Belarus attractions by car route in winter. What to see in Belarus - an overview of interesting sights of Belarus for an independent trip
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. Having analyzed the Minsk-Brest route, I discovered many more interesting places, which could easily also be viewed along the route by car.
This is how my life gradually developed excursion route, 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 a fairy tale in the person of such an unusual character as Father Frost! 🙂
Well now, first things first... To find out about any excursion or tourist site For more details, please 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 travel. 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, in international airport Belarusian capital, 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 with main square city - Independence Square (or, as it is funnyly 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. A local residents They love to stroll here in the evening, when the lights turn on and the square is illuminated with delightful light.
A huge shopping mall with parking. 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 is being implemented 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’s immediately clear that the wipers 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 Trinity Suburb — historical Center cities.
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.
Details about renting housing, cars and others necessary things, I will tell you 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 funny games and competitions, taste the most 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 created on the basis of an old 19th century manor house, which was restored in the spirit of the 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 a museum, your attention will be drawn to an ancient loom for double weaving. This art is currently listed as intangible cultural heritage 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 my departure from the amazing nature 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 your luxurious interior decoration and its external greatness 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 underground passage, which connected Ruzhany Castle and Kossovsky Castle.
Zhirovichi Monastery
For more than 500 years the Holy Dormition has existed monastery 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 train of fantastic legends and scary stories it 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; a story about 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. Here it is mysterious place exists 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 his car travel, 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.
Details about the amazing hotel on the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha, I wrote in detail 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 at Train Station Minsk, 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:
- Entrance tickets to all attractions cost me 1,620 rubles.
- 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.
Report on a trip around Belarus by car in the spring of 2017. A walk around Vitebsk and Minsk, the “Island of Tears”, the WWII Museum, the national library in the shape of a rhombicuboctahedron and the “Stalin Line”.
Preface
My husband is a big fan of traveling by car. When we began to decide where we would go on our next vacation, there could be no objections - wherever our faithful four-wheeled friend would go. We chose Belarus because we always wanted to visit this country. The fact of hassle-free entry and exit into the country was also important.
Before the trip, of course, we read other reports from “experienced” tourists about trips to Belarus:
We started our journey on May 17, 2017. We left our relatives in Bryansk, dropped in to see friends in Moscow, spent the night in Smolensk, and on May 18 crossed the border in a place called Rudnya.
Border between Russia and Belarus near Rudnya
Crossing the border Russia - Belarus
Before entering Belarus, you must buy a Green Card - insurance that is issued for a short period. This document cost us 750 rubles, but we entered the country for only four days. There is no border as such between Russia and Belarus: we simply drove through the border area, on one side of which there were Russian border guards, and on the other, Belarusian ones. No one stopped us or checked us, and we, having already entered the country, calmly headed towards Vitebsk.
We read the information on the Internet and knew that Belarus is very strict with traffic violations. Here, traffic police representatives do not take money, and if you exceed the speed limit, depending on the circumstances, everything can go as far as deprivation of your license. Looking ahead, I will say that we observed the speed limit, we hardly saw any traffic inspectors, and during the entire trip we were not stopped even once.
Day 1. Vitebsk
The first on our plan was Vitebsk, but we did not intend to stay here for a long time, but only wanted to see the main attractions of the city (this can be done in a few hours).
But first, we changed money at the large Euroopt hypermarket at the entrance to Vitebsk and bought a local SIM card. When choosing a mobile operator, our preferences were obvious: we were only interested in the Internet, we didn’t need calls (why, if you can call via WhatsApp, Skype or Viber). We bought a SIM card from MTS for 438 Russian rubles.
By the way, the exchange rate at the end of May 2017 was as follows: for 100 of our rubles they gave 3.22 Belarusian rubles (that is, 1 Belarusian ruble is approximately 30 Russian rubles).
We liked Vitebsk, and this is what we saw:
River embankment Western Dvina in Vitebsk
Stairs leading to the embankment from the side of the Holy Assumption Cathedral
Cozy and pretty Vitebsk
There is a museum on Victory Square in Vitebsk military equipment, where you can look at installed helicopters, tanks and guns. There are also several other parks, monuments and squares in the city, but we did not have time to see all the sights.
As a result, we spent 4 hours in Vitebsk, visiting the most tourist places. After stopping at the store for groceries, we headed to the capital. The journey to Minsk took about 3.5 hours. Many of us have probably heard about the wonderful Belarusian roads. I don’t argue that the roads are generally good, but often the same “patches”, small holes and irregularities were encountered on the highway. An undoubted advantage of road travel in Belarus is the maximum permitted speed - in some sections you can drive up to 120 km/h.
