Catania theater bellini architecture interesting facts. Skating theaters

Many travelers planning to travel to Belarus for the first time are wondering whether they need a foreign passport to enter. To travel to the Republic of Belarus, citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a foreign passport. You can enter Belarus by presenting a foreign passport, but no marks will be put on it. The Western European architecture of the cities of Belarus will allow even those travelers who do not have a foreign passport to plunge into the atmosphere of old Europe.

Typically, excursions around Belarus begin from the capital of the country, the city of Minsk. A trip to Minsk from Moscow by private car will take approximately 12 hours. It is also possible to get from Moscow by train; the journey will take about 9–10 hours. The fastest way to travel from Moscow to Minsk is by plane. Direct flights are carried out daily by several airlines.
You can exchange Russian rubles for Belarusian rubles at any bank branch or currency exchange office. You will need to present the passport or international passport with which you entered the country. One Russian ruble is equal to approximately 275 Belarusian rubles.

A trip by car to Belarus will be especially interesting. You can rent a car in Minsk. This will give you complete freedom of movement and the opportunity to travel to any part of Belarus. The cost of renting a car at the airport depends on the rental period and starts from 350,000 rubles per day.

Cheap hotels in most cities are located near the train station. You can stay in a budget hotel from 140,000 rubles per bed. Hotels offer private rooms from 350,000 rubles.

The most interesting objects of Minsk are:

• Town Hall.
• Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.
• Church of St. Simeon and St. Helena, the Virgin Mary, St. Roch.
• Ensemble of former Bernardine and Bernardine monasteries, St. Elizabeth's Monastery.

• Trinity suburb.
• Churches of Peter and Paul, Alexander Nevsky, Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist and the chapel of all Belarusian saints.
• Pishchalovsky Castle.
• National Library of Belarus.

Where you should go in Minsk in winter is the skating rink, which is poured in front of the Palace of the Republic, and also visit the Silichi ski resort, 30 km from Minsk. In addition, 50 km north of Minsk there is the Khatyn memorial complex. The cost of visiting is 40,000 rubles for adults, 25,000 for students.

Mir Castle is one of those places where you should definitely go, especially if you are traveling around Belarus by car. It is located 90 km from Minsk. Mir Castle is the easternmost Gothic-style architectural complex in Europe. Since 2000 it has been part of the UNESCO cultural heritage.

To enter Mir Castle you need a ticket, its cost is 200,000 rubles. On the territory of the castle there is a restaurant and a hotel with room rates starting from a million rubles, so those who want to save money should go here for one day, returning to the hotel in Minsk in the evening or continue the journey towards the city of Nesvizh.

The next place you should visit by car is Nesvizh Castle. This castle complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located 30 km from Mir Castle, so both castles can be visited in one day. When visiting Nesvizh Castle, you can stay in the city of Nesvizh. A small private hotel will cost from 180,000 rubles for a single room. Nesvizh Castle also has a hotel on its territory.

The castle is open to visitors every day, in summer from 9.30 to 18.30, in winter from 9.00 to 18.00. You will also need a ticket, ticket prices: 50,000 rubles for children, 100,000 for adults. It is possible to visit Nesvizh Castle for free on the last Monday of any month. Nesvizh Castle is also famous for the oldest town hall in Belarus, the entrance to which is paid separately, and the Church of Corpus Christi.

If, while thinking about where to go next, you decide to move west, then you should visit Grodno. It’s quite easy to travel to Grodno by car from anywhere in Belarus; the roads here are good. There will be no problems finding a hotel. At the station there are many offers from private individuals, the prices offered there are very reasonable. A hotel will cost on average 350,000 rubles.

Where to go in Grodno is to the museums. There are seven of them, the average entrance ticket prices for adults are 15,000 - 30,000 rubles, for schoolchildren - 10,000 - 20,000. In general, the main attractions of Grodno can be seen in one day. These include:

• The Old Castle is a medieval palace.
• New Castle - located opposite the Old Castle.
• The Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier is a Catholic church in the Baroque style.

The historical center of Grodno is a pleasant place for walking. The architectural ensembles of the center of Grodno are intertwined with many different European styles, so a trip to Belarus can provide a unique opportunity to feel the atmosphere of old Europe, but you won’t even need a passport.

