In today's review, one of the most controversial cities is the city of Minsk. Some compare it to a “scoop”, others put it along with other European capitals.
What is worth seeing in Minsk, is it worth going there at all?
A little historical background. The city of Minsk in the historical concept is a young city, especially since it was almost completely destroyed during the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The first mention of Minsk is contained in the ancient Russian chronicle “The Tale of Bygone Years”, in 1067. At different times Minsk was called Menesk, Mensk. Until now, historians and scientists argue about the origin of the name of Minsk, some claim that the name of the city was given by the Menka River, but they still cannot find it, others that a hero named Menesk once lived here. According to legend, he had a mill that ground stones; there was a huge noise that scared away bad people. Just 100 years ago, Minsk looked like an ordinary village and consisted mainly of wooden houses. The situation, of course, has changed a lot over these hundred years.
Sights of Minsk photo with description
Now in Minsk there are several historical districts: the Castle and the Lower Town, the Upper Town, the New Town, and the suburbs - Troitskoye, Rakovskoye and Tatarskoye. The most famous of them is Trinity, since it is located near the center, it often appears on postcards, booklets, historical materials, and is located not far from the Nemiga metro station. Later, somewhere in the 19th century, Minsk began to actively grow, new districts appeared, for example, “Green Meadow”, “Shabany”, which are often joked about at KVN, “Sukharevo”, “Uruchye”, “Vesnyanka”, “Loshitsa” ", "Kurasovschina".
The names of these areas were not invented on purpose; these are simply the names of former villages. The city was advancing, villages were demolished, houses were built in their place, and in memory of the former villages, the districts were named after them. This process of “attack” of the city on the village is reflected very well in the Soviet film “White Dews”, which was also filmed in the Belarusian city of Grodno. So, if you arrive in the city of Minsk by train, the first building that will greet you is undoubtedly the train station.
Chinese gazebo
The gazebos in Pyatigorsk seem to specifically emphasize the status of a resort city - as a place designated for leisurely walks, admiring the scenery, visiting pump rooms and reflecting on the richness of the culture of Pyatigorsk’s past. One of these places is the Chinese gazebo. If you look at it, it becomes clear why it was called that. The whimsical metal openwork ornament, created according to the design of the sculptor Shakhovskaya in 1974, will not allow you to make a mistake. Previously, there were other gazebos and other themes for their design in this place, in accordance with the trends of the time. In 1862, there was a musical rotunda here, from which music was played for vacationers. Later, at the beginning of the twentieth century, according to the design of the sculptor Klepinin, a wooden gazebo in the style of a Chinese pagoda was built; it was then called “Tsvetnoy”. During the Soviet period, in accordance with the spirit of the times, the gazebo received the name “Freedom”. In its modern version, it was created already in 1976. And one thing remains unchanged for any historical period - the beauty of the panoramic views opening from it, the spirit of freedom and space. All that makes up the feeling of the uniqueness of the Caucasus.
Railway station and Minsk Gate
It has no historical value, but if you exit through the main entrance, you will immediately be greeted by one of the “calling cards” of the city of Minsk - the so-called Minsk Gate. These are residential buildings on Station Square, built between 1947 and 1953, with two high towers in the Stalinist Empire style. In one of the towers there is a trophy clock, the largest in the country, in the other tower there is the coat of arms of a no longer existing country - the BSSR, but here the Belarusians were lucky, the fact is that the modern coat of arms of Belarus is very similar to the coat of arms of the BSSR, moreover, a person is not a professional in heraldry , in general it will be quite difficult to find differences. If you are interested in the sights of Minsk with photos and descriptions, then continue reading and then watch, because the article contains one of our videos filmed in Minsk in December 2016)
In December 2016, we filmed for you an exciting guided tour of Minsk, I bring to your attention two parts of it
Minsk city tour
Those who are impatient and want to see the sights of Minsk right away should look for a double-decker red bus near the Minsk Gate with the inscription Minsk City Tour, which will take you around the city, and the guide will tell you about local attractions - https://citytourminsk.by
The bus runs on schedule; you can pay for the excursion directly from the driver before departure. The cost of the excursion is $15, a nice bonus - children under 7 years old are free.
Bus 1 excursion
Opposite the Minsk Gate, there is a more budget-friendly option to immediately take a ride around Minsk and take a look at its sights. This is an ordinary city bus number 1 “Vokzal-Vesnyanka”. Its peculiarity is that it is also ordinary, the fare is only $0.30, a ticket can also be bought from the driver and it is unusual in the sense that the bus has screens and when it moves along the route, the guide announces the places in the columns, which passengers pass through, that is, in essence, an excursion is being conducted.