Day 2. Minsk
We arrived in Minsk late in the evening, having booked a hostel on Booking on the way. I must say that we always chose budget places to spend the night, since we did not intend to spend much time in the room. This time, having chosen a hostel and arrived at the address, we were very surprised that there was an error on the website, and this room was now occupied. But the owner of this hostel agreed to help, and within 20 minutes we were driving in a different direction to check into a comfortable one-room apartment in an elite multi-story building.
The apartment had everything you need for have a nice rest after long journey. For 2 nights in Minsk we paid 100 Belarusian rubles - this is very profitable for such a cozy apartment. We decided to devote the entire next day to Minsk, walking around the city on foot.
The capital of Belarus has a metro system consisting of two lines. The fare for this metro costs only 60 Belarusian kopecks (about 20 our rubles), and the stations are quite clean and beautiful. We started our walk by visiting the Nemiga station, where the so-called " Old city" - an atmospheric place with town halls and cathedrals.
View of Minsk from the town hall
"Old Town" on Nemiga
Then we went for a walk around the city and saw the following places:
The entire central part of Minsk is filled with beautiful buildings
Well-groomed square in Minsk
Prices in the capital of Belarus are approximately the same as in our regions of Russia, and an order of magnitude lower than in Moscow. We had lunch in a small cafe in the center of Minsk, paying only 22 Belarusian rubles for two servings of soup, a second (side dish and meat) and coffee.
We really liked the well-groomed, neat sidewalks of the capital of Belarus, and their roads are quite wide. Lf;t one gets the feeling that there are no traffic jams here at all. Maybe the truth is not, since the population of the entire country is only 9.5 million people - this is almost 3 million less than in Moscow. In general, we enjoyed walking around the capital, trying not to rush anywhere and enjoy our vacation:
Walking along the embankment of the Svisloch River
A beautiful fountain in front of the Opera and Ballet Theater
View of the "Island of Tears"
Crying boy on the "Island of Tears"
"Island of Tears" - a monument to the soldiers of the Afghan War
We were amazed by the huge number of monuments to the Great Patriotic War in Belarus. In every city we were able to visit, there are always memorial complexes in memory of those who fell in 1941-1945. And these monuments are quite well-groomed, neat, clean - it is clear that the city administration maintains their condition and does not allow vandalism and neglect.
There are many places in Belarus that preserve the memory of victory in World War II
City view
Of course, we couldn’t help but go to the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Minsk: about 2.5 million Belarusians died in 1941-1945. The museum has 10 halls and presents a huge number of exhibits: from newspaper clippings of those times, documents of famous Belarusian officers and war heroes, fragments of their belongings and utensils, awards, clothing and other significant items to samples of military equipment (some machines were in working condition) . Entrance to the museum costs 8 Belarusian rubles per person, and another 2 rubles must be paid for the opportunity to take photographs.
At the WWII Museum
We left the museum late, around 6 pm, already quite tired from constant walking, but we had one more must-see place - the National Library of Belarus, or rather, observation deck on her. And we went to the metro to get to Vostok station.
The National Library of Belarus is designed in the shape of a rhombicuboctahedron
The open observation deck is located on the 23rd floor (there is also a closed one on the 22nd with a cafe and an art gallery, but the view from there is not very good). Entrance costs only 3 Belarusian rubles.
View from the observation deck
The day was coming to an end, so we, tired and happy, went home. Of course, we didn’t see all the sights of Minsk, but we were still satisfied with how our day went.
Day 3. Stalin Line and Mir Castle. On the way to Brest
The next day we were going to immediately go towards Brest, stopping at the Mir Castle along the way, but we changed our minds and decided to see the “Stalin Line” - a historical and cultural complex located not far from Minsk. It takes no more than 45 minutes to get there from the city, and we paid about 700 Russian rubles for entry and parking the car.
“Stalin Line” is a kind of museum on the street: there you can walk around the dugouts, go into the pillboxes where machine gunners used to sit, spin everything that spins, climb on tanks, boats, planes and helicopters. The museum's territory is large; sometimes restorations of some military events are carried out there.
Inside a pillbox on the "Stalin Line"
Dugout and strengthening complexes
We were limited in time, so after a couple of hours we left towards Brest. After about 2 hours we took the exit to the Mir castle complex. This castle, first mentioned in the 14th century, played the role of defensive structures. The owners of the castle were representatives of different families, and after 1940 it became the property of the state.
Now there is a museum in the castle, entrance costs 12 Belarusian rubles. Unfortunately, we were not able to get inside, but appearance We were very impressed with the castle.
