Animals of Belovezhskaya Pushcha drawings in pencil. Belovezhskaya Pushcha: guide

— How old is Santa Claus?
- As much as the White Light costs.
- How long do you think he will live, forever?
- As long as they believe in him!

On the pre-holiday days, the Estate of Father Frost in Belovezhskaya Pushcha welcomes and sees off thousands of people from different parts of Belarus and our neighboring states. Is it worth looking for a fairy tale in Kamenyuki in the days winter holidays Or is it better to postpone the visit to the white-bearded Grandfather until better times? In order to resolve this issue for ourselves once and for all, we “took on the tail” of tourist group from Pinsk and set off along the most popular route. We tell and show how the Pushcha greeted us in the review.

I admit honestly, this is my first visit to Santa Claus. I didn’t really count on miracles, because... I understood that Grandfather would have no time for me, he would be attacked by crowds of tourists. I was expecting the most important thing from the trip: answers to the questions “When is the best time to visit the Pushcha with the whole family? Should I go “savage” in my own car or use the services of a travel agency and an experienced guide?

Since we were going to a fairy tale, on the advice of the guide, it was decided to turn into adult children and try to plunge headlong into miracles. We listened to everything and tried to soak in the magic of the moment to the roots of our hair, to the last finger not chilled in the cold. In our company of 48 people there were also children, so the adults kept glancing at them, trying to be “infected” by their spontaneity and naivety.

Everyone wanted to see Grandfather Frost, and quickly, but there was a long way ahead. Long because of the queue of hundreds of people wanting to do the same. By the way, there is no crowd; everything is organized in such a way that the wait is as comfortable as possible. There are free toilets on site, which is very important when you have children with you.

The area adjacent to the Estate is quite large, there are points selling food and drinks, souvenir shops, and a Santa Claus train. You can warm yourself by the fire, sit in the gazebo, or eat hot pancakes and barbecue until it’s your turn to enter through the main gate into the treasured courtyard.

Information for reference...
The residence of Father Frost is open from 9:00 to 18:00 every day, seven days a week and no lunch break.

Even if you arrive at the Estate of Father Frost on your own (not on a tour bus), the same procedure awaits you: you will have to leave the car in the parking lot at the central gate of Belovezhskaya Pushcha, and get to the residence by bus as part of a spontaneously formed group, which will be accompanied exactly just like tourists arriving with a guide.

Let's give it its due, the organization is up to par. Each group is approached by its own guide (one of fairy-tale heroes or Santa Claus's assistants) and tries to brighten up the painful minutes of waiting as much as possible.

We got a sweet girl with a pleasant and well-trained voice, who sang songs, led round dances with the children, played games, asked riddles and did everything so that we would not freeze on the way to our dream - to get to Santa Claus.

With leaps and bounds, we were getting closer and closer to the treasured gate... The guard in a green caftan did not look at all intimidating.

The real guards were the knights Dub Dubovich and Elm Vyazovich, and the sweet and slightly frozen young man simply regulated the influx of people, letting the next group through only when the previous one had already been taken into the experienced organizational hands by the next assistant of Grandfather Frost.

By the way, one little trick helps control the crowd. Everyone is told a legend that you should never go out through these gates, otherwise you will carry with you all the troubles and all the negativity that other visitors leave in the Estate. Here! One-way traffic: everyone who has already visited the courtyard exits along a different route.

Our sweet girl guide returned to the starting point, handing us over to the next hero. Who do you think it is? Snow Maiden? But no! This is the youngest daughter of Father Frost, the mother of the Snow Maiden. Yes, yes, it turns out that Grandfather has a wife - Zimushka Winter, three daughters - Blizzard, Stuzha and Metelitsa. The two eldest are not yet married, everyone is looking for one red-haired, the other bald and fluffy. And the youngest - Metelitsa - without hesitation, married the Snowman and they had a daughter - Snegurochka, the granddaughter of Father Frost.

Metelitsa entertains the guests at the entrance for some time, introduces them to family secrets and, as the adults understand, stalls for a little time so that the kind Grandfather Frost has time to catch his breath. In the meantime, before the kids, Snow White and her seven dwarfs.

