What to visit in Brest. Sights of Brest: what to see besides the Brest Fortress

Brest is a unique city with a rich history. There are notes of Europe in its architecture; the Brest buildings are especially similar to the classical buildings of Catholic Poland. The city is cozy, clean and tidy.

The most famous sights of Belarus are located in Brest and the region. After visiting this area, tourists always have a lot of vivid impressions.

Brief history of Brest

The first mentions of Brest date back to the 11th century. Then it was called Berestye and was an ancient Russian trade center with a fortress located on the demarcation of Lithuanian and Polish territories.

In the XIV-XVI centuries the city was one of the largest centers of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Berestye was the first Belarusian city to receive the right to self-government.

In 1553, the elder Nikolai Radziwill the Black opened a printing house in which the Brest Bible was printed. In 1569, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Poland became part of the single state of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Later, it was in Berestye that the well-known Union of Brest was proclaimed about the unification of the Catholic and Orthodox churches on the territory of the state.

In the second half of the 17th century, the city began to be called Brest-Litovsk. During this period, copper coins - solidi - were minted here. In the mid-17th and early 18th centuries, the Swedes ravaged the city twice.

At the end of the 18th century, an economic boom began in the life of Brest-Litovsk - with a population of 3.5 thousand inhabitants, it became part of the Russian Empire.

During Napoleon's invasion in 1812, the city was occupied several times by French troops. During the reign of Nicholas I, a plan for the construction of a fortress was approved on the site of Brest-Litovsk. Because of this, the city was moved to the east, and citizens were provided with a loan to build new housing. Most of the buildings of the old city were destroyed or transferred for military purposes. On April 26, 1842, the Brest-Litovsk Fortress was opened.

By the end of the 19th century, the settlement already had 19 thousand inhabitants. The city had more than 200 shopping arcades, a cathedral, Simeon's Church, and fairs were held twice a year.

In the 70s of the 19th century, three railway lines converged in Brest-Litovsk: Warsaw-Terespol, Moscow-Brest and South-Western. This event led to economic recovery and population growth. The city had connections with Russia, Ukraine and Poland. At the beginning of the 20th century, men's and women's gymnasiums opened in Brest-Litovsk. At that time, the population was already 52,000 people.

During the First World War, the Brest-Litovsk Fortress became the base of the Western Front of Russian troops, and the entire local population was evacuated. In August 1915, the Kaiser's troops entered the city. On March 3, 1918, the Brest-Litovsk Treaty was signed, after which the city, as part of Western Belarus, went to Poland. During this period, it changed its name to Brest-nad-Bug.

After the attack of Nazi Germany on Poland in September 1939, Brest was reunited with the BSSR. In December of the same year, the city received the status of a regional center; about 67 thousand people lived here and 23 enterprises operated.

In the summer of 1941, the Brest Fortress was one of the first to take the blow of German troops. During the Great Patriotic War, the Nazis killed about 40 thousand residents of Brest. During that period, the outskirts of the city became a place for mass executions of civilians.

Important! On July 28, 1944, Brest was liberated from the Germans by troops of the 1st Belorussian Front. By this time, 48% of the buildings had been destroyed, leaving 14,950 residents in the city.

The city reached its pre-war population only in 1958 – 68 thousand people. In 1956, the museum of the heroic defense of the Brest Fortress began operating.

In the post-war period, Brest was actively restored and developed. An airport was opened here in 1976, and a trolleybus was launched in the early 80s. And since 1982, the Berestye archaeological museum began its work, based on excavations of ancient buildings of the 13th century.

What is the first thing to see in Brest?

Today Brest is the regional center of the Brest region. 350 thousand people live here. The basis of the region's economy is the light and food industries, as well as metalworking and mechanical engineering. The city remains a major transport hub.

Memorial complex "Brest Fortress - Hero"

By the beginning of the First World War, the Brest Fortress was considered one of the most impregnable in Europe. Today, the Memorial complex includes dilapidated red brick walls, a museum, the obelisk “Bayonet”, St. Nicholas Church, the monument “Courage”, the sculpture “Thirst” and three rows of slabs, under which are the graves of soldiers who died defending the fortress .

The Courage Monument is a bust of a fighter with a frowning face, ready to resist the onslaught of the enemy. It was erected on Ceremonial Square in 1971. Next to the sculpture there are memorial plaques, under which 850 defenders of the fortress rest.

Monument "Courage"

The sculpture “Thirst” looks impressive - an exhausted warrior tries to scoop up water with his helmet. It personifies the tragic events of the Great Patriotic War. The fact is that during the siege of the fortress, the enemy blocked the exit from it to the river. As a result, the soldiers holding the defense died painfully from thirst, using their last supplies of water to cool their small arms.

Important! In 1965, the Brest Fortress received the title of Hero.

The Fortress Defense Museum is located in the restored former barracks. Its exhibitions tell not only about the period of the Great Patriotic War, but also about the history of the building in more ancient times.

On the territory of the Brest Fortress there is the St. Nicholas Garrison Cathedral, built in the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, when the city was part of Poland, the temple was converted into a church. During the war of the 40s, the cathedral was badly damaged. But in the 90s, its reconstruction began, and since 2005, regular services have been held in the cathedral.

It will take a whole day to examine all the elements of the Brest Fortress memorial complex.

Address: Brest, st. Heroes of the Defense of the Brest Fortress 60.
Operating mode: daily from 9.00 to 18.00.

Archaeological Museum "Berestye"

Near the Brest Fortress there is a unique medieval museum “Berestye”. It is based on archaeological excavations of an ancient city from the 13th century. Scientists managed to excavate an entire quarter, which consists of 28 wooden structures, pavements, remains of utensils of the 11th-14th centuries: dishes, weapons, jewelry, household items, etc. All this is placed in the excavation in its original form.

Exposition of the archaeological museum "Berestye"

To provide museum visitors with the opportunity to get acquainted with the interior of a standard 13th-century dwelling, a modern log house was built on the territory, which has everything necessary: ​​shelves for sleeping, a table, benches, a stove.

Address: Brest, Hospital Island.
Operating mode: daily from 10.00 to 18.00.

