinity Suburb. The girl is holding an owl, and she herself is standing on a branch of a flowering fern, with a lizard sitting near her feet. The entire sculpture is located on a large stone, and two more lie nearby. There are only three - the town of Troitskoye.

According to the existing legend, it is at this place that every poet or artist must make a choice for himself what is more important to him:

  • a girl personifying the muse;
  • owl is a symbol of wisdom;
  • a flowering branch is a symbol of glory;
  • lizard is a symbol of monetary wealth.

What choice would you make?

And here’s another thing... Not far away is the city’s first public toilet. Yes, yes, sorry. I will now tell you why it attracts special attention. According to existing legend, in 1912 a very famous architect Sienkiewicz built a palace for a noble count. But he refused to pay, and did not pay a penny for the work.

Then the angry architect decided to take revenge on the greedy count and built a public toilet in Alexander Square with his own money. An exact scaled-down copy of that same castle. Now this small house sells tickets to the Yanka Kupala Theater. But from 1912 to 2012 - exactly one hundred years - it was used for its original purpose.

The pride of our contemporaries is the Belarusian “Diamond of Knowledge”

Of course, I really wanted to take a close look at the famous National Library of Belarus. This unusual structure really interested me.

Indeed, the shape of the library building resembles a cut diamond. “The Diamond of Knowledge,” as Belarusians also call it, contains 9 million book volumes. This unique building is equipped with the latest technology.

There is a playroom for children, and a special recreation room for adults; there are gyms, a cafe and a restaurant.

At an altitude of 73 meters there is an observation deck from where you can admire the beautiful views of Minsk.

In the evening, the lights turn on and the façade of the building turns into a huge multi-colored screen. The spectacle is amazing!

Day 5. On the way to Brest

My training is completed, and the main attractions of Minsk have been explored. Now you can safely go on new adventures! The issue with renting a car was resolved very successfully the day before, and it is waiting for me under the windows of my rented apartment.

I will tell you details about renting housing, cars and other necessary things at the end of the article.

In the morning, having collected my things, casting a farewell glance at the awakening Minsk

and having said goodbye to the hostess, I leave Minsk in a rented car towards Brest. The main goal of today is Belovezhskaya Pushcha, about which so much has been heard over the years of life back in the Soviet Union.

And only now my old dream of walking through a protected forest and looking at live bison is starting to come true. I described my route in more detail in.

In total, I have traveled 447 kilometers today. And here are the sights that we managed to see along the way.

Nesvizh - the patrimony of the Radziwills

Nesvizh Castle

Moving along an excellent highway, I turn towards Nesvizh, about which I have read many reviews.

And now, having covered 120 km from Minsk, I am there. In the city I am greeted by beautiful swans and the striking of the clock on the city tower in the city center. Every 15 minutes they remind you of the past time.

The small town of Nesvizh has been known for a very long time. But it began to develop especially quickly when it began to belong in 1533 to Jan Radziwill, a representative of the majestic, influential and very rich family of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

For centuries, the Radziwills owned vast lands, towns and cities belonged to them. Kings without a crown - that's what their compatriots called them.

Indeed, the Radziwills occupied the highest government and military positions. The opinion of representatives of this clan influenced the fate of the entire state. And the king himself could envy their untold wealth.

4 parks surround the Nesvizh Radziwill Castle. And each has its own history, its own specially decorated territory, its own monuments, original sculptures, its own legends.

So I took a walk in these parks.

It’s very beautiful, young leaves are blooming on the trees, the birds are singing.

But cold…

Brest Fortress - a citadel of courage

On June 22, 1941, the soldiers of the Brest Fortress were the first to come under fire from the Nazis and for more than a month, completely surrounded, without food or water, without medicine or ammunition, they held the defense, not allowing the Nazis to go further.

After the war, the fortress was not completely restored. To eternally remind descendants of the feat of the defenders of the Motherland, an entire memorial complex has been created here, and the Eternal Flame burns without going out.

On November 3-4, 2016, the memorial complex celebrated memorable dates. The Defense Museum is 60 years old! And the State Institution Memorial Complex “Brest Hero Fortress! - 45!

Brest – a city of unusual museums

There are also about 900 species of plants growing in the reserve, including rare and endangered species. Some trees are over 500 years old. 227 species of birds delight visitors with their beauty and iridescent singing.

But the greatest pride of Belovezhskaya is the bison living here.

Today, here is the largest population of these forest giants in Europe. And, among other things, I was surprised by the fantastically clean air in Pushcha. I have never seen such an amount of oxygen anywhere else! Just a fairy tale!

Belarusian Santa Claus lives here

By the way, there is a fairy tale here too! Believe it if you want, or better yet, check it, but here, in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Father Frost and his assistants live in his wonderful residence and happily receive numerous guests.

The good wizard's estate includes the owner's house with workshops where gifts are made; the house where the Snow Maiden lives; a magic well that makes wishes come true; a windmill that grinds everything bad, sculptural figures of heroes from your favorite fairy tales and much, much more.

At any time of the year, guests are absolutely always welcome here. Previously, an incomparable spruce grew here for more than 120 years. Its height was 40 meters. Unfortunately, she died several years ago. But in her place a new young beauty has been installed. Children and adults enjoy dancing around it.

At the residence of Father Frost, you can take part in fun games and competitions, taste delicious potato pancakes and other national dishes.

You definitely won't be bored! So if you're in the area, be sure to stop by! Santa Claus lives about 10 km from the main entrance to the protected forest!

The way of life of a Belarusian family in the museum of the village of Pererov

The Museum of Folk Life and Ancient Technologies is another interesting place that I was able to visit here. It is located in the village of Pererov. This museum complex was created on the basis of an old 19th-century manor, which was restored in the spirit of that time and filled with things that no rural family could do without.

Every corner of the house used to have its own purpose. There were always icons in the house - the image of the Savior and the image of the Mother of God. Each family member had their own rights and responsibilities. Men and women have their own crafts. For example, in the museum, your attention will be drawn to an ancient loom for double weaving. This art is currently included in the list of intangible cultural heritage of Belarus.

And here you will be treated to real moonshine. This is one of the few places in Belarus where moonshine brewing is officially permitted, and there is a license for the moonshine still installed here.