The carved tower of Father Frost cannot be confused with any other house. Festive illumination at dusk gives it a special mystery; the carved patterns evoke admiration. The house is two-story, grandfather lives here all year, even in summer. On the first floor there is a throne room and an office, on the second there is a bedroom.

Here it is, the long-awaited meeting! Here he is - the Wizard! Grandfather greets the guests, asks where they came from and, despite the bustle and influx of visitors, finds a couple of kind words and jokes. Next - a group photo and... And that’s it, Grandfather Frost doesn’t have any more time, the next group of those eager for his attention is approaching.

In fairness, I note that our sweet girl guide warned that Grandfather was very busy and instructed her to listen, collect and convey all the poems, songs, letters and wishes that the children had prepared. Therefore, the little dreamers, on the way to Santa Claus’s house, did everything that was required for such an occasion. No offense. Go ahead.

Not far from the tower of Father Frost there is a carriage drawn by a pair of deer. Apparently, this is where Grandfather delivers gifts to the kids.

A faithful guardian and reliable assistant is the cat Vaska (or maybe not Vaska, he did not introduce himself).

Opposite Father Frost's house there is an alley of wooden sculptures. Here are Baba Yaga, and Zyuzya Poozersky, and Bolotnik Unusual, and Kysh Babai, and Pakkaine. You can read about each on a special sign and tell your child.

In addition to Santa Claus's house, there is Mother Winter's Workshop. Santa Claus built it for his wife on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Estate. Master classes are held in these magical walls, magical things are created, and you can celebrate a birthday.

There are many wonderful places in the Estate, and each has its own legend. If you touch the Magic Mill and remember all your bad deeds and deeds, the Mill will grind them and turn them into dust and sand.

After this, you can safely go to the Glade of Twelve Months, look for your sculpture and make a wish.

The route is designed so that tourists move in a circle. Even with a large number of guests, you can take a selfie and look at all the wonders without interference.

There is a small lake near the Mill. Its banks are decorated with wooden sculptures. Grandfather Frost brought the Frog Princess into his fairy tale. Perhaps he hoped that among the many guests of the estate there would be Ivan, who would kiss the Princess, and she would turn into a beautiful woman. There was no Ivan in our group, so the frog is sitting and waiting for the next group... Although, something tells me that there were attempts to kiss the Princess, but, apparently, it was not the same Ivan, and maybe all this was without love - that’s why the magic wasn’t it worked.

There is also a goldfish near that lake. It is waiting for everyone passing by to make three cherished wishes. There is also a bridge with exactly 97 logs. Every step is a new desire. In general, Dreams must come true, and the Estate has ALL the conditions for this. The chances increase a hundredfold!

Children will surely recognize the heroes of their favorite fairy tales, and adults will note the character of the wooden characters. Each section of the territory is remarkable in some way.

Unusual signs can be seen throughout the compound.

Entry to the Gorynych snakes is strictly PROHIBITED. And the workers really make sure that guests do not smoke on the premises of the complex.

Another sign that is unlikely to be found anywhere else. A carved bench invites you to sit down and recite a poem. Cute…

Centuries-old trees are not uncommon on the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The huge spruce has seen a lot in its life, and now guests of the residence of the Belarusian Father Frost dance around it. Now she is elegant both in winter and in summer. The height of the spruce is about 40 meters! It is unlikely that you will meet the same giantess anywhere else in Belarus.

After singing a song about a Christmas tree and twirling in a round dance, visitors move on.

Here is the hero of the coming year - the Fire Rooster. There are several such zodiac sculptures.

You can sit on the bench by the gnome or take a closer look at the Snake and Horse.

The Snow Maiden's House is of keen interest to the female part of the group. The legend says that you need to walk around it in a circle, look through the window, count the pillows on the bed and be sure to look in the mirror on the wall. It's magical. Women will become more beautiful, men - wiser and stronger, children - healthier and more obedient.