Brest is located on the border with Poland and is one of the five oldest cities in Belarus. If they have a Schengen visa and take their international passport with them, tourists have the opportunity to travel to Poland. Here are the most interesting things to see in Brest:

• Brest Hero Fortress. To view it you need a ticket, entrance ticket prices: 30,000 rubles for adults, 15,000 for students.
• Archaeological Museum "Berestye". Entrance ticket for adults is 20,000 rubles, for schoolchildren - 10,000. Every second Wednesday of the month, the museum is open to visitors for free.
• St. Simeon's Cathedral.
• Church of the Exaltation of the Cross.

Budget hotels in Brest offer beds from 200,000 rubles. You can stay in an inexpensive hotel from 250,000 rubles per room.

Another place worth visiting when visiting Brest is the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are hotels and guest houses on the territory of the reserve. Room prices start from 500,000 rubles on average. In winter, Father Frost's house is open for children.

In the north of Belarus, it is worth visiting the city of Vitebsk - the cultural capital of the country. From what to see in Vitebsk and where to go, it is worth highlighting such objects as:

• City Hall.
• Governor's Palace.
• Art Museum.
• Chagall Museum and Exhibition Complex.
• The building of the regional executive committee, which previously housed the women's diocesan school.
• Victory Square is the largest in Belarus.
• Churches and cathedrals of the 18th – 19th centuries.

It’s quite easy to rent a hotel in the city, but prices in Vitebsk are somewhat overpriced. When choosing a budget hotel, you should expect a bed from 180,000 rubles.

Belarus, our closest neighbor, is also a beautiful country. No matter what anyone says, there really is something to see there – and not only in the capital Minsk. There are different ways to get to Belarus. For some it will be easier to fly by plane, for others they will prefer the sound of wheels on the railway. Our material is intended for those who decide to go on a trip to Belarus by car. What do you need for this, besides four wheels?

Briefly about Belarus

The fact that Belarus is a neighboring power and was previously part of the Soviet Union is probably known to everyone. However, what other information do you need to know about this country?

The population of Belarus is just over nine million people (as of last year), the entire country covers an area of ​​two hundred seven thousand square kilometers. In addition to Russia, the Republic of Belarus (this is its official name) has Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine as its closest neighbors. In addition to Belarusian, Russian is also the official language. Belarus appeared as a state in 1919, but this does not mean that it did not exist before. On the contrary, the term “White Rus'”, from which the modern name of our neighboring power comes, has been known since the thirteenth century and was widely used in relation to some territories of Ancient Rus'.

Why should you go to Belarus?

Belarus is not a resort country at all, but it seems so only at first glance. In fact, you can relax in a neighboring country – and how! There is a lot there that is surprising and unusual for a Russian person. For example, it’s as if it was Soviet times – there are ubiquitous monuments to Lenin, place names unchanged since the Soviet era, there are even collective farms there! At the same time, the country of potatoes is very clean - both on the streets and in the courtyards, and on the roads. The roads there are generally of the highest class - they fully correspond to European standards, and this is at least a good reason to come to Belarus by car.

We talked about the country of potatoes. Now is the time to talk about traveling to Belarus by car. What do you need for this?

Budget holidays

Of course, if you are planning to travel to Belarus by car from Vladivostok or at least Tyumen, your route and the whole trip in general will be somewhat different. Our material is aimed more at Muscovites, St. Petersburg residents and residents of neighboring regions, for whom getting to the country of potatoes by car is, as they say, easier than steamed turnips, since it is the most convenient. Moreover, for them this is also the most budget-friendly option for such a trip.

About distance and speed

From Moscow to Minsk along the M-1 highway (you can also get to Brest along it) approximately 720 kilometers. However, at normal speed limits (without breaking - which is important!), you can cover this distance in eight to nine hours, which is quite acceptable. But don’t think that you can drive a little faster to get to your destination even earlier.

There are a lot of cameras, both photo and video, located along the entire route. And therefore, all the cunning and impudent people are always caught - first, they are fined (which reaches up to seven thousand rubles), and then, when caught again, they are deprived of their rights for up to a year.

Road inspection

Traffic cops in Belarus are very strict guardians of the law. They do not compromise, and if they catch you in any violation, then do not expect mercy. And in general, when you enter Belarus by car, do not relax - the road inspection in the country of potatoes does not sleep. Very often, local traffic cops drive around in ordinary civilian cars without identification marks (that is, you can’t immediately understand that in front of you is a traffic policeman). As mentioned above, a huge number of cameras have been installed on the roads to help law enforcement officers, so if you have violated something, catching you will be a breeze. The fine in Belarus is measured in basic units. For the last two years, the base value has been twenty-three Belarusian rubles.