You will learn about all this, about the traditions and customs of our ancestors.

Day 8. Belovezhskaya Pushcha-Kossovo-Ruzhany-Synkovichi-Zhirovichi-Baranovichi

The time has come for me to leave this amazing natural reserve. Belovezhskaya Pushcha did not disappoint, but, on the contrary, enchanted me even more. And now I want to return there with even greater desire.

Well, my path now lies towards Minsk. But along the way, Belarus has prepared many more attractions for me. These are amazing and Orthodox shrines. It’s difficult to do everything in one day, so I’m planning to stretch my trip to the capital over 2 days.

During this day, I traveled 389 km from Belovezhskaya Pushcha to my overnight stay in the city of Baranovichi.

Kossovo Palace "Knight's Dreams"

And in Kossovo there is a castle that once belonged to the magnates Puslovsky. For its luxurious interior decoration and external grandeur it was called the “Knight's Dream”.

The palace had some features that made it unique and unique. For example, in the Main Hall the floor was glass. And you could see fish swimming under it. Under the floor there was a huge aquarium.

There was a lion living in the castle. At night, the owners let him out, and he moved freely throughout the palace.

Over the entire history of its existence, the castle was destroyed and rebuilt several times. It suffered severe damage in a multi-day fire during the Great Patriotic War. It is currently undergoing reconstruction, which is scheduled to be completed in 2018. But now!

Directly opposite, on the shore of the lake, stands the estate of Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a national hero of the four countries he visited: Belarus, Poland, Lithuania and the USA, and also an honorary citizen of France. Now he would be called a professional revolutionary. The house in which he was born and lived for some time has been turned into a hero's museum.

This is a two-story house with 8 rooms. Near the house there is a huge stone with a memorial plaque in honor of Tadeusz Kosciuszko. The museum houses items found during excavations at this site that once belonged to the Kosciuszko family.

A collection of stamps dedicated to Tadeusz, a copy of his saber and other valuables. Here you can buy souvenirs, take part in various events and... get married. Yes, now you can officially register your marriage here.

By the way, this place is simply wonderful! Welcome to visit.

Ruzhany and its castle-fortress

But the town of Ruzhany, known since the 15th century. In 1598, it was bought by the famous politician, creator of the Statute - a set of laws of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania - Lev Sapieha. He built a grandiose palace here, which combined elements of a fortress and a luxurious castle.

The entire treasury of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the weapons arsenal, documents of state importance, food supplies and barrels of wine were stored in the huge basements of the palace.

The castle was rebuilt many times and changed owners. At one time, the pride of the palace was the presence of a theater within its walls. The theater troupe consisted of 60 actors and 40 musicians. The theater's productions were famous throughout Europe. The palace often hosted noble guests: kings, ambassadors of distant countries and other celebrities. According to legend, there was an underground passage that connected Ruzhany Castle and Kossovsky Castle.

Zhirovichi Monastery

For more than 500 years, the Holy Dormition Monastery has existed in Zhirovichi. And its story began with a small icon on a stone, which is currently one of the most revered in the world of Orthodoxy.

According to legend, once upon a time, shepherds saw an unusual glow in the crown of trees. It was a small Image of the Mother of God, which the shepherds took to the owner of the land. A little later, a temple was built on this site. This is how the history of the monastery began.

Today it is a whole architectural complex, famous not only in Belarus, but also far beyond its borders. Never in its entire long history has the temple closed its doors to pilgrims.

Now the complex combines 2 churches, a bell tower, the Theological Academy and Seminary and other adjacent buildings. A Pilgrim's House was also built, where people who come to pray to the miraculous icon will be able to rest and spend the night if necessary.

Well, my overnight stay today is planned in the city of Borovichi, where I booked an apartment. Tomorrow I will continue my route with renewed vigor.

Day 9. Mir Castle – history and modernity

In the Grodno region of Belarus, the Mir Castle, built in the 16th century, stands tall.

Construction was started by wealthy landowner Yuri Ilyinich. But after his death, his 4 sons also did not live long. One was poisoned, the other died of illness - this is how the Ilyinich family died out. And the Radziwills began to own the castle. But they, after some time, sold it. The last owner of the castle died in 1938, and since then it has been in a state of neglect.

A whole trail of fantastic legends and scary stories literally envelops the beautiful castle. This is the legend about a stone similar to the head of a ram, which, according to some laws of magic, is called upon to protect the castle and its owners; the story of a cut down garden and cruel reprisals for it; stories about ghosts, yes, there are more than one; and of course about the countless treasures hidden somewhere here. There is such a mysterious place in Belarus.

Do dudutki come from the word “dutki”?

In the afternoon I part with the car that I rented and which has been my faithful assistant for a whole week. Therefore, I am going on the next excursion as part of a tourist group.

While our bus travels to the museum complex, the guide talks about Minsk and other attractions of Belarus. How interesting it is to listen to him now, when I have just visited many objects in person, and the impressions are still so fresh! I enjoy plunging into my memories of my independent trip.

40 km from Minsk, in the Pukhovichi district, there is the Dudutki Museum Complex. Here you can get acquainted with the crafts of our ancestors, try dishes according to ancient recipes, ride horses and even fly on an airplane.

There is so much on display here that it is impossible to do everything in the 2 hours allotted to us by the guide! Read on for details on how you can have fun at.

Now the time that I could devote to traveling around Belarus is over. It's time to go home. It’s a bit of a pity, I would like to stay here for a few more days - there are so many more interesting things to see! But nothing prevents me from coming here again, and maybe more than once.

What passport do you need?

Do you need a foreign passport to travel to Belarus? This is the first question that is probably asked by everyone who plans to visit Belarus for the first time.

The very good news is that Russians do not need a foreign passport to enter Belarus. Enough Russian. You also don’t need a visa when crossing the border; you don’t even need to put a stamp in your passport.

The only important point. If you are purchasing tickets, for example, for a plane, and specifying the details of a foreign document, then in this case you will need to present it when boarding. If the data is indicated from a Russian passport, then other identification documents will not be required for Russian citizens.

And for citizens of other countries, a visa can be obtained directly at the Minsk National Airport, having previously sent their documents here. But, of course, it is better to clarify all these questions in advance.

