The sights of Belarus are a tasty morsel for those who collect vivid impressions. The originality of this country lies in the originality of national traditions, in a rich culture. A trip to Belarus will give you a lot of fascinating acquaintances with historical and cultural monuments.
What to see in Belarus first of all
In order for the trip to bring only positive emotions, it makes sense to plan the route in advance, and guides in Belarus will help you navigate the area. Please note that some monuments of nature and architecture are located in the same city or in neighboring towns – this will allow you to see as much interesting things as possible in one visit.
1. Brest
Kholm gate of the Brest fortress
If you are thinking about what to see in Belarus, then the legendary city of Brest should be the first point. It is a quiet and peaceful city that is lost in the southwestern part of the country. The cultural life of Brest is rich, and its economy is developing dynamically.
A geographical feature is the fact that Brest stands at the confluence of the Western Bug and Mukhavets. Historians have established that the first mention of this city dates back to 1019. It was then that a new type of elm, birch bark, spread in Russia, which gave the name to the city.
Brest has a heroic history. Enemy attacks and nomadic raids have destroyed the architecture of the city many times. Currently, the Brest Fortress, which witnessed heroic battles during the Great Patriotic War, is of great interest to tourists. The feat of the people is imprinted here in stone.
Official website: http://www.brest-fortress.by/
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2. Nesvizh Castle (Nesvizh)
Nesvizh Palace and Park Complex
The city of Nesvizh is comfortably located almost next to Minsk. This is a small provincial town that once represented a large Lithuanian principality. Nesvizh Castle is a reflection of the luxury of the Lithuanian nobility. He is big, ambitious and very strict. The architectural structure was built in the sixteenth century.
Initially, the project was built of wood. Later, the building was modernized many times. Stone has already been used in the cladding of its facade, as well as in the construction of internal partitions. The palace complex is decorated in a restrained style. The yellow-brown facades contrast with the terracotta roof. Rounded latticed windows have a direct reference to the style of the old time, when every window must be protected from unwanted intruders.
The castle was planned as a fortification. Its architecture is subordinated to the idea of protection. For example, it is known that ancient architects reinforced earthen ramparts with a brick wall of 4 m. Deep ditches were dug around the castle, which were filled with water from the local Osh River. In the 16th century, it was possible to get into some kind of fortification only by a collapsible bridge. There were several more secret passages in this castle.
As a defensive structure, the castle fully justified itself, since it was protected by 30 guns. Those tourists who decide for themselves what to see in Belarus should definitely get acquainted with this castle and its main attraction — the Golden Hall.
Official website: http://niasvizh.by/ru/
3. Mir Castle (Mir)
Mir Castle from the side of Mir Lake
There is an amazing architectural structure in the Grodno region — the Mir Castle. From the outside, it looks like a birthday cake. Creamy brown tones in the facade cladding and pointed turrets make it festive and elegant. But in fact it is a powerful fortification. The towers of the castle are 25 m high. Mir Castle has everything for those tourists who think what to see in Belarus.
Interestingly, the underground part of the castle significantly exceeds its surface component. The dungeon has an extensive system of passages in which it is easy to get lost without a guide. Directors of adventure films often use the castle as a background for their paintings.
For tourists, the castle is also interesting because, according to legend, it is haunted. Who knows, maybe it’s true. The tour group must be informed that at night the clang of weapons and groans can be heard in the dungeon. The courtyard of the castle is lined with large paving stones, which further enhances the impression of the ancient structure.
As for the functions of the fortification, they were reinforced with water protection. Now the castle has access roads to make it easier for travelers to explore it.
Official website: http://mirzamak.by/
4. Church of Saints Simeon and Elena (Minsk)
The Red Church of Saints Simeon and Elena
The Minsk Church of Saints Simeon and Elena was built of red brick. It is visible from different points of the city, as the building is quite high. The amazing feature of this monument is that it fills everyone who visits it with kindness and bright thoughts. The church was built at the beginning of the last century.