You won’t be able to go inside the Snow Maiden’s house, it’s too small. By the way, the Snow Maiden inherited from her father, the Snowman, the ability to melt, so she does not live in Pushcha all year round like Santa Claus. Comes only in winter.

Treasurer's box - another one iconic place at the estate of Father Frost. Children's letters and crafts are stored here.

Here they give out gifts to everyone who bought admission ticket(this is included in the price). Here you can buy souvenirs and aromatic Pushcha herbal tea.

Here is a journal in which you can write down your wish or say hello to Santa Claus. It is interesting to read what children and adults write. “Skarbnitsa” is the last point of the route. You can wander around the Estate for some time, taste hot herbal tea with pancakes and game shish kebab.

If you're lucky, you can see bison, deer and other Pushcha residents: special feeders have been built for them.

CONCLUSION: It’s up to you to decide whether or not to go to the Pushcha on the eve of the New Year and Christmas holidays, when there are crowds of people there. But the Estate of Father Frost is worth visiting with children in any case! This is undeniable. I think it will be interesting to visit the Pushcha with the whole family, even in different seasons, because it is not only Father Frost that attracts tourists to Kamenyuki. The most important asset of Belovezhskaya Pushcha is fresh air and centuries-old forest. This is worth returning to the Pushcha again!

Dear readers. Tell us, have you visited the Belarusian Father Frost in Belovezhskaya Pushcha? What impressed the children most?

Photographer:

The name "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" is well known to all residents former USSR, at least thanks to the famous song, made famous by “Pesnyary”. This is such a well-known brand that came from Soviet Union, as “Uchkuduk - three wells” or “house with a carved palisade.” Some say that there is nothing more than this - an ordinary forest, of which there are many in almost any region of Russia. But for me, Belovezhskaya Pushcha became one of the most powerful impressions of recent years. The story below is about those corners of this magical place that I was able to see.

1. From Belovezhskaya Pushcha 50 kilometers. About halfway along the route is the ancient town of Kamenets. The next story will be about him. Immediately after Kamenets, the route is flanked by two deer, indicating the approach to the reserve:

2. Entrance, entrance and all related services are located in the village of Kamenyuki, which is overly neat and polished even by Belarusian standards. Immediately outside the gates of the reserve there is a complex of buildings - a visitor center, a hotel, a restaurant, a museum, and a couple of small cafes. The hotel and restaurant in the background is decorated in a style that is surprisingly recognizable for post-Soviet Belarus. What’s interesting is that she has a twin brother: the Nature Museum at the Voronezh Nature Reserve. The fact is that this is a standard project from Soviet times, and here it was also built as a museum. It has been repurposed and re-registered in our time. In front of it is a monument dedicated to Soviet soldiers who died in June 1941 on the territory of the Pushcha. Unfortunately, the protected status did not protect this place from wars.

3. The easiest and fastest way to get to know the forest is to join a sightseeing bus tour, which takes place twice a day. You just need to arrive at the main entrance to the reserve at the start of the excursion and buy relatively inexpensive ticket. You will be driven around the territory in such a MAZ (in Belarus, in general, they try to use their products wherever possible). The bus is not exactly old, but it rattles quite a bit. Against this background, the guide’s suggestion to look more carefully out the windows in search of animals looks mocking - from this rumbling vehicle, the animals most likely scatter several kilometers away.

5. During the excursion, visitors are taken around the territory, stopped near the most remarkable places, given a general educational program, and also told fun facts from the life of the reserve. It cannot be said that individual objects of the Pushcha are very interesting, but the general atmosphere of a sleepy and cozy spring forest envelops you almost immediately. The branches of the trees wonderfully close over the road, forming a kind of gallery:

6. One of the objects where the bus stops are bridges with a double-headed eagle, which have remained here since the times when the royal Russian Empire loved to hunt in these places:

7. Many objects of the reserve are marked with information signs with brief description sights in Russian and English. Specifically on this one you can read about the “royal” bridges. Belovezhskaya Pushcha, by the way, is unexpectedly generously flavored with symbols of the European Union:

8. Its age is clearly visible from the bridge. Obviously, there is very little traffic here, which allowed it to survive without much reconstruction:

10. It is a restored (judging by the appearance, from scratch) estate. This museum should give an idea of ​​the life of the indigenous population of Pushcha villages:

11. Inside there is an exposition of pre-revolutionary life in Pushcha:

12. The museum should be something like Kizhi or Vitoslavlitsy. But, of course, there is no comparison. After them, it’s frankly boring here: everything here is new, the walls and floors are decorated with clapboard, as if in a bathhouse, on the walls, among the ancient belongings and utensils, elements of modern life are visible. But people are trying to create quality here tourist area, for which they definitely have great respect.