It is important to know

If you are planning a trip to Belarus by car from Moscow, you should know that on some sections of the road in our country you will have to fork out money. In other words, travel on these sections is paid. Such places include, for example, the distance from the Moscow Ring Road to the Minsk Highway. And although the amounts that will need to be left are relatively small (in the above area, for example, around three hundred rubles), you need to know about this in advance in order to take care of additional money for such expenses.

"Green map"

Not to be confused with the “green book”. A “green card” is a compulsory motor vehicle insurance policy, which is required when traveling abroad. Since Belarus is a foreign country, when going on a trip there, this policy is also needed. And this is, perhaps, the only necessary document for a trip by car to Belarus - well, of course, besides passports (foreign and Russian) and papers for the car. However, you do not need any visas or anything else that may be required when crossing the border. And, in fact, by and large, there is no border. Belarus has opened entry for many countries. Customs officers can selectively stop a car to check Russian documents, but absolutely all cars do not slow down. And even if you are stopped, it will not take up your time, and there are no traces of any queues or traffic jams at the Belarusian customs.

As for the green card, it is not difficult to obtain it. Starting from Smolensk, there are many kiosks along the road with flashy Green Card signs. Feel free to drive up to any of them and purchase the required document. However, in order not to waste time on the way, you can apply for a card in advance. A “green card” will cost you less than a thousand rubles. In this case, insurance is issued for approximately two weeks - and, as experienced ones say, this time is more than enough to see all the sights of the potato state.

On the way to the capital

Vitebsk is the closest to the Russian border - from Smolensk, the last Russian city, only one hundred and thirty kilometers, from Moscow and St. Petersburg about six hundred. It’s not worth driving past Vitebsk - spend at least a couple of hours getting at least a superficial acquaintance with this ancient city (chronicles mention Vitebsk since 974). Please note that it is located a little away from the main highway.

If you are traveling to Belarus by car from Moscow, then it is Smolensk, Vitebsk, Minsk and, finally, Brest that await you along the road (M-1 “Belarus”, as already mentioned above). If you are setting out from Northern Palmyra, then on the way to Brest you will pass Pskov, and then Polotsk. Each of these cities is more than worthy of at least a quick tour.

What to see?

What to see in Belarus by car? There are plenty of attractions. In Minsk alone and around it there is an overwhelming darkness of them. For example, the Dudutki museum complex - they tell and show about ancient folk crafts, professions, life and customs.

You should also definitely go to the Mir and Nesvizh castles (not far from Minsk in the direction of the southwest) - there is stunning nature and incredibly beautiful parks next to them. Visit Belovezhskaya Pushcha - one of the most ancient and certainly the largest of all modern forests in Europe.

Of course, we should not forget about the monuments of the Great Patriotic War - it is no secret to anyone that Belarus suffered greatly at the hands of the Nazis, and therefore there is still a lot of historical evidence of those terrible years. Brest Fortress, Khatyn, Buynicheskoye Field are just the most famous of them. When thinking about your route for traveling to Belarus by car, you must definitely include these places in it.

Housing

Living in Minsk is inexpensive even on holidays. The cost of a room in a three-star hotel is approximately two and a half thousand rubles. This is a single room - double and triple rooms are more expensive (a double room is about four and a half thousand, a triple room is about six thousand rubles). However, if you are traveling with a group, it is most profitable for you to book an apartment - then the cost per person is even less than two and a half thousand. If you are unpretentious and have nothing against hotels of a lower “rank”, then it is quite possible to rent a “kopeck piece” for up to two thousand rubles. For example, in the hotel on Bogdanovich - the prices there are generally very affordable.

Finding a hotel is not a problem at all, whether in Minsk or in any other Belarusian city. Some hotels still have a certain “Soviet” touch, but this does not mean that these hotels are bad. In some places, parking is paid, but the price is relatively low. However, throughout the city (as throughout Belarus) there are plenty of parking spaces.

Food

As with housing, food prices in Belarus in general and in Minsk in particular are quite acceptable. Even if you go to the most expensive restaurant and eat to your heart’s content, as they say, you are unlikely to spend more than two or two and a half thousand Belarusian rubles (Belarusian, please note, not Russian). At the same time, the potato food in the country is tasty and very satisfying.