Then we rushed to Brest - the final destination of our journey. From Mir Castle the journey took a little over 3 hours. By the way, we were surprised that in Belarus the price for gasoline is the same, regardless of the type of gas station. We bought our 92nd for 1.17 Belarusian rubles per liter in any city or on the highway from different dealers. Other types of gasoline had the same price.
At about 7 pm we arrived in Brest. The city surprised us a little - it looked much more modest and abandoned than Minsk and Vitebsk. But our main goal was the Brest Fortress - that’s where we headed.
Entrance to the museum complex "Brest Fortress"
On the territory of the Brest Fortress
The famous gates of the Brest Fortress
The purpose of our trip was fulfilled - we drove all along Belarus (and will pass it again on the way home), saw a lot amazing places. On our last night in the country, we spent the night in a normal Brest hostel for 800 Russian rubles (we booked a few hours before entry).
Day 4. Brest and the way home
The next morning we walked along the central streets of Brest, dropped in again to look at the Brest Fortress (the best option is to rent bicycles and drive through the entire territory of the complex) and went towards Bryansk.
Another entrance to the territory of the Brest Fortress
The journey to Gomel took about 9 hours; we really wanted to see this city, but we no longer had time. At the border we showed our passports to the Russian border guards and entered the country. It was a wonderful and amazing trip, and we are sure that we will come to Belarus again.
I entrusted the choice of off-the-beaten-path places to a professional: the guide and co-founder of the service for finding excursions around Belarus Guides.by - Natalya Palchuk. The task was this: no Mir and Nesvizh! These places, of course, are iconic, but we want to go along little-known routes.
So, we present five non-trivial options for traveling around Belarus
For art historians: the Repin estate “Zdravnevo” near Vitebsk
Do you love art? Buy tickets to Vitebsk. Not far from this city is the estate of the artist Ilya Repin, where he lived for 8 years. The wooden house was built according to the sketches of Repin himself and the structure looks more like a fairy-tale tower.
During World War II, the estate was completely destroyed, but in the 80s, architects restored it according to old sketches. The main house now houses the Repin Museum, and the area around is a downright charming park.
To get there on your own: There are plenty of options to get to Vitebsk from Minsk. The estate itself is located 16 km from the city. You can get there by public transport: bus No. 26 to the village. Ruby, or bus 26A to the Dvina River Bridge, from where follow the sign for 1 km.
For tourists: church in Gervyaty
For those who love sightseeing trips and are ready to go to bus tour even around the whole Earth, we recommend going to see the church in Gervyaty.
Have you heard of this? If the answer is no, then get ready to see the tallest and most beautiful church in Belarus. Surprisingly, for some reason this place is not very well known among Belarusians. But it’s better not to go specifically to the church, but to go as part of the “Ostrovets Around the World” excursion.
Its essence is that in one trip you can visit all the best Catholic churches Grodno region and see churches in Soly, Mikhalishki, Vornyany and Ostrovets.
Get there on your own: From Minsk by train Minsk-Gudogai (you need a receipt for payment for visiting the border zone, you can pay at Belarusbank). From Gudogay by bus to Ostrovets, from Ostrovets by bus to Giri.
For historians: the Museum of Old Believers in Vetka
Natalya Palchuk, our assistant guide, put the Museum of Old Believers in Vetka in first place in her personal rating of museums in Belarus. There is no other museum in our country with such a number of rare exhibits and immersion in the topic.
Even the best option will first go to Gomel, see the Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace, and then take the train and get to Vetka, which is very close to the city. Our guide guarantees that your excitement at the museum will know no bounds.
Photo vetka.by
To get there on your own: From Minsk to Gomel, from Gomel bus station by bus to Vetka
For gourmets: Korobchitsy complex near Grodno
How deliciously they serve authentic Belarusian dishes in Korobchitsy! Mmmm... But this agro-tourist complex is interesting not only for its restaurant. This is a real museum-estate under open air.
The complex is located near Grodno (the beautiful city Belarus, by the way). It’s worth starting from the city itself, and then taking a trip into nature to Korobchitsy. The territory of the complex is huge and stylized as an old manor of the 19th century. There is a restaurant with Belarusian cuisine, a knight's playground, workshops of folk craftsmen and a zoo. In general, there will be enough impressions for everyone!
To get there on your own: From Minsk to Grodno by bus, train or minibus. From the Grodno bus station there are buses from Grodno to the Korobchitsy estate, as well as a minibus.
For mystics: Turov and Turov crosses
Stone Turov crosses grow directly from the ground. Moreover, they grow - this is in the literal sense of the word. They are considered a miracle of Belarus, which scientists still cannot explain. Many articles have been written about the crosses, thousands of pilgrims come to them every month, and scientists study them. But more and more questions arise. So, look for miracles only here.