14. We pass Lyadskoye Lake - the largest in the reserve. It looks very picturesque. And you can’t tell that this is just a reservoir created in the 1960s:

15. Next stop is the 600-year-old Patriarch Oak. Although it is one of the largest and oldest in the reserve, there are, nevertheless, larger and older ones here. It’s just that this one is conveniently located not far from the road, so they put a sign near it and take tourists here:

16. One of interesting stories, associated with Belovezhskaya Pushcha, is about a pack of wolves that terrorized both the animal inhabitants of the reserve and people. They say it was one of the most ferocious wolf packs in the history of these places. They could not be caught for a very long time, and when they finally succeeded, it turned out that the leader of the pack was a service shepherd dog that had escaped from the border outpost. It turns out that this happens sometimes, and packs led by feral dogs are the most dangerous for people, because... The dog's fear of man has been dulled, which is innate in "pure" wolves.

17. We pass by a bison feeder. This is not an aviary or a paddock, it is just a barn with food in the middle of the forest. There are no fences between the shooting location and the feeding trough, to the left of which the bison is visible. This is the only place in the Pushcha where we saw a free-roaming animal:

19. His visit is paid additionally. At the exit of the bus near the enclosures, only those who have paid extra for visiting are released. At the same time, the territory of the zoo is not fenced in any way, and you can simply walk to it from the entrance. In this case, as I understand it, strict reserve employees may ask to see a ticket and, if it is not available, force you to leave the area near the enclosures:

20. Thanks to the spacious enclosures, the surrounding forest and the absence of crowds of visitors eager to feed the animals with chips, it is even better here than in other zoos:

22. Bus tour allows you to superficially evaluate all the most interesting things. For a more detailed study of Belovezhskaya Pushcha, walking and cycling trips are provided. It's too long to walk here on foot; you can't do it without spending the night. But the bike is just that. Having paid the amount corresponding to a particular route to the cashier, you receive a map of this route and a bicycle for rent, for the time during which, in the opinion of the compilers, you will have time to travel around this route.

23. We chose the ten-kilometer route "Tsarskaya Polyana". I’ll say right away: the time calculated by the management of the reserve for the route was more than enough. We drove slowly, stopped and took pictures at every oak tree and clearing, sometimes we just sat down to breathe in the purest pine air. As a result, we returned about five minutes before the end of the allotted time.

24. Speaking of overnight stays: on the territory of the Pushcha there are guest houses, and all sorts of “fisherman’s houses”, so spending a few days here is more than realistic. It seems that this is not possible with tents. Already being in the reserve, I realized that it would be great to stay here for a few days, but, unfortunately, the trip was already planned in advance.

25. Perhaps the only problem with a bicycle voyage through the reserve is the huge tourist buses racing along these narrow paths. They drove us around in a miniature MAZ, but all the other buses on these roads were high intercity buses. Apparently most people travel organized tours, and through the Pushcha they are taken on the same buses on which they are taken from the city. They race through the forest, God forbid, so while riding a bicycle I constantly had to listen to see if the engine of this colossus was roaring somewhere around the bend.

26. As I already said, when you pay for a cycling route, you are given a booklet with a map and a description of noteworthy points along the route. On the ground, they are all marked with corresponding posters with descriptions:

27. This growth on a tree trunk, for example, is romantically called the “bison head”:

28. In addition to the booklet, signs at forks also guide the routes at the very least:

29. In principle, no one will control your movements. The main thing is to return on time and return the bike, but not to interfere with the border posts. But from an educational point of view, for the first time it is interesting to explore the proposed attractions.

