But Minsk is where most people’s knowledge of Belarus stops. Minsk is widely considered to be a glittering jewel in the country, with most of the money being poured into the city. Most of the countries wealthier citizens live in Minsk, and the city is slowly starting to show some interest in development for tourism. If you are going to find anyone in Belarus who speaks English (if), it will be in Minsk. Most students at the university study English as a language, and there are more opportunities to practice their studies, unlike earlier studies in primary school.
Although Minsk may be a glittering jewel in the country, it is definitely not the only city worth visiting. There are many sights to see outside of the city. Here are ten that you should definitely consider visiting!
1. Brest Fort (Brest, Belarus)
This large complex really could be given the better part of a day, especially if you have any interest in soviet war history. There is a beautiful 2km walk around the edges of the Fort, all bunkhouses for soldiers. A small river/moat runs around the perimeter. In addition to the walk, there are dozens of sculptures, monuments, plaques and buildings detailing various heros and victims of the war. There is also a very interesting museum within the complex. Entrance into the Fort itself is free, as it is to walk around and see the outdoor sculpture and buildings. The fort is open until sunset. The museum within the fort is open until 18:30 and has a cost of 5 Belarusian Roubles (new currency. About 2$ US). While th museums descriptions are mostly in Russian, there are a few audio guides with English available, though even without a guide, the museum artifacts can be viewed and appreciated.
Getting to the fort is easiest by taxi. If you are fortunate enough to find Alexandre outside the hotel Intourist, he is more than willing to play tour guide and he tries very hard to get the information across. It’s about a 3.5km walk from the city centre hotels. While the walk does take you down a very interesting street with sculptures, it might be best to walk one way and take a taxi the other – or have Alexander drop you off at the beginning of Gogolia Street.
2.Brest Fortress Number 5
Along the same lines as the Fort, about five kilometres away is the fortress number 5. This fortress is apart of the original complex of 12 fortresses in the area (including the Brest Fort), and is the most well-preserved. Entry costs 12000 Belarus roubles (~1$US). Flashlights are provided and are very necessary, as no updates have been done to the Fort and most of it is in darkness. This fortress would be best toured with a guide – Alexandre – as the limited signs are in Russian. There are some very interesting photos in the fortress depicting its size and grandness when it was operational.
The fortress closes at 18:30. It is necessary to have a taxi or car, as no public transport links are available. About 20-30 minutes is sufficient to tour the area.
3. Gogolia Street, Brest,Belarus
Running approximately 1.5 kilometres in length through Brest is a beautiful, tree-lined pedestrian street. Looking more like a boulevard between two busy streets, many people may completely underestimate the hidden treasures within.
During the day, the park/street is lively with locals out and about, especially on weekends. Though street musicians are uncommon throughout Belarus, if you see them anywhere in Brest, it would be here. Along the path there are dozens of interesting and creative iron statues. They feature popular fairy tales and folklore, and some that are quite strange. It’s a popular activity to get creative with photos and the statues.
In the evening, statues are lit up and the street is busy with pedestrians well into the evening.
4. St Simeon Cathedral (Свято-Симеоновский собор) (Brest, Belarus)
Convieniently located across the street of the Intourist Hotel, this small church is a beautiful green color with ornate golden domes. The interior is traditionally Orthodox, with icons filling the spaces on the walls. No admission charge, but a peaceful respite from the city on a hot day! At night, the church is beautifully lit up with dramatic white light.
5. Holy Mіkalaўskaya Tserkva Church (Сьвята-Мікалаўская царква) (Brest, Belarus)
This beautiful, multi-coloured church is found at the end of Saveckaja street. It has many daily masses, during which visitors are not allowed entry. The outside is beautiful and definitely worth checking out.
6. Saveckaja Street (Brest, Belarus)
Similar to Gogolia Street, Saveckaja street is a pedestrian street with fun shops, cafes, a 5D movie theatre (yes….), and fun metal statues depicting various scenes. This street is often busier than Gogolia, simply because of its proximity to the centre, and its location connecting the train station area to the centre. The street is full of locals and (limited) tourists alike and definitely worth checking out!
7. Grodno Market Square (Grodno, Belarus)
Grodno (sometimes spelled Hrodno), is in the far west of Belarus. While the city is large, the centre and most tourist areas are within a very small area. The market square is right by the river, across the street from the Jesuit Cathedral. Starting at about 7:30, local vendors will set up stalls and sell anything and everything from books and toys to clothing to food from their gardens. Generally things are very inexpensive and bartering is fun and encouraged.
8. Lida Castle
Lida is a small town between Grodno and Minsk. The entire town is only about 1 kilometre wide, but the main activity to see is the beautifully preserved 14th castle. Entrance is just under 1 USD, and it is about 700 meters away from the train station. Maximize your time here by leaving your bags in the storage lockers at the brand new train station. Lida train station was one of very few in the country with free/open wifi connections, a great Cafe, and a tourism counter! While English wasn’t spoken there, they did have great tourist maps for the area.
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