There is a unique museum in Brest, founded by the customs service. Since this city is a border city, many lovers of valuables tried to take a considerable amount of them abroad. Customs officers often found them and confiscated expensive items. Some of them can be seen in the “Saved Art Treasures” museum. The exhibits are divided into thematic rooms: “Rostov enamel”, “Icons in silver frames”, “Russian icon painting” and so on.

Museum "Saved Art Treasures"

Address: Brest, st. Lenin 39.
Operating mode: Tue-Sun from 10.00 to 18.00, closed Monday.

Railway Museum

The railway museum was opened in 2000. Currently, the exhibition includes about 70 samples of railway equipment. Most of them are in working order. Here you can find models of steam locomotives from the early 20th century, a good collection of passenger cars, a snowplow, a trolley and other railway equipment.

You can walk into some locomotive cabins and feel like a real driver.

Brest Railway Museum

Address: Brest, Masherova Ave. 2.
Operating mode: Tue-Sun from 9.00 to 17.00, closed Monday.

Museum of the History of Brest

The museum's exhibitions are located in a mansion built at the beginning of the 20th century. There are exhibits here representing the history of the city from ancient times to the post-war period. The museum consists of 4 halls in which you can view art objects, coin collections, documents, household items, etc.

Address: Brest, st. Levanevsky 3.
Operating mode: Tue-Sun from 9.00 to 18.00, closed Monday.

Holy Resurrection Cathedral

The Holy Resurrection Cathedral was erected in the 90s in honor of the anniversary of the Victory over the Nazi invaders. In terms of size, it is the largest temple in Brest. In 2001, the cathedral's bell tower was equipped with a bell weighing 400 kg. The temple was consecrated by the Moscow Patriarch of All Rus' Alexy II, and since that time regular services have been held here.

Address: Brest, st. Moskovskaya 271.
Operating mode: daily from 9.00 to 19.00.

The church was built in the 19th century. With the advent of Soviet power, it was closed, and all shrines and interior items were destroyed. In the 90s, after perestroika, this temple was returned to the Catholic Church. It was restored and services have been held here ever since. Tourists and pilgrims are most attracted by the Belarusian shrine located there - the icon of Our Lady of Brest.

Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Brest Regional Museum of Local Lore

In the post-war years, the exhibition of the local history museum was located in the building of the former Church of the Exaltation of St. Cross. Later the institution moved to several branches. The museum displays valuable archaeological, historical and ethnographic exhibits.

Address: Brest, st. Karl Marx 60.
Operating mode: Tue-Sun from 10.00 to 18.00.

The Nemtsevich Estate Museum is located in the village of Skoki, Brest Region. You can get there from Lenin Square by minibus. This architectural ensemble was built in 1777 in the Baroque style. It belonged to the statesman Yu. U. Nemtsevich, one of the authors of the first constitution in Europe.

There is a very beautiful, slightly overgrown park around the estate, where it is pleasant to walk along linden alleys and picturesque meadows, and sit in the gazebos. Inside the estate building there is a museum where you can see the interior of the state halls and rooms of the 18th century.

Separate exhibitions are dedicated to the works of local artists and an exhibition from the First World War.

Address: Brest region, village Skoki st. Mira 48B.
Operating mode: Tue-Sun from 10.00 to 19.00.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha

65 km from Brest there is a unique biosphere reserve of Belarus and Poland, Belovezhskaya Pushcha. There are about 1000 species of shrubs, mosses, trees and herbs, and about 500 varieties of mushrooms. The pride of the reserve is the largest population of bison.

The area of ​​untouched forest is more than 150,000 hectares. The border between Poland and Belarus divides it into two parts. The park is divided into 4 zones by type of economic activity:

• 40% - protected area with a protection regime and restrictions on any economic activity;
• 25% - regulated, where some types of gentle economic activities are allowed;
• 30% - recreational, in which only activities that do not pose a threat to protected objects are allowed;
• 5% - recreation and tourism area.

The tourist area is large enough to walk around for several days. There are 4 walking routes and several cycling routes. Near the drained Dokudovo swamp, early in the morning you can see roe deer, deer and even bison grazing.

If deer or bison are not found in the protected area, they can always be seen in the large enclosures located at the entrance.

Entrance to the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Nature Reserve

Address: Brest region, Ak. Kamenyuki st. Pushchanskaya.

Brest is rich in all kinds of attractions, and in addition to the well-known ones, while walking along the streets of the city, you can meet those that you previously knew nothing about. For example, go to the alley of forged lanterns. It is located on the pedestrian part of Gogol Street. This attraction appeared relatively recently - in 2013. The lanterns located here are unusual, each of them represents a specific object: an angel, a clock, a clown, a horse, a ship, etc.

Alley of lanterns on the street. Gogol

Brest also has a favorite street among its citizens - Sovetskaya, which is often called the “Brest Arbat”. It was reconstructed in 2009, after which the street was significantly transformed and became a popular place for tourists and local residents to walk. Along this street there are picturesque stone buildings from the early 20th century, beautiful flower beds and small sculptures. Some of the city's attractions are also located on Sovetskaya, for example, the St. Nicholas Fraternal Church, the Winter Garden, and the monument to the millennium of Brest.

St. Nicholas Brethren Church

One of the most interesting churches in Brest is St. Nicholas Fraternal Church. It is located on Sovetskaya Street and was built in 1904 with funds from the Synod and donations from participants in the Russo-Japanese War. The building was built in the Russian-Byzantine style with pronounced elements of Moscow architecture of the 17th century.

Not far from the St. Nicholas Fraternal Church there is a Winter Garden in the form of a glass greenhouse next to the building of Brest State University. There is a rich collection of all kinds of plants collected from different parts of the world. This original building clearly stands out against the backdrop of urban development.

Brest Winter Garden

Address: Brest st. Mitskevich 28/1.
Operating mode: Wed-Sun from 10.00 to 18.00

Brest Millennium Monument

Another interesting attraction is the monument to the millennium of Brest. It was installed in 2009 with money donated by townspeople. It represents the figure of the city's guardian angel, at the base of which there are sculptures of the ruling princes and ordinary residents.