It has preserved its pristine architecture, although Minsk was devastated many times during the war. The temple is dedicated to the dead children of the Minsk nobleman Voynilovich. In 1910, the church was consecrated. It has a second name for the color of the stone — the Red Church.
Voynilovich is a prominent Belarusian politician of the early 20th century. The church was named after the saints who were the patrons of his children.
The Soviet government caused the destruction of many historical sites in Belarus. This church was no exception. However, the authorities take care of the culture of the country, so the church was restored in different periods. The remains of Edward Voinilovich were reburied there in 2006.
5. St. Sophia Cathedral (Polotsk)
The Orthodox shrine of St. Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk
Looking for something to see in Belarus? St. Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk should not be left without your attention. The Christian shrine, erected in the eleventh century, originally served as a fortification. State power has had its iconic symbols at all times. In the 11th century, St. Sophia Cathedral was such a symbol. It was on the territory of this cathedral that ambassadors from other states were received.
It housed religious shrines. The cathedral has been rebuilt or reconstructed many times since the 11th century. But its architectural appearance underwent a global change in the 18th century. The cathedral was blown up so that an even more luxurious structure could be built in its place. Nevertheless, the elements of 11th century architecture in the new building have been preserved to this day. For example, here you can see the remains of ancient frescoes.
The cathedral is a masterpiece of architectural sights of Belarus. The decoration and geometry of the towers are such that visitors experience a real aesthetic shock. The optical perspective gives the impression of a lace outline of the towers, resembling a crown.
The architectural style in which the cathedral is made meets the criteria of the Baroque. Among the many relief compositions, the most famous is the “Trinity of the New Testament”. Her performance style is rococo. Visiting the sights of Belarus, tourists invariably admire St. Sophia Cathedral.
Official website: http://sophia.polotsk.museum
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6. Khatyn
Bronze sculpture “Unconquered” in Khatyn
The Khatyn Memorial Complex is an iconic symbol of the burning pain of the Belarusian people. Khatyn itself is not on any map of Belarus. The tragedy of a small village burned down by the Nazis is immortalized in the memorial complex. The events of the war are depicted here in harsh and expressive architectural solutions. The memorial complex is made in black and gray tones, which enhances the feeling of grief.
The village was completely destroyed in 1943 on March 22. Of all the residents, only 3 people escaped. Many architects claimed the right to capture the tragedy of Khatyn in stone, so a professional competition was held among them in the sixties in Belarus. Architects Gradov, Levin and Zenkovich, as well as sculptor Selikhanov, received the right to work on the project.
The image media used are the most concise and realistic. The monument is very emotional, which is provided by sound accompaniment and special architectural plasticity. The surviving blacksmith I. Kaminsky carries his dead son in his arms to the sound of a bell. There are no architectural frills here. But the grief of the suffering people is conveyed extraordinarily deeply.
Official website: http://khatyn.by/ru/
7. Bobruisk fortress (Bobruisk)
An ancient map of the Bobruisk fortress
The Bobruisk fortress was built at the behest of Emperor Alexander 1. The author of the project was K. Opperman, who has the title of count. By that time, the count already had several similar jobs in his professional baggage, since he was a fortification engineer by profession. The beginning of work is considered to be June 4, 1810. The citadel in Bobruisk had the first class of fortifications.
In total, the fortress occupied an area of 120 hectares. Earthen ramparts 10 meters high provided protection, and the fortress was also surrounded by water. 300 guns with different calibers were put up to defend the fortress. The amount of ammunition was delivered for about a year. It was the Bobruisk fortress that was the first to receive the blow of the Napoleonic army in 1812.
The work was completed only in 1855, when the Bobruisk Fortress became truly fortified. In addition, by this time the classical style was fully embodied in it. Among the sights of Belarus, the Bobruisk Fortress occupies a special place. It is a whole city with its own cultural and social infrastructure. There was even a paved Botanical Garden and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on the territory of the fortress. Since 2002, the fortress has been on the state list of cultural values of Belarus.
8. Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve (Vitebsk)
A quiet corner of the Berezinsky Nature Reserve
If you have not yet decided what to visit in Belarus, be sure to pay attention to the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. Excellent conditions have been created here for ecotourism and for professional hunting. In addition, the fertile nature of the Berezinsky Nature Reserve is the key to a good holiday with young children.