Where and how to rent housing in Belarus

It turned out that renting an apartment in Minsk is very simple. Through this you can book a room in numerous hotels, and on the service you can choose accommodation in any area of ​​the city. By the way, it turns out to be much cheaper than a hotel room. And if you travel not alone, but in a company, then the benefits are very significant.

I rented a very cozy apartment in Minsk near the metro.

From here you could get to any point in the city by any means of transport, and in 20 minutes you could walk to the center. Hotels in this area were significantly more expensive.

But, having returned back to Minsk from my car trip, I booked the hotel ““. It was located far from the center, but its location and cost suited me quite well, since I could get around in a rented car without any problems.

In other cities of Belarus you can also rent housing, but here the choice will be smaller. Here is my apartment in the city of Baranovichi.

I liked its location: close to the highway. It was very convenient to spend the night and hit the road again in the morning.

I wrote in detail about the amazing hotel complex on the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha in.

Transport in Minsk

Transport links in the capital of Belarus are excellent. There are buses, trolleybuses and numerous minibuses running around the city. There is also intercity communication. But I had no “communication” with this type of transport.

I enjoyed using the metro, which was the easiest way to get to any desired point in the city.

For a tourist entering the Belarusian subway for the first time, it is very easy to navigate: there are only 2 lines: red and blue. All stations are named quite clearly, although they are written in the local language.

It is also very convenient to use a taxi. They work on a meter, and if you travel short distances, you get 1 trip around the city within 200-300 Russian rubles.

I also ordered a return transfer to the airport. In this case, the taxi cost me 390,000 Belarusian rubles. (this is 1320 Russian rubles or 20 $)

You can get to Minsk National Airport and back more inexpensively by train (for only 25,000 Belarusian rubles). The advertising poster reports this.

In this case, you arrive from the airport to the Minsk railway station, from where you can get to your desired location in the city by public transport. The big disadvantage is that these trains do not run often.

Car rental in Minsk

Of course, the most convenient way to travel is by car, and in Minsk you can easily rent a car for any convenient period. After studying prices at different rental companies, I settled on a company with an optimistic name: “Maya the Bee.”

Why car rental has such an unusual name became clear later when I signed the rental agreement. It turned out that this office was registered under the name of the individual entrepreneur Pchelka Denis Viktorovich. These are the positive surnames in Belarus. 🙂

To get a car, you just need to have a driver’s license, make a copy of your Russian passport, and sign an agreement! Yes, and don’t forget to pay, of course! But not only the amount specified in the contract. There is also an additional deposit, which in my case amounted to 10,000 Russian rubles (it was returned at the end of the rental).

And now the keys to the silver Peugeot 206 are in my hands.

When renting a car, there were some surprises: the condition was to drive no more than 350 km per day. This is the first time I've heard this! Well, okay, in general, this suited me. I can't travel that far in a week. After all, the longest distances are from Minsk to Brest and back; all other sights can be seen along the way, only deviating briefly from the main route.

If, as a result, it would not be possible to meet these limits, then you would have to pay an additional $10 for every extra 350 km per day.

The cost of 95 gasoline in the country, on average, was 40 Russian rubles per liter ($0.6).

There was also unexpected news about rental conditions that I had not encountered before when booking a car abroad.

It turns out that the car must be returned perfectly clean or you will have to pay an additional $25 to the rental price. Fortunately, there was a car wash near the hotel where I lived the last few days. And for $5 they washed the car perfectly. 🙂

How much does a vacation cost (results and prices)

This time, according to my subjective feelings, the final cost of the trip was quite high. No, prices in Belarus are quite acceptable, and in some places even lower than European and even more so Russian ones. It’s just that this time I traveled alone, so all costs were solely at my expense.

After all, for example, accommodation and car rental cost almost the same: for one or for two people. And the costs in the 2nd case are easily divided in half.

Excursion program:

  1. Entrance tickets to all attractions cost me 1,620 rubles.
  2. Ordered excursions, including audio guides - 4,320 rubles.

And here are the results:

The money came and went, and now we no longer remember it. But the impressions of a great time were left! And this is the most important thing why people strive to travel! 🙂

The map below shows all the sights of Belarus that I was able to visit. You can see more details about each of them.

With the onset of warm weather, the soul asks for new travels - take a car, train or bicycle and go explore Belarus. Together with the guide to Belarus VETLIVA, we have compiled a list of the main reasons to take a breeze through the country - from springs with healing water and eco-trails to powerful military tourism facilities, intimate museums and estates that have not lost their splendor.

BREST REGION

1. Puslovsky Palace

Kosovo, Ivatsevichi district

2. Sapega palace complex in Ruzhany

Ruzhany, Pruzhany district

In guidebooks, the ruins of the palace are proudly called the “Belarusian Versailles,” but you should come here not for the gorgeous views and interiors (not much has survived here), but rather for the powerful energy that is inherent in such places of power. Just imagine: at the beginning of the 17th century a castle was founded here - Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Lev Sapega took part in this matter. To make living in it not only comfortable, but also safe, three powerful defensive towers were added to the complex. Important state issues were discussed in Ruzhany, receptions of top managers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania came, and the Sapieha archive and the state treasury were also located here. After the defeat of the uprising, the Sapiehas left the residence and set up a weaving factory in the palace. During the First World War, the ensemble burned down, then they tried to restore it, but after the Second World War this matter was abandoned.

Now you can visit the museum (Urbanovicha st., 15a) and learn the whole history of the place - for this there are 4 halls and an exciting excursion.

How to get there? Your chance is a bus from Minsk or 244 km by car. In Ruzhany, look for the address of the museum - st. Urbanovicha, 15a.

3. Brest Fortress

Brest

A powerful defensive structure and a large-scale open-air museum of Soviet heroic monumentalism. The fortress itself was built in the 19th century and has an impressive history. In 1596, a church union was declared here, and during the First World War a decree on peace was signed. But the fortress became famous after the heroic events of World War II.