Trip to Belarus by car: reviews

Most travelers who have visited a neighboring country by car note the quality of Belarusian roads as a plus - this is a sore point for Russian drivers. People write that the surface is flat almost everywhere, there are very few places where there would be any holes or potholes. An important detail: along the federal highway, near the fishing lines, along the entire route there are a large number of neatly equipped stopping points - even with toilets. They also note that there are many gas stations along the way, many of them combined with campsites. There is a separate conversation about Belarusian campsites - this is what arouses the admiration of all travelers: spacious, clean, well-groomed sites, equipped with benches, tables, and free toilets.

Those who traveled to Belarus by car were pleasantly pleased by the politeness of our neighbors, including at the border, and good service in all areas - both in restaurants and in hotels. You can pay by card everywhere; as for terminals, we have our Sberbank. Many travelers, when describing Belarus, use two epithets: “cozy” and “homey,” adding that in this country one can breathe calmly, freely and easily.

A few facts

That's all you need to know about crossing the border with Belarus by car, about the travel route and its features. Have a nice trip and happy holidays!

The closest junction of East and West to us attracts with amazing contrasts. The country to this day remains a kind of preserve of socialism with a coat of arms and flag that has changed little since Soviet times, monuments to Lenin in almost every city, street names unchanged since Soviet times and even... collective farms. At the same time, in Belarus there is very decent and inexpensive service, unusual cleanliness on the streets and even in courtyards, unpolluted nature, good roads in Western European style and polite drivers. And Belarus is a country of museums, with a variety of - sometimes unexpected for the uninitiated - directions and eras.

How to go and where to live

Russians don’t even need a foreign passport to travel to Belarus. The only thing you should add is car insurance - a green card, which you can buy just before the border. By the way, there is no border as such between Russia and Belarus. True, for some time now, when entering Russia, all cars are stopped to check the presence of Russian passports. Belarus has opened its borders to many countries. However, such control takes a minimum of time and nerves. You don't even need to get out of the car.

From Moscow to Minsk and Brest we go straight along the M-1 highway. We cross the border and feel a certain breath of Europe. On large sections of the highway on the territory of Belarus, unlike Russia, there is a wide dividing strip. The permissible speed for a passenger car is 120 km/h. You shouldn’t exceed it too much, and you need to keep a close eye on the signs, especially in populated areas. There are plenty of cameras photographing the tail of the car, and even after a few days of traveling around the republic, you can be stopped, presented with a photo as proof of the violation and politely asked to pay a fine. But they won’t stop you without a reason. And Belarusian law enforcement officers do not take bribes. The roads - even local, narrow, provincial ones - are always in surprisingly good condition.

Finding a hotel in any city is not a problem. Often hotels have a certain touch of “Sovietness”, but everything is clean and not shabby. For some, there is a kind of thrill in such a return to the past.

A double room in a three-star hotel in large cities costs approximately 4,500 rubles per day, in four-star hotels - 5,500–6,000 rubles. There are paid parking lots near some hotels, but the prices are such that they won’t ruin anyone.

The food in Belarus is cheap, filling and tasty. A quite decent dinner in a quite decent restaurant will cost 700 rubles per person. By the way, local products are not only tasty, but also surprisingly cheap. I know an amateur who regularly travels around Belarus and invariably brings back dairy products and stewed meat, which costs half as much as in Moscow.

What to watch?

Belarus famous

Of course, even those who have never been to Belarus know: the country suffered enormously during the war and remembers it well. Therefore, historical monuments related to the Great Patriotic War are especially numerous and revered here.

The most famous, of course, are the Brest Fortress, a memorial complex in the village of Khatyn that was burned during the Great Patriotic War, and Buynicheskoye Field on the outskirts of Mogilev, where the city’s defenders held back German tanks for more than three weeks in the summer of 1941. By the way, this is also a literary and cinematic place. It was these battles that were described in “The Living and the Dead” by Konstantin Simonov, and then reproduced in the film of the same name by Alexander Stolper.

Less known, oddly enough, is the wonderful, very interesting Minsk Museum of the Second World War. By the way, there is also a special, unusual exhibit. When you go up to the second floor and see it, at first you are surprised: how did they drag it in? And not everyone, and certainly not immediately, realizes that the tank is a beautifully made copy of... foam plastic.

Among the museums in Minsk, there is a very good one, by the way, and an artistic one with an interesting collection of Russian and Western paintings.

To the delight of technology lovers from 5 to 60 years of age, there is an extensive collection of Soviet aircraft near Minsk. By the way, those who wish will also be able to ride a sports Yak-52 here. True, only in good weather.