1000th anniversary of Brest

St. Simeon's Cathedral was erected in the 19th century and is a five-domed church. He is a prominent representative of the Russian-Byzantine style. The domes of the cathedral are covered with gold leaf, the walls are painted a pleasant light green color.

St. Simeon's Cathedral

Brest Park of Culture and Leisure

You can go to the Brest Culture and Recreation Park with children. It was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. There are various attractions and children's activities are regularly held here. The park has a stage for public entertainment, a restaurant and small cafes. In this green area it is good to enjoy the beauty of old trees, colorful flower beds, and wander along the winding alleys.

A unique railway station built in 1886 has been preserved in Brest. It is not only of architectural value, but is also a center for connecting transport routes of several countries. From Brest station you can get to Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Kyiv and Moscow. During the First World War, the station building was destroyed, but in the 50s it was completely restored.

Brest will not leave indifferent any tourist who has visited this amazing city. Walking the streets, and without even knowing it, you can stumble upon some interesting attraction. Having visited Brest once, many tourists want to come back here again.

The first mention of Brest as a town of artisans dates back to the beginning of the 11th century. Over the centuries, the settlement changed owners several times, was destroyed and rebuilt from ruins. Here you will see architectural monuments of the Early Middle Ages, Polish churches, Orthodox churches, cozy streets and embankments.

The most famous attraction of the city, where all tourists certainly go, is the famous Brest Fortress. Its defenders at the beginning of the Second World War showed incredible heroism in an unequal battle with the German army. Today the fortification houses a museum complex dedicated to the events of those years.

Just 65 km from Brest is Belovezhskaya Pushcha - a fabulous oak forest where you can meet the huge Belarusian bison. You can go there after visiting numerous city museums and take a break from tiring excursions.

What to see in Brest?

The most beautiful places and main attractions

A fortified citadel built on the site of Brest Castle in 1833. The structure consists of a series of red brick barracks, two-meter thick walls and a central citadel. In 1913, a second ring of defensive buildings was erected. By the beginning of the First World War, the fortress was considered one of the most impregnable in Europe. On June 22, 1941, she took on one of the first attacks by German troops. In 1965 it received the title of hero fortress.

Monument to the defenders of the Brest Fortress, created according to the design of the Moscow architect A.P. Kibalnikov and erected on Ceremonial Square in 1971. The grandiose monument reaches 36 meters in height and 54 meters in length. It depicts a bust of a fighter with a determined and frowning face against the background of the Soviet banner, ready to resist the onslaught of the invaders to the end. In front of the sculpture is the grave of 850 defenders of the fortress.

Another memorial in memory of the defenders of the Brest Fortress, making a powerful emotional impression. On the first day of the siege, the Germans disabled the water supply, and Soviet soldiers were forced to fight in excruciating thirst as the remaining water was used to cool their machine guns. Many soldiers died trying to get at least a few precious buckets of water from a river captured by the enemy.

An Orthodox church on the territory of the Brest Fortress, built in the Byzantine style in the mid-19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century, when Brest was part of the city, it was turned into a church. During the Second World War the building was damaged quite badly. In 1972 it was mothballed, and in 1994 it was returned to believers. Restoration work continued for many years and was completed only in 2005.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the brick fort was part of the defensive structures of the Brest-Litovsk Fortress. There were barracks, walls, and a ditch filled with water. During the years of German occupation, warehouses were placed on its territory. In 1995, the building was recognized as a cultural monument, and in 1997 it was restored. In 2000, a museum dedicated to the history of the Brest Fortress was organized on the territory of the fort.

The museum is located in a restored former barracks building. It opened in 1956 on the basis of the room of military glory. The collection consists of materials and exhibits telling about the defense of the Brest Fortress: weapons, archival documents, photographs - in total more than 8 thousand items housed in 9 rooms. Surviving defenders of the citadel took part in the creation of the exhibition.

An archaeological exhibition founded in 1982 at the excavation site. The basis of the collection consists of finds discovered on the territory of the 13th century settlement, including residential and outbuildings raised from a depth of 4 meters and restored according to their historical appearance. In “Berestye” you can learn a lot about the traditional way of life of the Slavs, look at objects that were in use many centuries ago.

Sovetskaya Street is often called the “Brest Arbat”. After reconstruction in 2009, it turned into a favorite place for walks for citizens and a must-visit for tourists. Along the alley there are picturesque facades of stone estates of the early 20th century, restaurants, flower beds, rows of forged lanterns, and small urban sculptures. The length of the street is about 1.7 km.

The alley is located on Gogol Street. Forged lamps appeared here in 2013. The peculiarity is that they all have meaning - some reflect the plots of the writer’s works, the other part - the specifics of the activities of the enterprise that sponsored the production of the lantern. There are lamps in the form of a clock, a loom, a symbolic figure of a clown, an angel, and a treble clef.

The territory of the garden belongs to Brest State University. A.S. Pushkin is his scientific site, but the greenhouses are open to free visits. Plantings are divided into three zones: tropical, subtropical and desert. Exotic species grow under a glass dome supported by a base of metal and brick. This original building stands out against the backdrop of the city landscape.

The monument was built in 2009 at the expense of the townspeople. It represents a model of Brest, reflected in the historical images of the princes and ordinary residents who once ruled here. The figure of a guardian angel stretches above them. In 2011, a high relief was added to the monument, which depicts important milestones in the city’s history, as well as a fancy fence in the Art Nouveau style, which harmoniously complemented the architectural composition.

Brest railway station is considered the largest transport hub in Western Belarus. It serves long-distance trains. The city is connected by direct railways to Berlin, Paris, Warsaw, and Kiev. The station building was built in 1886. Its shape resembles a palace, which is why it is one of the popular attractions. During the First World War the building was blown up and in 1953 it was reconstructed.

The exhibition, located on an area of ​​29 thousand m² directly on the rails, is dedicated to everything related to railway construction, tracks and equipment. The museum opened in 2000. At the moment, his collection consists of several dozen samples: carriages, locomotives, steam cranes, repair installations. There is even a tower clock and a signal bell. All equipment is in good condition.