In addition, it is worth looking into the oldest Belarusian city of Turov and visiting the ancient castle, where the remains of wooden residential buildings and the foundation of a church from the 11th-12th centuries are preserved, as well as the former Uniate church, where the largest stone crosses are kept.
To get there on your own: From Minsk to Stolin/David-Gorodok/Zhitkovichi, and from these cities you can take a commuter buses to Turov. Or by train from Minsk to Kalinkovichi, and then by suburban bus.
Have a useful and meaningful weekend!
Text: Tatyana Tarakanova
There will be no big hauls on this day. The actual inspection is scheduled for this day. Minsk And Zaslavl. Initially, it is advisable to get to Zaslavl (about 50 km there and back), see everything there and slowly explore the beauties of Minsk. Accordingly, another overnight stay in the same Minsk.
Attractions:
The historical and cultural complex "Stalin Line" is an open-air military-historical museum. The historical basis of the museum is the bunkers of the Minsk fortified area. The museum has recreated and equipped the company area of the fortified area. Military engineers restored two machine-gun bunkers, an artillery half-caponier, and a command and observation post. The engineering equipment of the area was recreated according to pre-war drawings. The exhibition includes all types of trenches, trenches and anti-tank ditches of various profiles, positions for rifle squads, dugouts for sheltering personnel, trenches for guns, gouges - wooden, concrete, metal, wire barriers various types. The Military History Museum contains the most complete exposition in Belarus of all military equipment, artillery, tanks, aviation, and small arms that were in service in various years, starting from the war. The museum contains a unique exhibition of Russian, Polish and German armored caps, preserved from the First World War.
Address: Near the village of Loshany, Minsk region, 6 km from the city of Zaslavl in the direction of Molodechno, tel. (+375 17) 503-20-20, 503-23-43, 210-46-30
Operating mode: Tuesday - Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00, closed on Monday
Coordinates: N 054 3.519, E 027 17.845
Rating: 134.46
Attractions:
Museum of the History of the Belarusian Railway
Founded in 1971. An extensive collection of items related to the history of railways (communication devices, coupling elements and warning structures, models of trains and cars). The collection is constantly growing.
Address: Minsk, Chkalova str., 7, Palace of Culture and Sports of Railway Workers. tel (375 17).225-24-14, 225-54-79.
Operating mode: Mon-Fri: 08.00-17.00 (break - 12.00-13.00), Sat-Sun: closed
As of May 2017 closed for reconstruction
Coordinates: N 053 52.676, E 027 32.200
Rating: 6.58
National Museum of History and Culture of Belarus
The museum presents archaeological, ethnographic, numismatic, military-historical collections, as well as collections of ancient books and manuscripts, icons, religious clothing, and works of folk art. Your attention will be presented to both objects of primitive art and works of high art of medieval culture - the world-famous Slutsk belts, altar gates, porcelain products.
Address: Minsk, st. K. Marksa, 12, tel. 227-43-22
Operating mode: from 11.00 to 18.00. Closed - Wednesday
Coordinates: N 053 53.811, E 027 33.334
Rating: 37.19
National Library of Belarus
The shape of the building is similar to a sphere with edges; it is also called a rhombicuboctahedron. The library is 72.6 meters high (20 floors) and weighs 135,000 tons, of which 20,000 tons are books. When the sun sets, the building turns on special lighting: flowers, patterns, and laser inscriptions create a festive mood for city residents every day.
Currently, the National Library of Belarus is one of the largest in the world.
Excursions for individual visitors (team group):
Tue., Wed., Fri.: 12.00, 15.00, 18.00
Thu, Sat, Sun: 12.00, 15.00, 17.00
Mon. - day off.
Observation point:
Mon. – Thu, Sun: 13.00–22.00
Last rise – 21.30
Fri., Sat.: 13.00–23.00
Last rise – 22.30
Address: Minsk, ave. Independence, 116
Operating mode: Monday – Friday 10.00–21.00, Saturday, Sunday 10.00–18.00. During the summer period (from July 1 to August 31), Sunday is a day off. The last Monday of every month is sanitary day.
Coordinates: N 053 55.872, E 027 38.776
Rating: 183.08
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 paid areas 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 a trend is beginning to be felt in it. Western countries and their cultures. The city does not have large grocery stores, boutiques and other paraphernalia of comfort inherent major 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 a nice place Polotsk - 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 in the Domian cafe (Polotsk, Nizhne-Pokrovskaya str., 41 b), there is National cuisine, then 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 to public transport You can buy it 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 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 via Krasnoselskie chalkpit 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 - small locality 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 is 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)