30. A carved figure of a cat was inserted into the hollow of a thick hermit oak:

31. Grown pines:

32. One of the attractions of the route is this section of the road. The fact is that it was laid along the line of a narrow-gauge railway that existed at the beginning of the 20th century. An extensive network of narrow gauge railways railways with a total length of more than 300 kilometers, the Germans organized it here in 1915. During the First World War, they occupied a significant part of Belarus, including Belovezhskaya Pushcha, and began to export resources, in particular timber, from here at a sprinting pace. The railway network was built hastily, using Russian and French prisoners of war, as well as local residents. It was used for exporting wood. The Poles continued to operate the line, into whose hands the Pushcha fell after the war. No one else could repeat the damage that the Germans and Poles caused to the reserve.

IN Lately I really like natural attractions. The sight of many of them literally blows your mind. Behind Last year Tanya and I have already visited three national parks in three different countries Europe. We rock climbed in Spanish; admired the crystal surface of rivers and lakes in Poland; and then wandered through the amber forests in . And each of these places was magnificent in its own way.

That is why in January 2016 Tanya and I decided to visit another national park. This time – located on the territory of our own homeland. I think you understand what we are talking about. Therefore, I will say right away: Belovezhskaya Pushcha completely and completely met all my expectations. Covered in a lace of January snows, the oldest forest in Europe looked amazingly beautiful and somehow even a little fabulous in winter. Massive silhouettes of centuries-old trees stretched somewhere towards the heavens. And therefore, from just the sight of dense thickets with narrow ribbons of paths, lost around the next turn, some strange feeling of inspiration appeared in my soul. Somewhere overhead the lively trill of a woodpecker was constantly heard. The forest lived its own life. And for a short moment, our paths intertwined with him into one whole...

How to get to Belovezhskaya Pushcha?

Hmm... I'll start, so to speak, with organizational issues. You can get to Belovezhskaya Pushcha either by car or by intercity buses. I read on one of the forums on the Internet that today a certain number of private minibuses also go in the direction of the ancient forest. But I haven’t checked this information myself. Therefore, I will not dwell on this in detail now.

Regular buses from Brest travel to the Pushcha throughout the day. Some of them will take you directly to the gates of the National Park. Others will only reach the small village of Kamenyuki. From there you will have to walk to the gate of the complex. But don’t rush to get scared: the walk to your destination is no more than a kilometer. According to Google Maps - 0.8 km.

You can view the bus schedule from Brest on the website ticketbus.by. For those who are lazy, I am attaching here two screenshots with the schedule and prices. It's quite simple. How to get to Belovezhskaya Pushcha I think you'll figure it out.

At the gates of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park

All buses heading to Belovezhskaya Pushcha arrive directly at its gates - at a large parking lot located nearby. There is security here. And next to her post there are stalls with various kinds of souvenirs.

The selection of magnets, keychains and plates is approximately the same as in Brest. Plus some local flavor. At the same time, despite quite a large number of visiting tourists, prices are quite affordable. In January 2016 most of magnets cost around 20 - 40 thousand (1-2 dollars). The selection is pretty good. One hundred thousand can be purchased in full.

If you have enough money, for a million and a half ($50-75) you can even buy yourself a corridor rug like this. Made very realistic. I was even somehow afraid to pick it up.

Prices in Belovezhskaya Pushcha

Each of the routes along Belovezhskaya Pushcha has its own separate cost. AND this fact For me personally, this place became the most unexpected discovery with a minus sign. Usually in national parks it’s like this: you buy an entrance ticket, get a map and go where you want. In Belovezhskaya Pushcha, each route is paid separately. In Belarusian money it turns out from 50 cents to 1 dollar (depending on the specific direction). Food coupons range from 10,000 to 20,000.

There are six routes themselves (although some of them are intertwined and are, in fact, an expanded version of previous routes). There is plenty to choose from. Special stands with descriptions of various directions are located right outside the gates of the complex. As reference information each of them indicates the length of the path, the type of route (bicycle/pedestrian), as well as designations of the main attractions located along its entire length.