Follow the chronology: at the Volyn fortification, look into the Berestye Museum - archaeological excavations, where you can see the remains of a fortification and wooden buildings of the 11th-13th centuries, street pavements, even several household items. Then go to the Museum of the Defenders of the Brest Fortress. The territory of the museum is simply huge - it will take three hours to get around everything without losing your breath. The most creepy experience is in Fort V - a semi-abandoned fortification with armored doors, narrow loopholes, underground corridors and complete silence. Most likely, you will be the only tourist here.

How to get there? The easiest way is to go by train - € 4-10, three to four hours - and you’re there. The same 350 km can be covered by bus (€ 7-9) or by your own car (M1 highway).

4. Olmansky swamps

Stolin district

These swamps occupy 75% of the area of ​​the Stolin region - the only complex of raised, transitional and lowland swamps preserved in our natural state. Ecologists cannot get enough of it: 687 species of plants, 151 species of birds (25 from the Red Book) and 26 species of mammals live here. Interestingly, in the 60s of the last century there was an aviation training ground in Olmany, so there are still unexploded shells and bombs in the swamps.

Of particular interest is the eco-trail, which is almost one and a half kilometers long. It goes along Lake Bolshoye Zasominoye, on the other side of which there is Ukraine. The second route will take you to a 40-meter tower, from which it is very convenient to explore the surrounding area and biodiversity. Ask the locals where the “Sea of ​​Herodotus” is - Bolshoye and Maloye Zasominoye and 23 other lakes.

Please note that if you are a foreigner, you will have to pay 10 basic (€ 114) in advance to visit the swamps. More information about excursions -.

How to get there? A classic of the genre - a bus or minibus from Minsk to Stolin.

5. Belovezhskaya Pushcha

Belarus is a source of pride - the largest and oldest forest in Europe, protected by UNESCO. Yes, there are bison in the wild here. Yes, you can even hunt them (if you have the conscience). Yes, it was here that the agreement on the collapse of the USSR was signed. Yes, this is where the Belarusian Grandfather Frost lives (his residence is open even in the summer - but his grandfather’s suit is lightweight). Breathe the relic air, ride a bicycle, feed the bison in the enclosure with bread from your hand, go and look at the Kamenets Vezha, which is already more than 700 years old.

How to get there? We recommend covering the distance Minsk - Brest by train, and then going to Kamenets by bus. For the more impatient, there are direct minibuses.

6. Jesuit College

Pinsk, st. Lenina, 1

Pinsk is the second in Belarus in terms of the number of preserved attractions (in first place is Grodno). The collegium building, built in the 17th century as a super-prestigious educational institution, especially deserves attention. They took talented students there regardless of their income. If you walk around the building, the view will be different: from the river it is an impenetrable fortress, from the courtyard it is an open book. Now the college has a nice museum of Belarusian Polesie, where you can look at non-smelly stuffed animals or sit on a wooden bicycle. Further along Lenin there is a Franciscan monastery with the “Pinsk Madonna” and cool magnets, the Butrimovich Palace (it now houses the registry office), the Horde House and the campus of Polesie University. The embankment in Pinsk is 2.5 km long - you can walk for a long time with a beautiful view.

How to get there? You can get there in three hours by minibus - prepare €3 for the journey. Once every two days you can take an evening train - you get on in Minsk at 17.37, at 22.55 you are in Pinsk. Very comfortably!

7. Polesie

Brest region

The largest of the European wetlands, which occupies approximately 30% of the map of Belarus. Terra incognita is the size of a compact country, with isolated villages and indigenous inhabitants, the Poleshuks, who have their own distinct language. To experience all the charm of life in Polesie, you need to wait for the spring flood of Pripyat. The ideal option is to take a boat and sail through Belarusian villages, which are flooded every spring. Choose to suit your taste - from Turov to Pinsk.

How to get there? How to get to Pinsk - see above.

THE GRODNO REGION

8. Mir Castle

Mir, st. Krasnoarmeyskaya, 2

9. Kolozha Church

Grodno, st. Kolozha, 6

The Borisoglebskaya or Kolozhskaya Church appeared on a pagan site near Castle Hill in Grodno back in the 11th century - this is one of the few buildings from the period of Ancient Rus' in Belarus, although it was notably rebuilt. The church is not plastered on the outside, and therefore you can look at all the engineering solutions of the builders of that time. The church stands on the steep bank of the Neman

How to get there? From any point in the country you can get to Grodno by train - the city is connected to 142 stations in Belarus. Trains leave Minsk several times a day, and electrons go even more often. Buses and minibuses are also at your disposal (€ 7).

10. Church of the Holy Trinity in Gervyaty

Gervyaty village, Ostrovetsky district

The tallest church in Belarus is 61 meters (24-storey building!), and the only one built according to all the canons of the Neo-Gothic style. It was erected on the site of a wooden church of the 16th century by the architect Alshalovsky. For construction, a brick yard was specially organized or, in parallel, eggs were collected from all the surrounding areas - they were added to the lime solution for strengthening. The slate was specially brought from Germany. Here you can find out what a flying buttress looks like - an external semi-arch that distributes the load from the main wall and stands separately (remember Notre Dame de Paris) - this is completely atypical for Belarus. Be sure to listen to the mass - it is in Belarusian, Polish and Lithuanian, and take a walk in the park - it is perhaps even cooler than the church. By the way, in the surrounding area too.

How to get there? The best option, of course, is to go by car. If this is not possible, go to Ostrovets, and then hitchhike to Gervyat (via Vornyany).

Nemnovo, Grodno district

A shipping canal built in the 19th century to create a route from the Black Sea to the Baltic. There are only two cool engineering structures, thought out so cleverly, long ago, and preserved almost in their original form - in the UK and Sweden. The length of the canal is 101 km, 22 of which are on the territory of Belarus in the border zone. Hello, simplified visa regime! Gateways, drawbridges, columns - it’s amazing how harmoniously everything works. You can ride along the canal on the motor ship "Neman", stroll along it on foot, go to the canal museum, go kayaking, and look at the surviving estate in Svyatsk, created in the 18th century according to the design of the Italian architect Giuseppe de Sacco.

How to get there? Start from Minsk by car (direction Volozhin - Lida - Skidel, 327 km). From Grodno you can go by car or bus (Grodno - Goryachki, Grodno - Nemnovo, Grodno - Kalety, stop "Augustovsky Canal" or "Sonichi").