The museum exhibition is quite unique, as it consists of valuables confiscated at local customs, which criminals tried to illegally transport across the border. Here you can see paintings, jewelry, icons of the 16th - 17th centuries, objects of decorative and applied art and other exhibits. The collection is constantly updated thanks to the efficient work of customs authorities.

The dramatic scene was set in the 1940s at a time when fighting was still raging on the Western fronts. Creative life arose in difficult conditions, but the theater quickly became popular. Not only are dramatic performances performed here, but there is also a symphony orchestra and musical performances. Every year the stage hosts the international festival "White Vezha".

Since 1948, the museum's exhibition has been located in the building of the former Church of the Exaltation of St. Cross. Over time, the institution moved and acquired several branches, which included exhibitions located within the Brest Fortress. The museum's funds contain more than 200 thousand items related to the history, archeology and ethnography of the region. Many exhibits are unique - they are several hundred years old.

The collection is housed in a mansion from the early 20th century. It is entirely dedicated to the history of the city from ancient times to the post-war years. The exhibits occupy 4 halls with an area of ​​200 m². Among them are city coats of arms from different periods, works of contemporary artists, coin collections, ancient books, documents, statues, models, maps, household items and other interesting materials.

One of the most picturesque churches in the city, located on Sovetskaya Street. It was erected in 1904 using the Synod’s own funds and donations from sailors and officers who took part in the Russo-Japanese War. Architecturally, the building is a cross-domed church in the Russian-Byzantine style with clearly expressed elements of Moscow architecture of the mid-17th century.

An Orthodox church built in 1995-98, built in honor of the anniversary of the Victory. In terms of size, it is the largest in Brest and one of the largest in all of Belarus. Up to 5 thousand parishioners can be inside at the same time. The cathedral was built in the neo-Russian style, characteristic of church construction at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. In 2001, a bell weighing 400 tons was installed on the roof of the temple.

Temple of the 19th century, an architectural monument of the Russian-Byzantine church style. The building is a five-domed church. The side towers and the central drum are mounted on a quadrangle, one of the sides of which has a semicircular shape. The domes are covered with gold leaf, and a clock is placed on the central tower. The façade of the cathedral is painted light green and is decorated with wall paintings.

An active Catholic church built in the mid-19th century. The building was built in a classical style. After the end of the Second World War, a local history museum was placed within its walls, at the same time it lost some decorative elements of the facade. Since 2002, services have resumed in the church. As a result of lengthy reconstruction, the historical appearance of the building was restored.

A Catholic church of the 15th century, located approximately 18 km from Brest in the agricultural town of Chernavchitsy. It was built in Gothic and Renaissance styles. From the outside, the structure somewhat resembles an impregnable fortress with thick walls. For a long time the church belonged to the Orthodox diocese; in 1918 it was returned to the Catholics. During Soviet times there was a hospital and a school here.

An architectural complex of the 18th century, built in the Baroque style. It was erected for the Niemtsevich family, where Julian Ursyn, a public figure and one of the creators of the constitution of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, came from. The estate is surrounded by a park created around the same time. Once upon a time it had all the elements of landscape design - ponds, gazebos, alleys, but nothing has survived to this day. There is a museum on the territory of the estate itself.

Brest Park was laid out at the beginning of the 20th century. At that time, several hundred trees and more than 4 thousand bushes were planted. To entertain the public, a stage and a restaurant with a veranda were built. Today this place successfully continues to serve as a recreational area, welcoming visitors at any time of the year. There are attractions, playgrounds and cafes. The park hosts monthly events for children.

Biosphere reserve and national park located on the border of Poland and Belarus. It represents the remains of a relict forest, which in prehistoric times covered the territory of all of Europe. About 1,000 species of trees, shrubs and herbs, up to 600 species of mushrooms, and more than 200 species of mosses grow within its boundaries. The largest bison population lives in Belovezhskaya Pushcha.

26. Museum of V.S. Vysotsky

Vladimir Semyonovich Vysotsky stayed twice in Brest at the Bug Hotel. In November 2015, a museum room of the poet, actor and bard Vladimir Vysotsky opened on the second floor of the hotel. The exhibition contains exhibits related to Vysotsky’s Belarusian roots and his stay in Belarus.

In the museum room you can see original posters and posters of Vladimir Vysotsky’s speeches, as well as numerous editions of his poems. The book collection also contains a unique album with photographs of the artist, published 10 years ago in New York.

Separate stands are dedicated to the marriage of Vysotsky and Marina Vladi, the poet’s friendship with the Belarusian director Vladimir Turov. The new museum contains materials from Belarusian newspapers dedicated to Vysotsky’s stay in Belarus.

The central place in the exhibition was taken by a photograph transmitted by Jerzy Hoffman during a recent visit to Brest. On it, the Polish director and his wife are captured with Vysotsky and Vladi. “To the Vysotsky Museum in Brest,” Hoffman wrote on the photo.

At the beginning of November, a themed room opened at the Bug Hotel, where Vysotsky stayed in 1974 and 1976. The rooms are decorated with photo wallpapers with images of Vysotsky and his poems.

27. White Vezha (Kamenetsk Tower)

On the road to Belovezhskaya Pushcha there is a small town called Kamenets. In its very center, on a hill near the once full-flowing Lesnaya River, stands one of the wonders of Belarus, a majestic tower that looks like a huge chess rook. The historical names of the tower are Kamenetskaya Vezha, Kamenetskaya Pillar, Kamenetskaya Tower, but nevertheless, today it is often called the White Vezha, although the Kamenetskaya Tower is built of red-brown brick. Inside the building there is a museum "Kamenetsk Tower" where on five tiers there are exhibitions reflecting different eras since the construction of the tower. The sixth tier is an open observation deck with an amazing panoramic view.

28. Holy Nativity of the Virgin Mary Convent

The monastery is located on the territory of the Volyn fortification of the Brest Fortress, away from tourist routes. The revival of the monastery began in 2001 with the transfer of a destroyed building to the monastery. Today this is a well-groomed area on which there is a Summer Church where services are held, and there is a church shop. The place is cozy and gracious. Having visited once, you want to come back again.