By the way, next to the descriptions of the routes there are stands like this.

If you wander around the Pushcha chaotically and disorderly, you may inadvertently wander into the territory. Therefore, if suddenly while traveling somewhere in the distance you see the shine of some modern spa complex... hmm... so to speak... do not go into the light. This is not welcomed by the customs authorities of the two countries.

What other paid services are there in Belovezhskaya Pushcha? A visit to enclosures with animals, a tour of the Museum of Nature, a trip to visit Santa Claus and all sorts of other nonsense (like renting audio guides and other things). Personally, we went straight from the gates of Belovezhskaya Pushcha to see the local bison. But I'll tell you about this a little later.

Hotels in Belovezhskaya Pushcha

There are quite a lot of various hotels, inns and tourist complexes on the territory of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Some of them are located on the territory national park, others in the nearby village of Kamenyuki. Find suitable options can be done in several ways at once.

Option #2. Search for options on Booking.com.

Option #3: Check the options offered on the AIRBNB website.

Only in this case, options need to be looked for in Kamenyuki, and not in Belovezhskaya Pushcha itself. Another little secret: the AIRBNB website has special discount coupons. Register using the link provided and you will automatically receive a small discount on your first booking (automatically triggered when the booking amount is $75-77).

Personally, during this trip we booked accommodation in the city of Brest (from there you can get to Belovezhskaya Pushcha very quickly). For those who decide to choose this option, I suggest looking for hotels on this website. I use it regularly myself.

Enclosures in Belovezhskaya Pushcha

Royal deer. Enclosures of Belovezhskaya Pushcha.

Belarusian bison, royal deer, wolves, foxes and other animals are a real “must see” of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park. Going to these regions, I heard several times that with proper luck they can be quite encountered even in the natural environment. But this, so to speak, is not an acquired taste.

It is much easier to look at the animals living in the Pushcha in special enclosures of the reserve. Entrance here costs 20,000 rubles (about 1 dollar). There are cages with animals to the left of the entrance to the park. Finding this place is not difficult.

I will write more about what animals can be found in local enclosures in a separate article. Well, for now I’ll just say one thing: enclosures of Belovezhskaya Pushcha— the place is very cool and interesting, completely different from an ordinary zoo. The territory of the complex is quite large. Therefore, many animals hardly notice the cells. In winter, by the way, you could ride around the entire complex on such a charismatic horse. But again, this is a different story.

Where to eat in Belovezhskaya Pushcha

As indicated on the official website of the reserve, there are only three catering facilities on the territory of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park. Plus one more - in the village of Kamenyuki. Besides closed premises in different parts of the reserve you can also find small tents selling pancakes, herbal tea, kebabs and other delicacies. By prior arrangement, it is also possible to organize picnics (at least that’s what is written on the official website).

Personally, Tanya and I had a decorous dinner at a restaurant with the poetic name “Pines”, located to the right of the entrance to reserve. Belovezhskaya Pushcha I was surprised by the pleasant price level. Going on this trip, I honestly thought that everything would be much more expensive here.

So, what is the Sosny restaurant?

• Pleasant price level.
• Delicious food (we took warm borscht and pancakes with blackberry jam).
• The menu includes interesting local “tricks” such as Belovezhskaya moonshine (“Pushchanka”) and herbal tea brewed using herbs that are collected somewhere here – in the forest.

Minuses:

• Unpretentious interior.
• Lack of a toilet (instead of which there is only a lonely washbasin in the corner).
• The lack of a certain hallway in the restaurant meant there was always a slight breeze from the street. Visitors came and went. And approximately every third person certainly forgot to close the door behind them (which, I repeat, goes directly onto the street).

Pancake prices.

Overall, I liked this restaurant. He was definitely worthy of the money we left here. The borscht turned out to be delicious. Pancakes too. And herbal tea is generally top class.