The well-known symbol of Belarus is Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Many people have heard about it, but not everyone has been there. This is the largest and one of the most ancient forests in modern Europe. In addition to the main “heroes” of the Pushcha, and also the symbols of the country - bison, there are many other interesting animals here. By the way, another “relic” lives near Belovezhskaya Pushcha - the Belarusian Grandfather Frost.

Belarus unknown

Belarus and war monuments - understandable. But not everyone associates the republic with palaces and castles. But on the territory of modern Belarus, five centuries ago, Lithuanian and Polish nobles, and then industrialists, built luxurious palaces and estates, surrounded them with regular parks in the Western European style, usually in the “Aglitz” style. Today, most castles, of course, have been turned into museums and centers of historical and cultural complexes. Here are just a few of the most interesting ones.

In the Grodno region, 100 km from Minsk in the village of Mir, there is a castle complex, the origins of which go back to the 1520s. They built it as a fortress to protect themselves from raids by the Tatars (and they even ran here!) and unfriendly neighbors. In addition, to receive the title of count of the Holy Roman Empire, one had to own a stone castle.

Nesvizh Palace and Park were created over two centuries, starting from the 16th century. Therefore, different architectural styles are intricately combined here. All this wealth belonged not to just anyone, but to the famous Polish family of the Radziwills. Now here, 112 km from Minsk towards Brest, there is a national historical and cultural reserve with a museum, a hotel and other tourist delights.

The huge Ruzhany Castle, which once belonged to the family of the Lithuanian Chancellor Lev Sapieha, is still mostly in ruins. The restoration, in fact, has just begun. The first fire happened during the First World War, when there was already a weaving factory here, and the Second World War destroyed the once luxurious palace. But such ruins in themselves are worth a look. Yes, and there is a museum here.

I wonder what direction this young lady is going to go from Brest Station? Probably to Paris...

I wonder what direction this young lady is going to go from Brest Station? Probably to Paris...

And almost socialist, collective farm Belarus is a country not only of castles, but also... of casinos. I am not at all promoting destructive passion. It’s just funny that there are now a dozen (!) gambling establishments in Minsk. A kind of Eastern European Monaco! And the first casino, by the way, welcomes Russian travelers soon after the border. Oddly enough, but this is also Belarus!

In general, Belarus is not boring for those for whom the concept of relaxation is synonymous with the words “see” and “find out.”

Belarus is famous for its forests, lakes and rivers, but they are not the only ones that attract tourists. There are many ancient castles and monuments that combine perfectly with modern buildings. To experience all the beauty of this country, you should travel in the summer and by car.

What to see in Belarus?

Belarus is a small state located in the center of Europe, but which attracts more and more tourists every year. This is an excellent holiday option for residents of Russia, because no visas are needed and there is no language barrier.

For travel convenience, we will review what to see in Belarus by car in the summer. Let's highlight the most popular cities and places in this country:

• Minsk;
• Stalin's Line;
• Khatyn;
• Brest Fortress;
• Grodno;
• Skidel;
• Polotsk

Each of these points has its own characteristics, which makes them unique. Below we will take a closer look at each of them.

Minsk is the capital of Belarus

Usually a trip to Belarus begins from its capital - Minsk. This is a beautiful and amazing city, so every tourist will find here something that he will like. Let's look at the places you definitely need to go to:

The most popular places in Minsk have been highlighted, but that’s not all. There are also many museums, theaters, shopping centers and much more.

Stalin line

A historical complex dedicated to the victory of the people in the Great Patriotic War. This memorial was opened in 2005 on the site of fortifications that stretched along the western borders of the USSR.

Getting there by car is quite easy: along the P28 highway “Minsk - Molodechno”. The complex is located 28 kilometers from the capital.

On Stalin's lines It will be interesting for both adults and children. Here you can climb the trenches, visit technical rooms built in the likeness of those that were during the war, etc. You can also ride a real tank and shoot from a cannon or any other weapon.

Khatyn - destroyed village

To honor the memory of those who fell during the Great Patriotic War, it is worth going to Khatyn. This is a memorial complex built on the site of a burned village.

Khatyn is located 54 kilometers from Minsk. The car must be driven on the highway M3(Minsk-Vitebsk), when you see the sign, you should turn off and drive another 5 km.

The complex exactly replicates the pre-war village. On the site of previously installed houses there are obelisks with bells. There is a sculpture in the center "The Unruly Man". Nearby there is a wall of grief, where all the villages burned by the Nazis are indicated.