29. Art Museum

In the memorial complex “Brest Hero Fortress”, in the Southern barracks, between the Kholm and Terespol gates, an Art Museum was opened in May 2002 - another branch of the Brest Regional Museum of Local Lore. The exhibition of the Art Museum is located in 10 halls, the total area of ​​which exceeds 1600 m2. The works of Brest sculptors, graphic artists, painters, woodcarvers and other masters presented in the museum’s exhibition reflect the formation and development of fine art in the Brest region in the 19th-20th centuries.

The pearl of the collection are the exhibits from the historical hall of the Art Museum. In the center of the hall, a unique model of Berestye of the 17th-18th centuries appears to the attention of visitors. The museum has developed several excursion themes: “History of the region in the works of Brest masters”, “Traditional trades and crafts of the Brest region of the 19th-20th centuries” and “The Great Patriotic War in the paintings of artists "

30. Residence of the Belarusian Father Frost

We all believe in fairy tales, regardless of age and life experience. And the fairy tale settled in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Santa Claus welcomes guests to his Estate all year round, reads letters sent to him and answers them, and maintains order in his domain. He has prepared different clothes for each season of the year; in winter, Santa Claus greets you in a classic red fur coat, a fur-lined hat and felt boots. His granddaughter Snegurochka helps him.

But in the summer, Santa Claus receives guests without his granddaughter. His summer clothes are no less colorful - a linen shirt with a belt, trousers tucked into boots and a straw hat on his head. This place is also magical because all visitors turn into children during the excursion: everyone calls Grandfather Frost together, everyone dances around the beautiful spruce tree, everyone is happy to receive a treasured gift from Father Frost. A visit to the estate of Father Frost leaves an unforgettable impression for many years.

Construction of the fortress on the site of the old city center began in 1833. The author of the project was military topographer and engineer Karl Ivanovich Opperman. In 1833, excavation work began. On June 1, 1836, the first stone was laid in the foundation of the Citadel of the fortress, a memorial foundation board and a box with coins were walled up. The main construction work was completed by April 26, 1842. Then, at different times, the fortifications were rebuilt, strengthened and expanded. In 1913, construction began on a second, expanded ring of fortifications, but it was not completed before the start of the war. And on June 22, 1941, at 4:15 am, powerful artillery fire was opened on the fortress. The garrison was taken by surprise. Then the heroic defense began... Since then, the Brest Fortress has entered the hearts of people as a symbol of the unshakable fortitude of the Soviet people. Brest is the beginning of the war for us, it is the lives given for peace, a symbol of the tragic and heroic.

Convent

The monastery settled on Hospital Island, in the building of the Volyn Fort in the Brest Fortress. The house church was built on the 2nd floor, in the former “Lenin room”. At the time of its opening in 2002, there were 11 nuns in the monastery, in 2009 - 26. The abbess of the monastery since its foundation has been and remains Abbess Alexandra (Zharin).

The first mention of the Orthodox monastery of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the city of Brest dates back to 1480. At that time it was a monastery, but it stood in the same place as now. Just like the St. Simeon Monastery, it was transferred to the Uniates, then returned to the Orthodox. The Venerable Martyr Athanasius of Brest served his last liturgy here on the eve of his arrest, after which he was brutally killed. The monastery once again passed to Catholics, but in 1795 it again became Orthodox. In 1836, defensive structures began to be built in the Brest Fortress, and the monastery located on its territory was abolished, and a two-story Volyn fort was built in its place.

Now the convent of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is well known in Brest and loved by its residents. It has a small but fully developed territory: in addition to a vegetable garden and a barnyard, there are beautiful lawns, flower beds, a gazebo and even a small fountain on an alpine hill. For worship in the summer, a spacious wooden gazebo with open walls and a glazed altar was built. During the service, you can hear birds chirping and leaves rustling. The monastery is open to the public, and secular visitors can almost always be seen at its services.

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Resurrection Cathedral

The Resurrection Cathedral is the largest church in the city and one of the largest in the country (up to five thousand parishioners can be here at the same time).

On June 24, 2001, the cathedral was consecrated by Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', after which regular services began here. In the same year, a bell weighing four hundred kilograms was installed in the cathedral.

There is a temple school and library at the cathedral, and a sisterhood has been organized in honor of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God.

In 2003, by the decision of the Belarusian Republican Council on Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture, the Resurrection Cathedral was given the status of spiritual historical and cultural value of Belarus.

Komsomolskaya Street is not very long - 700 meters. It starts, as already mentioned, from Ordzhonikidze Street and ends at the base of the triangle of Freedom Square. The beginning of the construction of the then Voznesenskaya Street dates back to the middle of the 19th century. In the 20-30s of the 20th century, along the described intersection there were restaurants, hotels, and a couple of editorial offices. Further on there were residential buildings and A. Gorskaya’s secondary school. The wooden school building has not survived; modern houses have been built in its place.

During its history, the street changed its name several times. So, the first and most beloved among the people is Voznesenskaya Street. During the period of Polish ownership from 1921 to 1939, it was called Steckiewicz Street. After the return of Soviet power, from 1939 to 1941 it was called Komsomolskaya. During the years of fascist occupation, from 1941 to 1944, the street was called Bahnhofstrasse (translated from German as Railway). After the liberation of Brest and to this day, it again became Komsomolskaya.

Today trolleybuses run along Komsomolskaya Street. If you decide to walk along it, take your time, turn onto Mickiewicz, drink water from the drinking fountain and just relax on a bench in the shade of the chestnut trees. Then, with renewed vigor, walk the block to Pushkinskaya Street. If you follow it to the left, you will end up on the pedestrian Sovetskaya Street, go right and you will see Lenin Square. Let's go further - a shady boulevard - Gogol Street, it is very pleasant to walk along it, and you can see a lot of interesting things. And at the end – Freedom Square with the monument to the liberating soldiers.

Avenue of Heroes

The Alley of Heroes is located in the Belarusian city of Brest and is a section of Masherov Avenue, on which memorial signs are installed in honor of outstanding natives of the city and defenders of the Brest Fortress.