National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha": a walk along snow-covered paths

In my previous articles related to this trip to the Brest region, I have already written more than once that we chose not the best for the trip. best time. In the first half of January it was very cold in Belarus. Tanya and I were completely frozen. Therefore, I admit honestly, making a full-scale hike along one of the tourist routes we never succeeded. To be honest, I’m already thinking about going to the reserve (Belovezhskaya Pushcha) again when it gets a little warmer. To rent a bike, rent a room in one of the local " hotel complexes"and just take a day and a half to travel along the protected paths of the oldest forest in Europe. Damn, guys, do you even know that our entire continent once looked like this?! And only in Belovezhskaya Pushcha can you see with your own eyes what it was like old light before the period of urbanization and great industrial revolutions. Agree – this is a unique opportunity.

Returning from heaven to earth, I will say that we walked along the paths of the reserve quite a bit. However, this was enough to get to two attractions at once, marked on numerous tourist maps. I was completely delighted with each of them that day. Well, in general, see for yourself. Here they are.

Attraction No. 1. Birch with the head of a bison. I agree, it sounds strange. But it looks pretty cool. Unusual, to say the least. It's a pity that it was covered with snow in winter. In the summer, they say, it looks even cooler.

Attraction No. 2. Hermit Oak. This one actually reminded me of some kind of Tolkien Ent. Well, remember those talking trees in The Lord of the Rings. Take a closer look. It seems that this oak tree is looking at you suspiciously.

Endgame: the final word

In general, walking through Belovezhskaya Pushcha, you get the impression that this forest is one huge living organism. Some movement is constantly heard in the bushes. And somewhere overhead, almost every minute, the rhythmic knock of a woodpecker is heard. In short, as you probably already understood, I really liked this place. I understand that it is difficult to brag about a trip to Belovezhskaya Pushcha to your friends (at least, the phrase “I went to Belovezhskaya Pushcha” is difficult to pronounce with the same pathetic expression as the phrase “I went to Paris”). But this place is worth seeing. Our country also knows how to surprise. And it can also be infinitely beautiful - no worse than, for example, Poland

The case when expectation and reality did not coincide (

What do you imagine when you hear Belovezhskaya Pushcha? Personally, I - “The Reserved Chant, the commanded daaaaal”, a huge dense forest through which you walk, enjoy the fresh air and accidentally meet either a bison or an elk)

After all, we were told from childhood that this is the main Belarusian nature reserve, almost the best attraction in the country. Perhaps many people think so, but I have a completely different opinion. Unfortunately(

What do we actually have?

Most of the Pushcha is closed to the public, because... This is a border area, only a specially designated area is accessible to tourists. Something like this.

You drive up to the parking lot, leave your car, and go to the ticket office.

Prices for visiting

There is a lot of information, even too much, but the girls at the ticket office are polite and friendly, they help you find your way around the services.

Among the services offered:

• Enclosures with wild animals - 3 rubles per person.
• A visit to the Museum of Nature and the Museum of Folk Life - 3.50 rubles per person.
• Excursion to visit Santa Claus by bus, available all year round. With making wishes, round dances, jokes and gifts. 8.50 rubles per person.
• Others: tour guides, audio guides and others.

You can buy tickets only at the box office at the entrance, only for white. rubles You can pay in cash or by credit card.

Right there, near the entrance, there is a rental of bicycles and other Vehicle(for example, in winter - sleds).

There are several routes, cycling and walking. And they are all paid, they all have their own cost) Moreover, even if you ride your own bike or walk on your own feet.

And here are 2 things I don’t understand: 1) what is the reason for this payment, depreciation of asphalt or something? 2) the routes start at a decent distance from the main entrance. If, out of ignorance, you didn’t buy a ticket right away, then what, go back?)

Strange, very strange.

Enclosures with animals in Belovezhskaya Pushcha

A very sad sight. Maybe they look good in winter, but on a sunny summer day, when it’s +30 outside, it all looks like cruelty to animals. Bears were especially not spared(

The enclosures are really big, but not for the bears. But for some reason the trees were cut down, and the animals are sitting in the wasteland. This is how bison walk under the scorching sun.

And they sit on heaps of sand. I’m not a biologist and I could be wrong, but in my opinion, this bears little resemblance to the natural conditions familiar to bison.