In the summer, you can go to the palace and park complex located in the city Nesvizh. This point in Belarus is truly fascinating and will not leave anyone indifferent.

To begin with, we note that the distance from Minsk will be 70 km. You need to go on the highway M1(Minsk-Brest), as soon as you arrive in the city, there will be a sign to the castle.

Here it is worth taking a walk through the park, which fascinates with lakes and alleys. But also go to Castle of the Radzivil Princes, showing us how they lived. Note that it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Another famous castle in Belarus is Mirsky, which is also included in the UNESCO list. The castle is located on a hill, so it is easy to see from anywhere in the city.

Mir Castle is located 102 km from Minsk. You also need to go by car along the M1 highway (Minsk-Brest).

The castle is made of red and white bricks; it was built as a defensive structure, but, in fact, did not participate in wars. For tourists there is a chapel and towers showing the life of the former owners of the castle. Next to the castle there is a lake that keeps secrets and legends. To find out, book one of the excursions offered by local tour operators.

Brest Fortress

One of the famous landmarks of Belarus and the main monument of the Second World War is Brest Fortress. After all, she was the first to take the blow of the fascist invaders.

In memory of the fallen wars, this memorial complex was erected there, occupying an area of ​​almost 4 kilometers. Here you can walk through the ruins of the bastion, see the surviving buildings and monuments. Every visitor who visits the fortress will feel all the pain experienced during the war.

65 km from Brest There is another site marked by UNESCO -. It is a nature reserve in which trees and plants have been preserved, untouched by humans. There are also enclosures with animals, which are looked after by the holders of the reserve. If you are planning a vacation with children, then this is one of the places you definitely need to come to. To make it easier to walk and not get lost, it is better to book a tour.

Royal Grodno

Grodno often considered the European and royal city of the republic. The residences of various princes and kings were located here for several centuries.

Nowadays it is considered a regional city. Conventionally, it can be divided into an old and a new city. The city center is the old part, where the main attractions are located: several churches, the New Castle, the ruins of the Old Castle, a wonderful park, a theater and much more. Note that Grodno is famous for its zoo, which is the largest zoo in Belarus. Both adults and children will find it interesting in this city.

Skidel - sweet town

30 km from Grodno on the river Discount the city is spread out Skidel. It was founded in 1508, so it has a lot of history. He managed to visit the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Russian Empire. Of the historical places, only the nineteenth-century Catholic church and the gate of the Antonovich-Chetvertinsky estate with a park have been preserved.

Skidel is famous for its sugar plant, which is the first in Belarus. It should be noted that in this small city with a population of about ten thousand people there are fifteen enterprises.

The first stone castle built on the territory of Belarus is Lida. It was erected in 1323 by order of Prince Gedemin, and served a defensive function, and hostages were also detained and tortured there. In the castle, torture instruments of that time are open for viewing, and you can also visit inside the castle. In the summer, knightly tournaments and festivals are often organized, in which any visitor can take part.

Polotsk is the oldest city in Belarus

Polotsk is the oldest city in Belarus; the first mention of the city dates back to 862. When traveling to Belarus, it is worth stopping by this amazing city, located not far from Vitebsk.

There is a lot to see here, because there are many ancient buildings and monuments on an area of ​​almost 40 km2. Among them stands out Saint Sophia Cathedral- the first Orthodox stone church built in Belarus. Also located here Spaso-Euphrosinievsky Monastery, which houses the relics of Saint Euphrosyne of Polotsk.

conclusions

Of course, these are not all the places in Belarus that are worth visiting. Every city has monuments or architecture that preserve history. When traveling by car, especially in the summer, you can fully enjoy the beauty of nature, and also see many new and interesting cities and towns that have not yet been visited.

I have long dreamed of visiting Belarus. There are legends about its extraordinary cleanliness and ideal roads, the friendliness of the people and the amazing taste of local products. Belarus is a foreign country, but you don’t need a visa to visit it. And so, one friendly September morning, my family (me, my husband and my 6-year-old daughter) got into the car and set off on a trip.

We left on Tuesday at 3 o'clock in the morning. The distance from Kovrov to Minsk is 1,100 km, the estimated travel time is about 14 hours.