The Alley of Heroes was founded in Brest in 1971. At its beginning there is an information sign with the inscription “The streets of Brest are named after them,” and each monument is a stylized red flag on which the name of the hero is immortalized. In total, there are 13 such flags installed on the alley, paying tribute to the soldiers who liberated the city from the Nazi invaders, as well as participants in the partisan movement and the underground.

The Alley of Heroes is an important city landmark of Brest and has great cultural significance.

Berestye Museum

Muey "Berestye" is an archaeological branch of the Brest Museum of Local Lore. For more than 20 years, excavations were carried out here under the leadership of Doctor of Historical Sciences P. Lysenko. During this time, many ancient wooden buildings of the 11th-13th centuries were discovered, as well as fragments of street pavements, fences, and various household items from that time.

The large concentration of valuable finds in a relatively small area made it possible to create an unusual museum here. It opened in 1972. A special pavilion was built from modern materials, reminiscent of an ancient dwelling in appearance; inside there is a cross-section of the ground, revealing a city of ancient times - an excavation site. The halls are designed as niches and are divided into several thematic sections: the emergence and history of ancient Berestye, the layout and development of the city, crafts, agriculture, livestock raising, hunting and fishing, trade, culture, reconstruction of the Berestyan dwelling (XIII century), the history of the study of Berestye.

There are thousands of different exhibits here, painting a picture of the economic and cultural life of the ancient settlement. But the basis of the exhibition is the excavation. At a depth of 4 meters there is part of a craft quarter with residential and outbuildings from the 13th century, street pavements, and the remains of adobe ovens. The cultural layer up to 7 m thick and high humidity made it possible to preserve many of the buildings with 5–9 crowns, some even with 12 crowns, which is very rare. Every year the museum hosts exhibitions of exhibits from the archaeological collection, and there is a permanent exhibition “Archaeological Monuments of the Brest Region”.

Research on the territory of ancient Brest finally resolved the question of the founders of the city. They were the Dregovichi, one of the East Slavic tribes.

Mukhavets River

It originates from the confluence of the Mukha stream and the Vets canal in the city of Pruzhany. It flows mainly through Polesie - in Pruzhansky, Kobrinsky, Zhabinkovsky and Brest regions. At the mouth there is a blind dam. Navigable (from Kobrin to the Brest river port, below which the dam is located). Connected by the Dnieper-Bug Canal with the Pripyat River.

Are you interested in knowing how well you know the sights of Brest? .

Terespol Gate

Terespol Gate is one of the four gates of the Ring Barracks leading to the Citadel of the Brest Fortress. Named after the Polish city of Terespol. They go to the bank of the Bug. In the 19th century there was a suspension bridge here, which was damaged in 1915 during hostilities and destroyed during the Second World War. A pedestrian suspension bridge will be built in the near future to provide access to the border crossing. The gate was built in classical style in the 19th century. Before the Great Patriotic War they had three floors and small towers on top. Inside the upper part were two huge water tanks, from which water was supplied to the Citadel's water supply. On June 22, 1941, the Wehrmacht attacked the fortress. From the first minutes, the gate found itself in the center of fierce fighting. During the artillery shelling, the gate was severely damaged, and the upper part was completely destroyed.

The most popular attractions in Brest with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Brest on our website.

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What to see in Brest and its surroundings in 1 day? Sights in the center of Brest, Brest Fortress. Reviews about a trip to Brest from Minsk for 1 day. Photo of Brest and the Brest Fortress.

Brest is the second largest city in Belarus, 345 km from Minsk on the border with Poland near the border with Ukraine. The history of the settlement goes back about 1000 years, during which Brest repeatedly changed its state affiliation.

This is the southernmost and warmest of the large cities in Belarus. It is from there that the first summer strawberries come to us in Minsk.

In this article I will tell you what you should definitely see in Brest if you come to the city for one or several days, in which area it is better to rent housing, and how to get to the Brest Fortress.

Daily housing in Brest

If you plan to stay overnight in Brest, there are several accommodation options:

Apartments in Brest for a day

Most likely, renting an apartment in Brest will be more profitable than living in a hotel. Especially if there are at least two of you. Now most apartments in Brest are presented on the booking website. On average, good apartments in the city center can be rented for 20-30$ .

If you want to explore the sights of Brest and the Brest Fortress on foot, then it is more logical to rent housing in the center in the area Sovetskaya, Pushkinskaya, Mayakovsky, Gogol, Karl Marx, Lenin, Kirov streets.

Examples of apartments in Brest:

Hostels and hotels in Brest

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If you don’t want to live in an apartment, you can stay in a hostel (from 6-10$ per person per bed) or hotel. On average, a room in a simple hotel can be rented for 20-30$ , a room in a good hotel - for 60-100$

Cheap hostels, as well as apartments and hotels in Brest can be booked online using this link

*****
3 days ago. Evening. Minsk.

- I have news. I need to go to Warsaw for a few days. On business. Do not mind?

I don’t mind, but my Schengen will be valid in June...

- I came up with it! I'll go to see you off on Thursday. To Brest.
- Wow! Super.

That's what they decided on. I have been to Brest many times, but just passing through. And here is a great opportunity to make another mini-trip around Belarus and see the sights of Brest in a few hours.

We take the morning train Minsk - Brest. With every kilometer the compartment becomes colder. And you can’t say that we’re going south.

Train station in Brest

The railway station in Brest (120 years old) is the strangest place I have ever visited. It is completely unclear which way to move towards the exit. There are bridges and tunnels everywhere. We go up to the bridge and go to the center.

The center of Brest is quite compact. We walk from the station to the recently restored Sovetskaya Street. This is a pedestrian street, an analogue of Moscow's Arbat.

Cafes, restaurants, shops, a pleasant square with trees and old lanterns, guitarists with money caps. The street is long. It abuts the embankment of the Western Bug River, where you can feed the birds, and then buy an excursion and sail on a boat for about 40 minutes.

Sovetskaya Street

Shopping center on Sovetskaya
Casino in Brest

In the evenings, a specially trained person in the uniform of Peter the Great comes to Sovetskaya and manually lights the kerosene lamps in each lantern. A lamplighter appears during dusk.

I didn’t wait for the lamplighter, but I saw a sculpture dedicated to him

Karl Marx Street

A pleasant street with two-story houses that runs parallel to Sovetskaya Street.

