Children's tour: Western Belarus. Minsk - Dudutki - Castles - Grodno - Brest (5 days)

Privokzalnaya Square Independence Square Nezavisimosti Avenue Freedom Square Ruins of Minsk ancient castle Trinity suburb Island of courage and sorrow A sports complex Minsk-Arena National Library of Belarus

Museum complex of ancient national crafts and technologies Dudutki

Mir Castle Complex Chapel-burial vault of Svyatopolk-Mirsky family Nesvizh town hall Нouse on the market (home of craftsman) Benedictine Monastery in Nesvizh Sluckaya brama Nesvizh Church (Church of Jesuits) Nesvizh palace Radziwill

In 1323 the prince Gedimin gave the order to put the stone lock to cover to knights the road to the center of lands of the principality Lithuanian. In 5 years the kostel was built. Time the lock was besieged by the English, German, French knights. The Lidsky lock is "time machine" and a fascinating travel to the Middle Ages where continually there is a place to romanticism and knightly valor. Here everyone will be able to feel as the ancient soldier, having tried on an armor and to like the mystical atmosphere, having learned what ghost protects a citadel.

Long time in Lida attempts construction of Catholic temples anyway became. However all of them came to the end extremely tragically – pagan aggression, disapproval of the prince, the fires of crusaders. So was to the middle of the 18th century. In 1770 in the city the Roman Catholic Parish Church of Erection of the Sacred Cross appeared. The outstanding architect, the founder of refined architectural style, after called "vilensky baroque" - Johann Christoph Glaubits became the architect of the project.

The historic center of Grodno - a place of international importance, included in the State list of historical and cultural heritage of the Republic of Belarus. Having a long history from the castle on a hill near the Gorodnichanka river, to the residence of great Lithuanian princes, Grodno is considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Belarus and Eastern Europe, and its historic center includes about 400 objects of various eras and styles.
The cultural heritage of Grodno mainly consists of its brilliant architectural complexes of XVIII-XIX centuries mainly - the monuments of ancient architecture, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism and other styles.

According to most of judges of art, he has won a rank of the "richest" and beautiful church in all territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. And really, his ubraniye and shape, both in interiors, and in an exterior, impress that is peculiar to Baroque style. A set of distinguished details, sculptures, gilding – the embodiment of the ideas of Stefan Batory the unknown, unfortunately, architect. The Grodno church of Francis Csaverija – one of three temples of Belarus carrying an honourable title a small basilica.

Quite often the fate of locks and palaces are shrouded in legends and mystical stories. And in a case with the royal residence - it is inevitable. One of 2 locks in Grodno – the summer residence of the grand duke Lithuanian and the king Polish Augustus III has received glory of the damned place. And, nevertheless, exactly there passed general diets of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the agreement on her section in 1793 and here, in 1795 has been signed here, Augustus Ponyatovsky has appended the signature under the act of renunciation.

The Grodno State Historical and Archaeological Museum has one of the largest expositions in Belarus, which consists of several parts located in the Old and New Castles and the «Bosniac» house of the 18th century on the Gorodnitsa. One of the largest collections of old and rare books, as well as weapons, archeological artifacts, flora and fauna of Belarus, works of art, documents, interior items of past centuries and not only are presented here.

To your attention the most beautiful synagogue in Europe, the biggest in Belarus and the oldest in the former Soviet Union. Her long story begins in the 16th century. Constructed on the project of the architect Santi Gucci, more than once suffering from the fires and destructions, it nevertheless has informed of solemn vernal shape and well remained interior up to now.

Demonstration open-air cages are located near the Museum of the nature of Bialowieza Forest. On the area about 20 hectares you will see main types of the animals living in Bialowieza Forest. Here close it is possible to see also forest inhabitants, to treat with a bread piece, apple or a branch of the bisons who got used to visitors, elks, boars, a tarpanovidny horse or a bear.

The set of opening and surprises waits for those who will decide to go to an excursion to the depth of Bialowieza Forest. Exactly there the Museum of national life and ancient technologies was located. Very often guests of national park have a question: how did there live true pushchanets? What were they engaged in and what was their culture? After short and pleasant moving in the reserved ways, you receive answers to all questions interesting you.

During the excursion before you pages of history of terrible days of the beginning of war when at sunrise on June 22, 1941 the garrison of the Brest fortress the first assumed blows of fascist aggressors will open and more than a month held the fort in a full environment. Already on an entrance you will be met by a shrill voice of Yu. Levitan with the government message about attack on the Soviet Union of troops of fascist Germany and the song by A. Alexandrov the «Sacred war» which became the anthem of those years. On May 8, 1965 fortresses the rank «fortress hero» is given.

The Museum of the defense of the Brest fortress is a museum whose exposition reflects not only the military actions of 1941 on the territory of the fortress, but also the history of its construction, as well as the largest battles of the Great Patriotic War and the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders. The Museum of the defense was opened in 1956, since that time its area and exposition have doubled up, items from excavations, works of art, military documents, photographs are presented here. The most valuable among all items of the exposition are the records of S.S. Smirnov with memories of the participants in the defense of the Brest Fortress.

The historic center of Brest belongs to the historical and cultural heritage of the Republic of Belarus and is submitted to the State value list, which includes more than 250 sites and facilities. In Soviet times, the powerful ancient Brest city with a rich cultural heritage has been destroyed, and the fortress was built in its place. So today the city's historic center is mostly former residential and administrative buildings - houses, schools and grammar schools, hospitals and banks that belong to the second half of XIX - early XX century.