A few general questions:

1. The local currency is Belarusian rubles. Even before the trip, I read a lot about how it is unprofitable to change money in Russia. But I always feel uncomfortable traveling without local currency in my pocket, so I changed 1,000,000 BYN at Sberbank. rubles So, I confirm from my own experience that you need to change money in Belarus. There are exchange offices in all shopping centers in Minsk, the rate is much more favorable than in Russian banks.
2. Registration of “Green Card” - an international car insurance policy. Everywhere they write that it must be mandatory. During the entire trip, no one asked us for insurance, but this is not an indicator, of course. You can apply for it either at home at the insurance company or along the highway, starting from Smolensk and beyond. There are a great many insurance options, the price is approximately the same everywhere.
3. Petrol. It is better to fill up with gasoline as much as possible in Russia; in Belarus it is more expensive. But the price at all gas stations is identical, which is very convenient.
4. Toll roads. There are many “Toll Road” signs near Minsk. We still don’t understand how and where they pay for travel on these roads. There are no booths, barriers - nothing. Having driven through many toll roads, we have never paid. Mystery.
5. The driving culture in Belarus is very high. They follow the rules and disciplinedly let people pass at pedestrian crossings.

Well, that seems to be all. I'll move on to the journey. So, having left Kovrov at 03.00 in the morning, at 16.00 we were already in Minsk.(

We only stopped at gas stations for coffee/snack/toilet/a short rest for the driver.

I read a lot before the trip and had a rough idea of ​​what to expect from the country. But still, the first thing you notice as soon as you cross the border is the extraordinary cleanliness. The grass, as if combed with a comb, is smooth and beautiful. And, by the way, not only on the main roads. We also had to travel through small villages - everything was identical. There are freshly harvested fields all around, I had already forgotten how beautiful it is - well-groomed land.

There are many parking spots along the route, equipped with everything you need. There is a fine for using the forest as a free toilet/garbage container. In general, Belarus is not at all similar to Russia in appearance. To European countries where I have also been. Belarus is original, and this makes it unique.

The first impression of Minsk is a cozy, calm city. There are no rushing crowds of people. No traffic jams either!

Day 1. Victory Park – Museum of the Great Patriotic War

Guest house "Comfort-House" in Minsk

Having arrived, we went to the guest house “Comfort-House” on the street. Novinkovskaya, pre-booked on the website booking.com. We were attracted by the relative cheapness of the room - about 2000 rubles. for three per night and a lot of positive reviews (the average rating of the guest house is very high - 9.3 points).

So, all the praises that are sung to this small hotel are completely true. I have only enthusiastic exclamations and superlatives. "Comfort-House" consists of several small houses, each of which accommodates two rooms.
Our house had a swimming pool (use included in the price), barbecue, and sauna (for an additional fee). A huge kitchen with everything you need, the room has a TV, a sofa, air conditioning, and an air bed. The territory is well-groomed, with an abundance of vegetation, all sorts of figurines, grottoes, fountains, gazebos. Honestly, I don’t even want to leave. My child was absolutely delighted and still remembers “Comfortable Home” with great tenderness.

A tiny fly in the ointment in this ocean of honey - a very friendly owner. Very very. He came three times a night to see if everything was okay with us. Edited our plans for the day, etc. and so on. But these are just my problems; I don’t really like intense communication with unfamiliar people.
I recommend this hotel to everyone. Probably the best place we've ever stayed.

But let's get back to the journey. Having settled in, we went for a walk around the city. Stopped near Victory Park on Pobediteley Avenue. Excellent panorama, well-kept park with fountains, bridges, picturesque alleys.

The landscape is crowned by a majestic building - the Museum of the Great Patriotic War. That's where we went. In general, it is necessary to note the enormous respect with which Belarusians treat the memory of the war. Numerous steles and monuments - all in excellent condition. During the war, every third Belarusian died (it’s scary to even think about this figure), and this tragedy will forever remain in the people’s consciousness.

The Minsk Museum of the Great Patriotic War consists of exhibitions dedicated to the course of the war, the partisan movement and various installations. Several halls are dedicated to the demonstration of military equipment. I was especially touched by the halls of the fascist occupation of Belarus. The heart bleeds just to imagine what the people who took upon themselves all the oppression and atrocities of the war went through.

After wandering around the museum, we went to dinner. By the way, I’ll tell you about our food in Belarus.

Food in Belarus

1. Independence Ave., 49, room 1
2. st. Kulman, 5A

Second day. Mir Castle - Nyasvizh Castle - National Library of Minsk

World

The castle itself looks monumental. When you enter the gate and see it in front of you, it takes your breath away, as if you were in a fairy tale..

