Belarus starts with the capital city. Minsk has almost thousand-year history. During the Great Patriotic War Minsk was destroyed by more than 80%. That is why very few ancient buildings have survived in the city. However, Minsk can be proud of wide avenues and streets, spacious squares, diverse architectural ensembles, verdurous boulevards and parks. The Belarusian capital offers over 40 pedestrian and bus tourist routes introducing tourists to historical and cultural heritage, museums, theaters, exhibition halls, and other facilities.
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The Mir Castle Complex (Mir Castle) is an outstanding specimen of the 16th century fortification art. It is included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Following restoration works, Mir Castle opened its doors to visitors in December 2010.
The Nesvizh palace and park complex is a unique monument of architecture and landscape design of the 16th-18th centuries. It is closely connected with the Radziwills family history. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In June 2011 Nesvizh Castle opened its doors to visitors following intensive restoration works.
The Augustow Canal is a hydraulic engineering specimen of the early 19th century. It connected the Vistula River and the Neman River. Numerous international cultural and sport events, national and regional contests, tourist gatherings take place at the canal. Tourists can go for kayak, canoe, motorboat trips along the Augustow Canal.
The memorial complex Khatyn is one of the most impressive monuments to the victims of World War II. It is located at a distance of 54km from Minsk. Khatyn is a former Belarusian village destroyed by fascist invaders during the Great Patriotic War. Today’s Khatyn complex is one of the most revered places in Belarus. The memorial complex has its own museum and a photo exhibition.
The Brest Fortress memorial is a specimen of the 19th century fortification art. It is a 30-minute walk from Brest’s downtown. The fortress is a symbol of Soviet resistance in World War II. On 22 June 1941 the fortress garrison repelled the first attacks of Nazi invaders. The besieged fortress managed to hold the line for over a month. It was awarded the Hero Fortress title in the wake of World War II for outstanding courage displayed by Soviet soldiers when they fought against fascist troops.
Belovezhskaya Pushcha is one of the major tourist attractions of Belarus. It is the biggest forest in Central Europe famous for its oak trees, which are over 500 years old. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is also home to numerous bird and animal species, including Europe’s largest population of rare bison. The Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Braslav Lakes National Park is located in Vitebsk Oblast. The park includes the most beautiful glacial lakes in Belarus. The lakes are the habitat of rare birds and animals included in the Belarus Red Book of Endangered Species. There are a lot of tourist camps in the region.
The Marc Chagall Museum in Vitebsk is one of the most popular museums in Belarus. Marc Chagall is a world-famous Belarusian surrealist painter. Marc Chagall’s creative phenomenon arouses particular interest in people both in Belarus and abroad. The museum’s exposition comprises more than 300 original works of art, including lithographies, xylographs, gravures, aquatints, and illustrations for the poem Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol. Reproductions of Chagall’s most famous canvases are also displayed at the museum.
По материалам president.gov.by