12. Slonim Synagogue

Slonim, st. Sovetskaya, 1

Baroque synagogue from 1642, one of the oldest in the country. The dilapidated building has preserved its pretentious and rich interior decoration. The synagogue was badly damaged during the War of 1812, but was quickly restored - the Jewish community in Slonim was then considered one of the most powerful in the country. At the end of the 19th century, there were 21 synagogues in the city, and more than 70% of the residents were Jews. In 2000, the building was returned to believers, but no restoration work was carried out. Be sure to look at the stucco molding, aron ha-kadesh and paintings - all of this is perfectly preserved.

How to get there? Jump on a minibus and you'll be there in two and a half hours.

13. Murovankovskaya church-fortress

Murovanka village, Shchuchinsky district

The 600-year-old temple was conceived not only as a place for worship, but also as a defensive structure - in the 16th century there was no other way. The church looks like a real castle - two-meter thick walls, loophole windows, towers. The temple in Murovanka survived many wars and was severely damaged during the Russian-Polish War. In 1882, a major restoration was carried out; a bell tower was built on one of the towers. A successful mix of Gothic and Renaissance, stone, brick and rose window. The brick, by the way, is special - the “royal lily” - a symbol of the purity of the Mother of God. Historical facts and legends say that many underground passages were dug from the church - however, now it is not clear where they started from and where they led.

How to get there? You can get from Minsk to Shchuchin by bus; the church itself is located 3 km from the village of Mozheikovo.

14. Novogrudok Castle

Novogrudok

Novogrudok is an ancient Belarusian city, which was the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The main point of attraction in the city is the ruins of a castle that stood here in the 12th century. 6 centuries after the first mention, it was destroyed by the Swedes - almost to its present state. Of all the structures, two walls remained - Kostelnaya and Shield - opposite each other. Castle Hill offers stunning views - there's no better place for a picnic. Be sure to visit the house-museum of Adam Mickiewicz, who was born and lived in Novogrudok, go to the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, perfectly preserved in 1714, pay attention to the St. Boris and Gleb Church, which is already more than 500 years old.

How to get there? The easiest way to get from Minsk is by minibus (€ 2) or bus, but you shouldn’t count on the railway.

15. Church of St. Michael the Archangel

Synkovichi, Zelvensky district

The largest defense-type temple in Belarus. The powerful impregnable church was built in the 15th century - the towers, loopholes are not very high, the walls are thick - this is a real small castle. The entrance gate, by the way, also deserves attention - it has been preserved since 1880. Within walking distance is the building of a 19th-century estate, which was later turned into a distillery. By the way, there is an interesting legend about why the place is called Synkovichi. The temple was built by father and son. At some point, the son fell from the scaffolding and fell to his death. His father shouted to him in despair: “Son, son!” This is how the name of the village surrounding the church appeared. Above the entrance to the church you can see a ledge that resembles a coffin lid.

How to get there? From Minsk you can get to Zelva relatively easily - by regular bus. Further - only by car or hitchhiking.

16. Chetvertinsky Palace

Village Zheludok, Shchuchinsky district

One of the most cinematic places in the country - it’s not for nothing that the first (and last) Belarusian horror film called “Masakra” was filmed here. There are movie decorations even now: plywood tiles, painted traces of a fire on the façade. From Soviet times, a cinema club with a booth and star symbols remained in the palace.

17. Krevsky Castle

Krevo

Perhaps the most picturesque ruins from our guide. The castle in Krevo dates back to the 14th century. These walls have seen a lot: in 1382, Prince Keistut, Vitovt’s father, was killed here, in 1385 a union was signed, in the 16th century the castle repelled the attacks of the Tatars and Muscovites, and already in the 19th century it was no longer considered a sensible fortification and was abandoned. The ruins were preserved in 1929 - they still stand that way.

Listen to the wind blowing between the walls, go to the beautiful Alexander Nevsky Church or the austere church, find the former pagan temple - even though Krevo is now considered a village, there are plenty of witnesses of its former greatness here.

How to get there? Minsk - Smorgon - bus or train, and then on a light green MAZ regional bus with curtains.

MINSK REGION

18. Nesvizh Castle

Nesvizh

In the 16th century, Nesvizh became the family nest of the Radziwills, the main dynasty in the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. For example, the King of Poland often visited here, and representatives of the magnate family occupied the most important positions in the state. You understand the scale of the buildings - the palace and park complex occupies 90 hectares. In Nesvizh Castle you can look at the early Renaissance, Baroque, neoclassicism and modernism. Ask to tell you about the revenge of Bonna Sforza and show you the gilded apostles as tall as a man.

How to get there? You can get to Nesvizh by driving from Minsk along the Brest highway. If you decide to go by bus, you can find the schedule.

19. City of the Sun in Minsk

Minsk

Minsk is a witness and victim of the imperial ambitions of the Soviet authorities. You can feel this while walking along Independence Avenue - a straight asphalt arrow that stretches 15 km and cuts the city in half. The writer Arthur Klinov coined the term “City of the Sun” to refer to the Stalinist Empire style in Minsk. Minsk as the main artery of the Big Communist Dream, built in the likeness of Rome. The station square with the “gates”, Lenin Square, Marx, Kirov, Sverdlov streets - the integral development of an ideal city for life in the opinion of the Soviet authorities.

How to get there? We tell in .

20. Khatyn

Khatyn village / Mokrad village, Logoisk district

High-quality Soviet documentaries. was created on the site of a village that was burned by the Nazis during World War II. All the inhabitants were herded into a barn and set on fire - and the same was done with the inhabitants of 628 villages. To prepare for your trip, be sure to check out the 1985 film “Come and See” directed by Elem Klimov. Information on tickets and opening hours of the complex.

How to get there? If you are traveling by car, take the M3 highway (59 km). There is no public transport - if you hitch a ride, you will have to walk 5 km from the highway.