Road to the street K. Marx from st. Soviet
Karl Marx Street in Brest
The intersection of Gogol and K. Marx streets

Brest Fortress

It’s simply a shame to be in Brest and not visit the Brest Fortress. We catch a taxi on Sovetskaya and for 40,000 Belarusian rubles ( 140 rub.) we reach the fortress. Entrance to the Brest Fortress is free. You only need to pay for tickets to the war museum.

The main entrance to the Brest Fortress. Music about the people's war is playing, and a government announcement about the Nazi attack is heard.

The Brest Fortress is located on several islands. Previously, there was a city on the territory, which was moved to build fortifications. There are several iconic buildings in the Brest Fortress:

• Archaeological Museum "Berestye", where the preserved city of the 13th century is shown. Unfortunately, I forgot about its existence and didn’t go take a look. Judging by the reviews, the place is worth it.
• Museum of the Defense of the Brest Fortress

Museum of the Defense of the Brest Fortress

• Memorial slabs under which the defenders of the fortress are buried. An eternal flame burns nearby.

Ruins of the Brest Fortress

• Garrison Temple

• Handmade tanks and souvenirs. You can rent military uniforms for a photo shoot for a small fee.

Shooting Range

You can also look at the ruins of the White Palace, the sculpture “Thirst”, the Kholm Gate, the Terespol Gate at the place where the Mukhovets River flows into the Western Bug. Poland can be seen from there. On the territory of the Brest Fortress there is a cafe located in the fortress barracks.

Nearby there is a museum of railway equipment, where you can take pictures with steam locomotives and simply crawl along ancient trains (there is a train from the times of Anna Karenina).

Local resident of the Brest Fortress

Gogol street

It turned out that the Brest Fortress is located very close to the station - a 30-40 minute walk, so we went back to the center of Brest on foot along the square on Gogol Street. They chatted about naked models, while simultaneously looking at figures from Gogol’s works.

Gogol Street begins with the writer's head and ends with his nose

Lanterns on Gogol Street in Brest. Each one bears the name of one of the Belarusian enterprises.

What else to see in Brest

• Winter garden, where you can see plants of the tropics and subtropics.

• Brest St. Nicholas Brethren Church

• Church
• Puppet Theatre.
• Theater of Drama and Music.
• Water tower
• TSUM, where you can buy Belarusian souvenirs
• Museum of Saved Values ​​and City Museum.
• Lenin Square. Lenin statue with fountain.
• City Park. There is a pond where you can feed the swans, as well as a zoo, attractions, and an island with a naked mermaid.

In the vicinity of Brest, 50 km from the city, there is the famous biosphere, which I wrote about earlier. Bison, bears, moose, gray horses and the Belarusian Santa Claus live there. When you are in the West of Belarus, be sure to visit Belovezhskaya Pushcha, especially if you are fans of ecotourism.

The weather was so-so, so we didn’t explore other sights of Brest, and four hours is clearly not enough to walk around the city, but you can get a general impression.

My reviews about Brest

In general, I really liked the center of Brest and the Brest Fortress. Quiet, calm, no everyday fuss. It is obvious that you are not in Minsk. Poland is very close, and this also leaves a certain imprint on the appearance of the city. Clean, tidy, lots of greenery. It’s definitely worth a trip for a day or two!

The only question that remains open is the question of nutrition. Don’t know where you can eat tasty and inexpensive food in Brest? We went to a couple of establishments in the center with the highest ratings on foursquare. There was not a single person there, and the prices were much higher than in restaurants in Minsk.

This trip to Brest changed my idea of ​​traveling around Belarus. Distances in our country are so small that from Minsk you can go to any city for one day, see everything and return in the evening.

If you ask any resident of the post-Soviet space what cities of Belarus he knows, then even those who have never been to this hospitable land of forests and lakes will probably remember the glorious Brest.

Indeed, Brest is one of the cities that played a key role in the significant and at the same time tragic events of the middle of the last century. That is why every year it is visited by many tourists who are interested in the history of bygone days.

At the same time, Brest can safely be called the most progressive city in Belarus. It was he who was the first to receive the Magdeburg Law, the country's first mint was opened here, and the first plastic surgery was performed, and in a rather original way. One of the nobles cut off the inn owner's nose, and the local barber successfully sewed the organ back into place.

Of course, what attracts visitors to Brest most are the attractions, of which there are plenty in the city. By the way, in addition to military-historical monuments, there are many other attractions here, so every tourist will find exactly what he likes.

Sights of Brest and its surroundings

The Brest Fortress is the most famous monument not only of Brest, but of the whole of Belarus. This is a story immortalized in stone about the courage, bravery and heroism of those who fought for the freedom of their land.

It is a protective structure located at the confluence of the Mukhavets River and the Western Bug. In the 19th century, the Brest-Litovsk Fortress (that’s what it was called in those days) was considered the largest defensive structure in the Russian Empire.

And on the night of June 22, 1945, strong artillery fire was unexpectedly opened on the fortress, after which a powerful assault began. Despite the superior enemy forces, the lack of water supply and food, the defenders of the structure heroically held the defense for several days, becoming a symbol of the unshakable firmness of the Soviet people.

The memorial complex consists of several parts: the “Courage” monument, the Kholm Gate, the “Bayonet” obelisk, as well as historical, local history and art museums, etc.

Address: Brest, memorial complex “Brest Hero Fortress”.

Working hours: from 9 to 18.00 daily.

Cost: only museums located on the territory of the complex, as well as thematic excursions for tourists, are paid.

This part of the memorial complex is worth mentioning separately, as it is a very interesting historical and archaeological museum, which provides an opportunity to study the life and art of the ancient inhabitants of Belarus.

The museum is located on the site of the ancient city, from which, in fact, the history of Brest began. Here you can see more than 200 wooden buildings dating back to the 14th century, as well as many other interesting exhibits.

Address: Brest, Volyn fortification of the Brest Fortress.

Working hours: from 9 to 18.00, closed on Monday.