There are many leisure options for guests here: from a guided tour to complex environmental tours. Several guest houses are equipped with civilized amenities.
In 1983, an international seminar on biosphere reserves was held here, attended by representatives of 50 states. As for the historical significance of the reserve, it will be interesting for tourists to know that the medieval path “from the Varangians to the Greeks” passed through its territory.
Official website: http://www.berezinsky.by/ru/
9. Cathedral Church of St. Francis Xavier (Grodno)
The Cathedral Church of St. Francis Xavier from the side of the square.
The sights of Belarus leave an indelible impression on everyone who gets to know them closely. The Church of St. Francis Xavier has become a notable monument of architectural architecture of the 17th century. It was once considered the most luxurious in Poland. In the seventeenth century, the church occupied an entire residential area. The interior of the church was pretentiously expensive, as Catholics had a penchant for expensive decorations in architecture.
The interiors of the church are decorated with expensive decorations, mosaics and paintings. As for the frescoes, the church is full of a wide variety of compositions from them. The fresco painting smoothly transitions from wall to wall inside the church. At the same time, the authors of the project tried to adhere to certain plot compositions in the paintings.
The church looks elegant and festive. The facades are finished with white soft plaster. The highlight of the church are the pointed turrets of emerald green color. Below them are the most ancient European tower clocks. They are still in progress, despite the fact that they were constructed back in the 15th century.
10. Belovezhskaya Pushcha
Summer day in Belovezhskaya Pushcha
When deciding what to visit in Belarus, one should not forget about Belovezhskaya Pushcha. It is a nature conservation site, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. The natural complex is located on the territory of the Brest and Grodno regions. There are extremely many species of animals here, and many of them are in the Red Book of Belarus. It is believed that the Belarusian bison is the owner of Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
Tourists from all over the world come to see bison. The unique flora and fauna are maintained here in pristine freshness and strength. The ecological situation in the reserve is impeccable. The National Park is serviced by specialists whose main task is to maintain both rich vegetation and wildlife at the proper level.
The iconic objects of Belovezhskaya Pushcha include the Nature Museum, where you can learn about literally every blade of grass growing here. In addition, in the halls of the Museum there are realistic stuffed animals of all animals living on the territory of the reserve.
There are animal enclosures in the immediate vicinity of the Museum. Some of them lived here initially, and some species were imported and eventually acclimatized. In addition, it is in Belovezhskaya Pushcha that the estate of the Belarusian Santa Claus is located. All children of Belarus dream of visiting here, and this can be done all year round.
Official website: https://npbp.by/
Sights of Belarus: what else to visit while in Belarus
In fact, there are many more places that can interest travelers, so if popular excursions in Belarus are not suitable for you, there is always an opportunity to find an alternative. The main thing is not to forget that the time spent in the country is not unlimited, so you should choose those attractions whose descriptions impressed you the most.
11. Lake Svityaz (Valevka, Grodno region)
Panoramic view of Lake Svityaz
Lake Svityaz is rightfully considered one of the attractions of Belarus. It is located on the Novogrudok hill and has amazingly beautiful panoramic views. The crystal clear water of the lake is surrounded by the green velvet of the sloping shores. For those who like active recreation, a trip along the lake will be really exciting.
Only here you can see the century-old giant oaks. And only here you can see the sandy bottom through a multi-meter depth, the water is so clear. The lakes are unique: they contain a lot of alkaline compounds, so the water is endowed with a special softness.
Of course, such a beautiful place should be surrounded by many legends. One of them tells about the mass death of citizens in protest against enslavement. The townspeople decided to die together so as not to get to the conquerors. The city, according to legend, fell into the abyss.
However, soon the souls of the dead townspeople were revived by flowers that grew rapidly along the shores of the lake. Locals believe that in clear weather, in the middle of the lake, you can see the paved pavement of the city that once stood on this site.
12. Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace (Gomel)
The entrance part of the Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace
The palace of Field Marshal Rumyantsev was built in the 19th century. The best Russian architects of that time worked on the project: Blank, Mostsepanov, Alekseev. The main advantage of the palace is the magnificent panoramic views that open from its luxurious terraces. The fact is that the palace is located on a beautiful hill on the banks of the local Sozh River.
Being the property of the Field Marshal General, the palace was an ordinary living space, which was distinguished by pretentiousness in decoration and special luxury. In addition, the palace was surrounded by a park ensemble, where rare plants are collected in amazing compositions.
Unfortunately, the palace was looted during the war. However, later the individual units stored here returned. Currently, the palace complex is a modern museum. It contains a lot of old printed books belonging to the Paskevich family.
In addition, there are many rare archaeological finds and coin collections in the museum’s archives. Answering the question of what sights in Belarus can be visited, the locals immediately call the Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace.
Official website: http://www.palacegomel.by/
13. Lida Castle (Lida)
Lida Castle on the lake shore
Lida Castle complements the sights of Belarus with an interesting history and special parameters. The castle was built in 1323 by order of Prince Gediminas. This is an ordinary fortification of that time. Its functional purpose was initially to provide owners with protection from enemies.
Rubble stone and brick were used in the construction process. The castle has the shape of a quadrangle, disproportionately elongated to one side. Two corner towers made it possible to survey the surroundings. The two-meter-high moat served as another way to protect against the crusaders.
In the 18th century, the fortification was strengthened, an artificial lake was laid out right in front of it. There is an Orthodox church and many social facilities on the territory of the castle. There are also living quarters in the castle, they are located on the upper levels of two corner towers. The history of the castle has many attacks. It was besieged at various times by Crimean Tatars, Crusaders, and Swedes.
The castle was damaged in 1891, when Lida was almost completely destroyed by fire. The city authorities began to sell castle buildings in order to somehow support the residents. However, the castle was partially restored later.
14. Naroch National Park (Naroch)
Golden autumn in Narochansky Park
The sights of Belarus related to ecological tourism include the resort village of Naroch. All conditions are provided here for lovers of horseback riding, fishing and hunting. Lake Naroch attracts with beautiful landscapes with impeccable ecology. A vacation here promises real pleasure to those who appreciate the natural beauty of nature.
There are many historical monuments near the lake. For example, tourists are interested in the sites of ancient people. There is also an equally beautiful Lake Myastro nearby, famous for the fact that an 11th-century fortification stands in its center. On the shore of Lake Myastro stands the church of the Most Holy Virgin Mary.
The fertile Belarusian nature is interesting to those who love active recreation and appreciate the pristine freshness of dense forests and clean lakes. Tourist routes passing through the Belarusian Lake district are attractive to tourists because they are accompanied by organized excursions. Professional guides will tell you about the features of Naroch National Park and the variety of historical monuments in this area.
15. The historical complex “Stalin’s Line” (Loshany, Minsk district)
The exposition of the Stalin Line complex
What to visit in Belarus? First of all, the Stalin Line is an open—air museum. The complex is built on the basis of restored fortifications. Its grand opening took place in 2005, it was timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the Victory. The initiative to create a historical and cultural complex was approved by Alexander Lukashenko.
With maximum realism, the authors of the idea managed to recreate trenches, machine-gun pillboxes, and a command and observation post. Engineering equipment was recreated according to real pre-war drawings. In the exposition you can see trenches, trenches, anti-tank ditches. There are also dugouts for soldiers, gouges made of wire, metal or wood.
In addition, the open-air museum presents military equipment from the period of the Patriotic War, as well as one of the monuments to Joseph Stalin. History shows that not a single fortification has played its role to the end. Nevertheless, they performed some kind of strengthening function. The “Stalin Line” is the unfading memory of Belarusians about the victims of the war. This is one of the most visited complexes in the republic. Lithuania, a small but very beautiful country, is located next to Belarus. When traveling in Belarus, think about visiting this country as well. Read about the sights of Lithuania and get inspired for your further journey through Eastern Europe!
Official website: https://stalin-line.by/
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