21. Nalibokskaya Pushcha

Volozhin district

The largest forest area in Belarus is three times larger than Malta! Here is the richest flora, a quarter of the plants are medicinal, many are listed in the Red Book. Animals are also fine - for example, 29 species of rare birds live here. The Pushcha is surrounded by three large rivers - the Neman, Berezina and Usa, and therefore the places here are incredibly picturesque. And not particularly accessible - like Svaneti in Georgia. For example, during World War II, 20 thousand people hid in Nalibokskaya Pushcha. Be bold or daring and march into the thick of the ancient forest. Be sure to look at Lake Kroman, the Lavrishevsky Monastery, founded in the 13th century, the Tyshkevich estate in the village of Vyaloye and swim naked in the river - here you can afford it.

How to get there? Your only chance is a car; you can get there from Minsk in an hour.

22. Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of Strochitsa

Ozertso village, Minsk region

Peasant Belarus in miniature. An open-air museum, where the ancient buildings of three regions of Belarus are presented: the Central part, Poozerie and the Dnieper region. Ethnological research will have to be carried out on the material of the church, parish school, mill, bathhouse and peasant huts. All this is scattered in picturesque fields - don’t forget to charge your phone for photos. To get in the mood, we advise you to wave some horseradish at the tavern at the entrance!

How to get there? All details are on the website.

GOMEL REGION

23. Gomel Park

Gomel

You need to go to the palace and park ensemble in Gomel in the spring, when the huge park turns green and blooms, the Sozh becomes full of water, and the evenings are already warm enough to wander thoughtfully near the Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace and look at the dark water. The palace ensemble is the largest piece of historical buildings in size, preserved without breaking its monolithic structure. Russian Empress Catherine II presented Gomel to her favorite Count Rumyantsev for fun, and he built it on the banks of the Sozh. Then the palace passed to the commander Paskevich, who, by a willful decision, built a whole complex of outbuildings: a hunter’s house, a winter garden, several churches. The best preserved landscape park is 24 hectares - you can walk here for half a day if you first refresh yourself with Gomel Spartak chocolate with 90% cocoa.

24. Gerard Manor

Demyanki, Dobrush district

A nice manor with a pseudo-Russian style - in the resettlement zone. The red brick building was built at the expense of a Russian official, Governor General of Finland Nikolai Gerard in the second half of the 19th century. The estate stands on a hillock crossed by a moat - a bridge plays a decorative role, a perfectly preserved park with rare species of trees and amazing silence. If you are looking for a place where there will definitely be no tourists, this is the place for you. By the way, you can get here completely legally.

How to get there? You can get to Radunitsa - then they let you in without a pass. The rest of the time, the pass must be issued in Dobrush. To get to Dobrush, buy tickets for the Minsk - Gomel train, and then take the train or commuter bus.

25. Museum of Old Believers

Vetka, Red Square, 5

In the 17th century, the city of Vetka was chosen by persecuted Old Believers. Pathologically tolerant Belarusians did not touch them, and therefore Old Believer icons, manuscripts and printed books of the 16th-19th centuries, collections of textiles and household items are still preserved here in excellent condition. The museum is interactive - here, for example, you can learn traditional weaving.

How to get there? How to get to Gomel, and then take a commuter bus - you need to cover only 22 km.

MOGILEV REGION

26. Bobruisk Fortress

Bobruisk

This powerful fortification is a planned construction in preparation for the war with Napoleon. To build it, they actually destroyed the city that existed here before. The fortress did withstand a long siege by the French, and after the war it served as a prison. Rumor has it that in one of the forts of the Bobruisk fortress there is an egg-shaped cell in which prisoners went crazy after a couple of weeks of imprisonment. It is not for nothing that Herzen, remembering Bobruisk, wrote: “Let Siberia, let it be anything, but not this terrible prison on the Berezina River.” Now it’s just fun to climb around the fortress that has grown into the ground, for example, to visit an abandoned guardhouse, rebuilt from a Jesuit church. Now the fortress consists of 7 bastions stretched over an area of ​​several km. Some are concreted, others can be climbed up and down. Bring a flashlight! The fortress burned several times, so don’t wear your dress pants - you might get covered in soot. Aliens seem to have landed a few steps from the fortress. In fact, this is the Bobruisk Ice Arena for 7 thousand spectators.

How to get there? An hour and a half by train from Minsk on the fashionable Stadler train (or 2 on a regular one) - and you’re already walking around colorful Bobruisk and trying to count all the mentions of beavers. The second option is to travel by bus or private minibus.

27. Estate of the Count Tolstoy family

Grudinovka village, Bykhovsky district

One of the most beautiful and mysterious places in the country is the Tolstoy count's house. And although Lev Nikolaevich never made it home, it’s worth a look at the estate. A two-story manor with domes, columns, a grand staircase and an open terrace overlooking the park awaits you. Wander around the 10-hectare park, find the Siberian cedar, which has been growing here for more than 100 years, walk through the palace - most recently there was a school and sanatorium for sick children here, and therefore there are green-painted walls and a soviet wardrobe with numbers - strange contrast with

Hello everyone) I’m writing a report about one of our trips for the first time, don’t judge strictly... The trip to Belarus was planned for a long time, I chose the optimal route, looked for accommodation, studied various reports on road trips and finally decided on the time of the trip (May 3-13, 2015 year) and route. Before the trip, we purchased a guidebook from the store, which we basically took everywhere. The price of the issue is about 500 rubles, but the thing turned out to be useful; the guide also included maps of the republic and Minsk)

Before the trip, maps of Belarus were loaded into the navigator, and accommodation was booked in all the necessary cities on the website olx.by/ Don’t be alarmed, prices are in Belarusian rubles, the owners of the apartments willingly accept dollars; Russian rubles, alas, were not accepted. I called the apartment owners a month before the trip; many apartments were already booked. Then I called everyone again in advance so that there would be no surprise upon arrival. Let me make a reservation right away: the apartments did not always look as “beautiful” as in the photo; some were not well-kept, the furniture already seemed shabby. Because We were always on the road and usually needed an apartment for an overnight stay, so we stayed where it was booked. A visa to Belarus is not required, you only need car insurance (green card or local policy). A few days in advance, I bought a green card from the first insurance company in the city that cost 700 rubles. This can be done before the border, but I advise you not to waste time on this and stock up in advance.
day 1, May 3, road to Belarus, first stop city Polotsk.

