Museum complex of ancient national crafts and technologies Dudutki

Dudutki is one of the most visited museums in Belarus, the museum ancient folk crafts and technologies, is located 40 kilometers from the city of Minsk, in a picturesque place next to the Ptich River.

Guests of the complex are always happy to offer an acquaintance with the way of life of the master's court, the work of craftsmen recreating ancient technologies in action, the culinary heritage of our ancestors, the enchanting nature of the Minsk region, and the amazing wildlife.

The noble estate in Dudichi has been known since 1600 In the 18th century, Dudichi became a famous center of crafts, trade and fairs in the local region.

Since October 1994 the Museum complex of ancient folk crafts and technologies has been created here and welcomed its first guests, which not only popularizes Belarusian folk crafts, but also the original life of a noble estate.

Today the Museum «Dudutka» includes several complexes: a craft yard with a mini-exhibition of folk life and a forge, stable and zoo, garage with vintage cars, the only one operating in Belarus windmill, wooden church of St. John the Prophet.

14 meter mill of the Dutch type was built in 1903–1905 by brothers Mikhail and Ivan Polyakov in the village of Berezovka, Gomel region. During collectivization, the mill became a collective farm, and its owners were exiled to Siberia.

The mill operated until the early 70s of the XX century, then it was abandoned and gradually collapsed. On the initiative of the founder of the museum, Evgeniy Budinas, in June 1992 the mill was taken to the museum territory and restored.

To the right of the mill there is a «hut-delivery», in which peasants who brought food that did not have time to grind it that day could have dinner and spend the night.

Craft workshops are represented by pottery, bakery, woodworking workshop, straw and wicker weaving, brewery, forge, weaving and cheese factory. Masters will introduce guests of the museum complex to technology and process of manufacturing products, with the history of the emergence of crafts, visitors will have the opportunity to participate in the process themselves, become as a blacksmith's apprentice, sit at the potter's wheel.

On the territory of the estate «Dudutki» there is the only A moonshine still, which is officially allowed to produce this strong alcoholic drink.

In the garage you can see examples of vintage cars, including a trophy one «Horch» from the Second World War.

Cows, sheep, pigs and rabbits live on the museum farm. The zoo also features unusual pets — ostriches, roe deer, wild boars, ponies and donkey Next to the planter there is a poultry house with waterfowl and more birds: geese, ducks, chickens, guinea fowl, pheasants andpeacocks.

Museum complex «Dudutki»has its own stable with thoroughbred horses, on which You can not only watch, but also ride.

Guests of the complex are offered tastings of local products production:
• at the moonshine still (moonshine, bread, pickled cucumber, honey);
• in the bakery (freshly baked bread, 3 types of cheese, butter, tea);
• at the mill (peasant bread with lard).