Inside, everything is no less fabulous. It seems that you are in the Middle Ages, in a second knights and beautiful ladies in crinolines will appear, and maids will scurry around the kitchen with boar heads on trays and onion soup. There is no feeling of a remake, as in many similar places.
A very interesting tour of the castle and its surroundings. In particular, the tragic legend about the lake, which was dug up after cutting down a beautiful forest. The spirits of the forest cursed the race of the man who gave the order. Fiction or not, the daughter of the owner of the castle, Prince Svyatopolk-Mirsky, Sonechka, drowned in this lake, and then he himself.

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The Mir Castle is full of stairs and catacombs. The stairs are very steep and uncomfortable; I almost fell off the steps several times.

In the courtyard of the castle there is a very good souvenir shop and a small museum dedicated to the years of fascist occupation of Mirskaya land. There was also a Jewish ghetto on the castle grounds. The ancient walls became a prison for hundreds of people.
It’s not only the architecture that’s beautiful in Mir – the wonderful landscape, bridges, and the picturesque chapel-tomb of the princes Svyatopolk-Mirsky.

An amazing place that I really want to return to.

Nesvizh

But the inside of the castle did not make much of an impression. It seems beautiful and rich, but it’s a remake and doesn’t smell of history at all. We walked around, looked, listened, but weren’t particularly impressed by anything. According to my feelings, Nesvizh is elegant, modern, very similar to the palaces of St. Petersburg. Castle Mir is more exotic; you won’t see anything like it in Russia.

The surrounding area was also disappointing. With such a majestic castle, the landscape is dull and faded. There are souvenirs and food stalls all around; there is a real lack of a well-kept park with alleys where you can walk and admire the views.
From Nesvizh we went to have lunch at the Lido, and then visited the pride of Minsk residents -National Library. A very interesting and unusual building made of blue glass.

We were there in the evening, it was already dark and we turned on the lights. The view is, of course, fantastic.

We took a high-speed elevator to the observation deck and saw Minsk at night from above. Once again we were convinced what a beautiful city this is.

Without arms/without legs we went to the hotel - have dinner, swim in the pool, steam in the sauna and sleep, sleep, sleep.

Day 3. Khatyn - “Lake” - Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of the Republic of Belarus - Komarovsky Market, Minsk.

I won’t talk much about the Khatyn tragedy - everyone knows about it. One of the most tragic pages of our common history. On March 22, 1943, the residents of a small Belarusian village were herded into a wooden barn by the Nazis and set on fire. Old people, women, infants. They had no weapons and did not harm anyone. And this case is not isolated. During the years of occupation, more than a hundred such tragedies occurred on Belarusian soil.

I heard a lot about Khatyn, read a lot, but when I found myself in this place... Morning, fog, bells ringing on the skeletons of burnt houses, a huge statue of the “Unconquered” - a burned old man with a dead son in his arms. Gloomy, unsettling atmosphere. Every person should visit here, in my opinion. But I would not dare to return here.

From Khatyn we went to the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of the Republic of Belarus "Ozertso".

And I fell in love with this place forever. “Ozertso” refers to open-air museums or museum-skansen. That is, one where historical and cultural monuments are demonstrated in their natural environment.

First of all, it is famous for its interesting sculptures in front of the entrance. Well, and of course, the assortment. Everything that Belarus is rich in is presented on the market. And sausages, and cheeses, and dairy products, and products from confectionery factories. For every taste. We stocked up on condensed cream - the taste is amazing and the price for our money is about 50 rubles per jar, Belarusian lard and sweets. I wanted to buy everything at once. But since we, like Winnie the Pooh, love condensed milk most of all, that’s what we mostly bought. Yes, more. :) We also bought several cans of stew there. By the way, you can very rarely find the word GOST on Belarusian stew. But the fact is that in Belarus this word is not an empty phrase. The slightest discrepancy can be punished very severely.

I would also like to mention the dairy products - everything is very tasty. For example, if you take a milkshake (my daughter loves them very much), it will be a real cocktail, and not a mess with a lot of E, which is sold in our stores. Sausages are like sausages. I didn’t notice any particular difference with the Russian ones.

The products of Belarusian cosmetic companies - Biovita and Vitex - are sold everywhere. Shampoos and creams are not bad. But again, no better than “Clean Line” and “Granny Agafya”, in my opinion.

After spending the night at the hotel again, we headed home in the morning. The trip to Belarus by car was ending... It was a pity to leave, we liked this hospitable country so much. So many interesting things remained unknown - Brest, Grodno, Lida and many, many more. There is a reason to come back!