About 1000 km. on the way, highway M9, through Rzhev, after Velikiye Luki exit onto P51, then through P133 and now in front of us was a section of the road called “toll section”. At first we did not accept this as truth, because... section of road 50-100 km. turned out to be completely broken and narrow-lane, traffic along it could not exceed 70 km, because It was impossible to go faster. At the end of the road there really was a toll point and a barrier, the fare was 300 rubles) not fair... I’m used to seeing toll sections in a slightly different light than this. Having paid 300 re, the barrier was raised and a few meters later a sign “Belarus” appeared in front of us). we stopped, checked the course, and activated roaming. Then settlements with names in the Belarusian language began, which was somewhat unusual. Small villages with a measured, leisurely life. Because The first day of the trip fell on May 3, a day off, and along the way all local bank branches were closed, so it was somewhat difficult to exchange our re for their local rubles. It is also important to note that there are many storks in Belarus; as soon as you cross the border, storks begin to appear in their nests in the first populated area. We have never seen anything like this in our country. We arrived in Polotsk already at 5 pm, in total we had been on the road since 5 am, the travel time with stops for gas stations and snacks was 12 hours, the road in general was not difficult. In the evening we checked into a rented apartment, found an exchange office, which was only at the railway station, and this began our acquaintance with Belarus)

Day 2, May 4, 2015, acquaintance with Polotsk

Polotsk is the most ancient city in Belarus. The city itself is compact, provincial and attracts with its originality, but already in it the spirit of Western countries and their cultures begins to be felt. The city does not have large grocery stores, boutiques and other paraphernalia of comfort inherent in large cities. I’ll say right away that in Belarus, as well as in the Russian Federation, there are many banks, the most common is Belarusbank (http://belarusbank.by/), which offers the consumer the most unfavorable currency exchange rates, so if you decide not to show off, then it’s better walk further around the city or find another bank on the map that will save you a few rubles).
There are few attractions in Polotsk, so we covered them in half a day.
Monument to Francis Skaryna

Freedom Square

Polotsk is the geographical center of Europe



Monument to the letter "u"

The surroundings are clean and homely

Monument to 23 Guardsmen

Epiphany Monastery

Lutheran Church

The most beautiful place in Polotsk is the Cathedral of St. Sofia



Further our path did not flow along the city embankment, but along its upper part: the Jesuit College



Monument to the Krivichi founders of the city

Monument to Euphrosyne of Polotsk

At a distance from the city center is the Spaso-Euphrosinievsky Monastery

You can have a delicious meal in Polotsk at the Domian cafe (Polotsk, Nizhne-Pokrovskaya St., 41 b), there is national cuisine here, and here we tried a local attraction - potato pancakes). We spent the whole day in this city, exchanged currencies, and then spent a long time recalculating them, because... our 5 tr. turned out to be the equivalent of more than a million Belarusian rubles in 50,000 pieces of paper), bought a local SIM card for calls throughout the republic.
Polotsk kvass and locally produced beer are sold in Polotsk. We managed to try this only in Polotsk, then we didn’t see them anywhere. Therefore, there is an opportunity, we advise you to buy such kvass either for the road, or as gifts)
Day 3, May 5, road to Minsk via Khatyn, about 230 km.

We left Polotsk early, because... the journey is 200 km. not close, and even in unfamiliar terrain. In Belarus, the speed limits are the same as ours: highway 90, city 60, highway 110, but there is a slight difference! If we don’t receive a fine when we exceed the speed limit of up to 20 km/h with the existing limit, then here we can only catch up to 10 km/h. Be careful! There are a lot of tripods, cameras and traffic police posts both in radar ambushes and at the entrances to cities.
Before reaching Minsk there is the Khatyn memorial complex. This complex was opened in 1969 on the site of a village burned by the Nazis. On the territory of the complex is the only village cemetery in the world…




On the eve of the holiday, the anniversary of the Great Patriotic War, the entire complex was full of workers who were painting and cleaning the area.
In general, I would like to note that during the entire trip, we did not meet a single village that did not honor those who died in that terrible war. In every village there is an obelisk, a memorial that reminds of days gone by and the fallen soldiers who defended these lands.
I would also like to note and draw your attention to the fact that gasoline prices throughout the republic are the same, regardless of the name of the gas station, the approximate cost of 92 gasoline is about 50 of our rubles, a little expensive, but no matter where you are: the capital or a small village, the price of gasoline will remain unchanged.
Minsk greeted us with good weather, cloudy but not rainy, a nice apartment with a talkative owner. We settled in the Minsk-rent area. Developed area, many supermarkets, shopping centers, public transport stops nearby, not the center, but once again taking a ride on the local trolleybuses and listening to the stops being announced in Belarusian is a pleasure. tickets for public transport can be bought both from the driver and at kiosks at bus stops.

Although Minsk is the capital of Belarus, it did not amaze me with its scope and splendor.

We stayed in Minsk for 2 days, but 2 days was enough to explore the entire city.
We started our route from the railway station and the twin towers.



Next we went to Mikhailovsky Square



Then we walked through the passage to Independence Square, where the Red Church is located.






There are many Catholics living in Belarus, so we often see Catholic churches that are unusual for us.

Then we walked along Independence Avenue to the upper city.







Above is a photo of the Cathedral Church of St. Virgin Mary
City Hall

Church of St. Joseph

Memorial "Island of Tears"

And of course, national cuisine, we recommend the cafe “Franziska”, a little expensive, but this is Minsk) - Minsk, Nezavisimosti Ave., 19

Day 4, May 6, Stalin Line, sightseeing tour of Minsk


Depending on where you are staying in Minsk, the Stalin Line is 20-30 km away. “Stalin Line” is a historical and cultural complex located on the former defense line.





The complex occupies a huge area...