Price: 12 thousand rubles for adults, 7 thousand rubles for students, 6 thousand rubles for schoolchildren, excursion price approx. 50 thousand rubles In addition, you will need to pay separately for photo and video shooting.

One of the most interesting museums, which is very difficult to find an analogue. The history of the opening of the museum is as follows: the fact is that Brest is a border city (sometimes it is called the “western gate of the country”), so almost every day criminals try to smuggle a variety of historical and cultural values ​​through customs points.

Of course, vigilant border guards confiscate all the rarities, but one day there were so many of them that it was decided to open a thematic museum. It occupies a large building in the center of Brest, and has several exhibitions: a hall of Russian icon painting, painting, decorative and applied arts, etc.

Address: Brest, st. Lenina, 39.

Working hours: from 10 to 18.00 every day.

Cost: full ticket (adults) – 15 thousand rubles, children's (for schoolchildren) – 8 thousand, entrance for students – 10 thousand.

The Brest Railway Museum is also a unique attraction of its kind, dedicated to steam locomotives, trains and everything related to railway transport.

The museum contains more than 50 unique exhibits dating back to the beginning and middle of the twentieth century. Special tracks were laid according to the standards of previous years especially for vintage locomotives, carriages and other units. The most interesting thing is that all the equipment is in excellent working order and is used for filming and excursions.

Address: Brest, Masherov Avenue, 2.

Opening hours: May-October – from 10 to 18.00, November-April – from 11 to 17.00, Monday is a day off.

Cost: admission for adults – 7800 rub., for students - 5600 rub., for schoolchildren – 3300 RUR, pensioners and preschoolers free of charge.

Cathedral in the name of St. St. Simeon the Stylite is the main temple of Brest, which was erected on the site of the wooden church of St. Simeon.

Once upon a time, the relics of the martyr Athanasius, abbot of Brest, were kept here in a specially built shrine, but during the First World War they were transported to Moscow. And only at the end of the last century the surviving particles of the relics returned back to Brest.

Currently, in the St. Simeon Cathedral there are particles of the relics of St. Sergius of Radonezh, St. Innocent of Radonezh, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk, etc. In 2010, the temple was specially illuminated, so today it is clearly visible at any time of the day.

There is a wonderful city in Chernivtsi.

Address: Brest, st. Karla Marksa, 84.

Opening hours: daily from 7 to 19.00.

Cost: free.

The cathedral is a monument temple that was built in honor of the 50th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. It consists of the lower Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God, the upper Church of the Resurrection of Christ, and a high bell tower. In addition, the cathedral houses the Bogolyubsk Icon of the Mother of God, and a bell weighing 400 kg is installed on the bell tower.

On the territory of the temple there is a museum in memory of war victims and victorious soldiers over the Nazi invaders, there is a Sunday school and a charitable organization.

Address: Brest, intersection of st. Moskovskaya and Republic Avenue.

Working hours: from 7 to 19.00 daily.

Cost: free.

The church is considered one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Belarus, the style is late classicism. It was built in 1856, closed during the Soviet years, and during the war it lost several architectural elements.

Later, the temple was restored, and in 2002, services were resumed there. In the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross you can see one of the most revered Catholic icons in Belarus - the face of Our Lady of Brest.

It’s wonderful to be in the city of Grodno.

Address: Brest, st. Lenina, 34.

Opening hours: services on weekdays – 8.00, 18.00 , Sunday services - 8.00, 10.30 .

Cost: free.

The Brest History Museum was first a branch of the region's local history museum, but in 2007 it became an independent cultural institution. A year later, it was reconstructed, and now the museum is an exhibition housed in four halls.

They tell about the history of the ancient Slavic city of Berestye, which was once located on the site of the Brest Fortress, about the origins of the city of Brest-Litovsk, as well as about the war and post-war years of Brest.

The museum displays more than 800 exhibits, including a collection of small arms, military uniforms, models of the cities of Berestye and archaeological excavations at the site of the Brest Fortress, as well as historical documents, ancient books, coins, etc.

Address: Brest, st. Levanevsky, 3.

Working hours: from 10 to 18.00, weekends - Monday, Tuesday.

Price: 5 thousand rubles

Despite the fact that the museum was founded more than 60 years ago, it is considered one of the youngest ethnographic exhibitions in Belarus. Today it has a large collection of exhibits and several branches, including the Berestye archaeological museum on the territory of the Brest Fortress complex, the city art museum, etc.

The exhibition includes collections of paintings, graphics, sculpture, ancient coins and books, jewelry, and folk musical instruments. In addition, the local history museum has two sound dioramas: “Polesie” and “Belovezhskaya Pushcha”, which tell about the flora and fauna of the Brest region.

Address: Brest, st. Karl Marx, 60

Working hours: from 10 to 18.00, closed on Monday.

Cost: adult ticket – 7 thousand rubles, school – 4 thousand rubles, student – 4.5 thousand rubles

Sometimes this temple is called the fraternal St. Nicholas Church, and it has a short but very dramatic history. The first brotherly church was built in 1885, when Brest was a small settlement called Brest-Litovsk, and burned down along with most of the city's buildings ten years later during a large fire.

Construction of the new church began only in 1903, with donations from townspeople, as well as money received from Emperor Nicholas II. Since the king gave the lists of dead sailors of the Pacific Fleet to the temple, the temple is a bit like a huge ship.

Address: Brest, st. Sovetskaya, 10.

Not far from Brest is the largest ostrich breeding farm in the CIS. Indeed, the scale of the farm immediately amazes the imagination - more than 200 adult birds and about a hundred chicks are kept here.

A trip to this amazing place will certainly bring great pleasure to children, because ostriches behave exactly the same as in the wild. Farm workers will be happy to give visitors a tour and tell them all about the life, nutrition and reproduction of birds, and also offer to try ostrich meat, which is distinguished by its tenderness and very interesting taste.

Address: Brest region, Kozische village.

Opening hours: during the warm season – from 10 to 21.00, in the cold - from 10 to 17.00.

Price: 35 thousand rubles for adults, 25 thousand rubles for children (under 6 years old free).

Where to stay?

I used this service: https://edem-v-gosti.ru/belarus/brest/. You can find hotels in the center at normal prices.