The situation is similar with deer.

Red deer with huge antlers sit in a swamp.

The coolest, shady area is near the horses.

And here come the bears.

2 bears, in 2 small cages with bars. In the photo he climbs into a trough to cool off in the water - and guess what? There is practically no water there. Just to drink (I don’t understand why this is happening to them.

Leva liked everything, but the adults around him were somewhat puzzled by what they saw.

You can ride around the territory on a horse-drawn carriage or on a children's train.

It seems to me that the surest option for visiting the Pushcha is to ride one of the cycling routes, but on the other hand, if there is someone in your company who does not ride, there is not much entertainment for him.

Maybe it’s a good walk – I don’t rule out that possibility. But again, if someone in your company does not like or cannot walk for a long time, he will frankly have nothing to do.

The forest itself is incomparable, but the infrastructure and organization are confusing.

And nature is beautiful, there are no questions about nature.

Where to eat in Belovezhskaya Pushcha

There are several places within the national park where you can sit, relax and eat.

Not far from the enclosures there is a cafe " Forest fairy tale" The prices are quite affordable, there is a large selection. But the guys work a little strangely) If there are a little more orders in the kitchen than usual, then panic reigns in the establishment, and no one is responsible for anything)

On the day we arrived, schoolchildren were being fed lunch in this cafe. A notice was posted at the entrance that the establishment was closed for special services. In fact, it turned out that everything works, only a) the waiter won’t come to you, go order it yourself; b) not all positions are available; c) wait 40 minutes for any dish.

As a result, we sat down to eat at the Sosny cafe.

I can’t say that it was super tasty, but rather filling. But all the food is edible, and I really liked the fruit drink.

There is another cafe on the estate of Father Frost. And I think there should be a few more in other places.

Souvenirs

There is no shortage of souvenirs.

There are many of them, they are different and quite inexpensive. Magnets, figurines, plates with bison, wild boars, bears and much more.

Similar tents are located between the central entrance and the enclosures.

Working hours

• The cash desk is open from 9.00 to 18.00
• Bicycle rental - from 9.00 to 18.00
• Museum of Nature - from 9.00 to 18.00
• Residence of Father Frost - from 9.00 to 18.00, buses depart at 11:00, 13:30 and 16:00

How to get there

You need to get to the village of Kamenyuki.

It is located approximately 150 km from Brest. They come here Shuttle Buses, some of them drive right up to the gates of the national park, some don’t, but the walk from the station is no more than a kilometer. The schedule can be viewed on the website ticketbus.by.

The distance from Minsk is about 360 km, you can only get there by your own transport, the road is good.

How to get there?

You can get to the Pushcha by car - focus on the agricultural town of Kamenyuki, adjacent to the Pushcha. From Minsk, drive along the M1 highway until the turn to Zhabinka (P7), then to the city of Kamenets and the village of Kamenyuki along P83.

If you're going public transport, get to Brest, and from there a minibus leaves from the bus station several times a day straight to the main entrance to the Pushcha and a bus. You can buy tickets. The price is BYN 3.8 - 4.27, travel time is one and a half hours. Right at the main entrance to the Pushcha you can buy all the tickets you need and rent a bicycle.

Where to live?

If you want to give yourself a real vacation and complete forest relaxation, get ready to hang out in the Pushcha for several days.

If you want closer communication with nature, you can rent a vacation spot on the shores of lakes Plyanta, Lava and Pererovskoye - it will cost BYN 16 per day. In the national park you can rent tents, rugs and sleeping bags for an overnight stay for BYN 2-4. All the details .

Two more options if you want to stay in Kamenets and see Belaya Vezha at the same time.

What else is there to see nearby?

Spend a couple of days in cozy Brest, explore thoroughly, arrange forays into interesting cities nearby - . In Kobrin, look at the churches, the estate and stroll along the green embankment of the Mukhavets River, and in Kamenets pay tribute to the very White Vezha, which gave the name to the forest, even though it is not actually white. Now in Vezha local history museum, and you can also climb to its top and admire the surroundings.