It was cool outside, so we hurried to find a cafe. There is a small cafe on the territory of the complex where you can order soldier’s buckwheat porridge and warm up with hot tea) After the complex we went back to Minsk, or rather to the “Vostok” district, where the famous library is located

The library has a panoramic paid elevator that will take you to the top, to the observation deck. Neither the elevator nor the platform are worth the time and money spent. There is a cafe upstairs. The view from above is only of residential areas. We spent the rest of the day in the apartment, resting and gaining new strength.
Day 5, May 7, road to Grodno through the ruins of the Krevsky and Golshansky castles, through the Lida Castle, more than 300 km. on my way

We set out from Minsk in the morning, the weather was terrible, it was raining, we flew quickly along the Moscow Ring Road and moved towards the castles. The first on the way was Krevo Castle, or rather its ruins (Krevo village)











As we moved deeper into the republic, the weather began to change and we arrived at the ruins of the Golshansky castle (Golshany village)









Further the road flowed to Lida and Lida Castle. Lida is famous not only for the Lida Castle, but also for Lida beer and kvass, which are just as good as those from Polotsk)



The castle was restored and preserved to this day according to historical information.













And so, we got to Grodno

Day 6, May 8, Grodno


There are few attractions in Grodno; on the eve of holidays and weekends there were many tourists in the city, mainly from Poland
Fire Tower

Old castle and new castle



Nothing remarkable inside, not worth spending money on
Church of the Finding of the Holy Cross

Cathedral Church of St. Francis Xavier - the most important attraction of Grodno







The sights were explored quickly, so we went in search of attractions outside the guidebook, they turned out to be the forts of the Grodno Fortress (fortifications of the First World War) in the village of Naumovichi



Day 7, May 9, Belovezhskaya Pushcha through Krasnoselsky chalk quarries and Ruzhany (castle in Ruzhany)

n/a Kovali, Ros River









Although they are shy, they are incredibly friendly and talkative swans, I loved them
Krasnoselsky chalk quarries are located in the village of Krasnoselsky, the quarries were formed from the extraction of chalk, everyone here will find a quarry to their taste and liking. People come here on vacation, for photo sessions.





Ruzhany is a small settlement in the Grodno region. Ruzhany is famous for its castle, which is currently being actively restored. The castle in Ruzhany is majestic and amazes visitors with its scale.











Next, the road to Belovezhskaya Pushcha runs through the village of Kamenyuki; along the entire route there are many signs that will lead you to Kamenyuki, and then to the main entrance to Belovezhskaya Pushcha (http://npbp.by/). The fresh air of the relic forest intoxicates your head. The hotel room in the Pushcha itself was booked in advance without prepayment (http://npbp.by/images/Dok/25.pdf). Prices for rooms are on the website; you can choose a room in a hotel on the territory of the Pushcha, or a room in a hotel near the Pushcha (500 meters from the main entrance). We didn’t regret staying at the hotel on site. The room was clean and comfortable, the staff was hospitable. The price of the room included a very hearty breakfast, which was worth it before the trip. On the territory of the Pushcha and at the entrance to it there are several cafes where you can eat, and in the main building there is a restaurant where you can try buffalo meat. The range of services of the Pushcha: both health-improving and cultural and entertainment. We chose a bike ride. If you have bicycles with you, you won’t have to pay for them to enter the Pushcha, only if you want to buy your own route. Let me make a reservation right away - this is not mandatory. There are signs on the territory of the Pushcha, so you can safely navigate by them and ride bicycles on your own without maps. We rented bicycles + a route of 15 km. You can buy a ticket separately to view the animals, but I also don’t advise you to spend money, if you take bicycles, then one way or another on the way back you will pass through all the animals and see them for free. We had a chance to admire them before going to bed, when it was already getting dark and they were putting them to bed, the evening walk only did us good, we slept very well.









Day 8, May 10, Brest via Kamenets (distance 50-60 km)

Kamenets is famous for the Kamenets Tower, which is located directly in the city. The Kamenets Tower is a monument of defense architecture, the tower stands on a high hill, inside the tower there is a local history museum.



We got to Brest quickly, before moving in we managed to visit the Brest Fortress, I won’t describe it, everyone knows what it is, photos don’t convey all the sensations that you experience inside its walls

















After checking in, we had a snack and went to get acquainted with the city; the sights were within walking distance from us. The city is beautiful and modern, there are not many attractions.

It is worth walking along 2 streets: Cosmonauts Boulevard and Gogol Street.















Recommended place for lunch is the Dali cafe on Blvd. Cosmonauts
Church of the Exaltation of St. Cross

This is where our acquaintance with Brest ends. The city has many branded stores of the Brest Distillery (sells Zubrovka and other liqueurs) and chocolate factories.
Day 9, May 11, road to Mir through the village. Kozishchi, Nesvizh Castle (about 350 km)

In the village of Kozische there is a large ostrich farm; it is difficult to find without a navigator, because... sometimes we had to drive along a rural dirt road. Because We left Brest early and arrived at the farm at opening time, at 10 am. But as it turned out, the staff had not arrived yet and we had to wait about an hour for the opening, this really spoiled our impression. Before the excursion, we ordered breakfast: an ostrich egg omelette and ostrich sausages (there are always fresh eggs on sale and fresh meat for those who like it). The excursion was sluggish, as was the guide; I wanted to move on faster.











Because The path ahead was not yet close, so we refreshed ourselves with ostrich and rushed on. The roads in Belarus deserve special attention; they are ideal. In some places there are signs that there will be bumps on the road, but in fact you don’t even notice them. No major repairs, no potholes, no pothole repairs. The roads are clean, staff walk around and mow the grass; this attitude towards roads in the country inspires respect.
Passing 300 km. we got to Nesvizh, the city in which Nesvizh Castle is located. I’ll immediately make a reservation that due to the long journey during the day, we did not have time to get inside, so we examined the castle only from the outside. He is beautiful.

















There are several hotels in Nesvizh, but the most interesting thing is that you can rent a room in the castle) niasvizh.by/ru/
Mir, Mir Castle. As in Nesvizh with the Mir Castle, you can also rent a room, but we couldn’t afford it, so we stayed at a hotel, the rooms and prices were reasonable (hotel “Mir”). I was tired from the road, so I preferred to sit outside the castle in the fresh air, while my husband went to the castle.





















Day 10, May 12, Vitebsk (about 380 km)

Vitebsk is our last point of travel around Belarus. This city only strengthened my already positive attitude towards this country.

Holy Assumption Cathedral







Kirovsky Bridge

City Hall

Holy Resurrection Church







Slavic Marketplace)

Day 11, May 13, road home (900 km)

We are going to the border and then...





At the border they checked our passports and wished us a good trip)