Characteristics of the species
Pike perch is a representative of perch fish and lives in rivers with fresh water. Pike perch is considered a large fish; an adult weighs up to 15 kg and reaches a length of no more than one meter.
A characteristic feature of such fish are large teeth in the form of fangs, between which smaller teeth, sharp as a blade, have grown. The teeth of males are much larger than those of females.
In the Black Sea there is sea pike perch, such fish are much smaller than river pike perch. The sea pike perch reaches only 55 cm in length and weighs no more than one and a half kilograms. This fish has a special body, long, narrow, compressed towards the sides.
The back and upper part of the head are dark green, the belly is gray. Scales with characteristic black dots. There are also dark spots on the fin.
Pike perch senses all smells well, but it is prohibited to catch it in water bodies, as it is listed in the Red Book. The state took the fish under protection due to the fact that their numbers have noticeably decreased in recent decades.
Tourist offices of Minsk
Also right at the railway station there is a travel agency office that offers various excursions not only around Minsk but also Belarus, ranging from walking to buses with overnight stays in other cities, the cost of the excursion starts from $25
www.tourtominsk.by
If you leave the main entrance of the railway station and go to the right, you will see a shopping mall, behind it is the central bus station, not far from its ticket office there is another tourist office, which is located in the department of Minsktrans, the government organization that is responsible for public transport in Minsk, it also specializes in excursions.
https://www.minsktour.by/tourism
The next visiting card of Minsk is the Red Church.
Parting words
Pyatigorsk is known for its natural healing mud and mineral waters far beyond the borders of Russia. And its architectural and historical structures are included in the lists of objects protected by the state. The great poet Lermontov, who lived and died in these lands, brought particular popularity to the city.
In addition to all of the above, it is worth remembering that the city has a well-developed economy and infrastructure, so here, in addition to historical values, there are many modern entertainments where you can take a walk with your child and relax in the evening. Pyatigorsk will allow you not only to improve your health, but also to get a lot of positive impressions.
Red Church Minsk schedule
It is located near the Minsk Gate. If you stand with your back to the gate, on your right hand behind a large beautiful glass building - one of the buildings of the Belarusian State University. The church is located next to the Government House, more accurately called the Church of St. Simon and St. Helena. It was built in 1909-1910 according to the design of the famous Warsaw architect Poizderski. It is called red because of its color, more precisely the color of the brick, which was imported from Poland itself from the city of Czestochowa. The church was named in honor of the children of Eduard Voinilovich, who built this church. He was a very rich man, but his children died in childhood, and he remained childless.
Lermontov's Grotto
Lermontov's theme for Pyatigorsk is the main leitmotif for all excursion programs, walks of citizens and guests of the city. One of the most beautiful natural grottoes with the name Calypso and ennobled by the creators of the Aeolian Harp gazebo, the Bernardazzi brothers, fell in love with the Lermontovs. He loved to retire to contemplate the magnificent views, and who knows, maybe it was here that the scenes from the dramatic poem “Mtsyri” originated?
Districts of the city of Minsk
Let's take a closer look at the historical districts of the city of Minsk. The difficulty may lie in the fact that after 1917, almost all historical street names in Minsk were changed. It is quite difficult for a tourist to navigate because, for example, in a booklet either on a website or on a map, in a navigation program, the historical name of the street will be indicated, but in fact it may be a simple Soviet name of the street, so you should double-check the information and use at least a couple of sources . In the central part of Minsk there are no problems with this, there is quite a lot of information, but driving away from the center you can get confused.
The best beaches of Sudak and the New World
In Sudak and its surroundings you can find well-equipped beaches for a comfortable stay. There are also wild, picturesque bays where you can stay with a tent. Everyone can find the best beach for themselves.
Central beach of Sudak
The largest and most popular beach among city guests is 250 meters long and 40 meters wide. The sandy beach is constantly cleaned, making it pleasant and comfortable to relax on. There are no rocky fragments in the water, the entry into the water is smooth. The quartz sand that covers the shore has an unusual pinkish-golden hue. There are water activities, the necessary beach infrastructure, and the Water World water park is located nearby.
Royal Beach
One of the most beautiful and clean beaches on the Crimean Peninsula is located in the village of Novy Svet near the Blue Bay. It received its name after a visit by the royal family of Emperor Nicholas II in 1912. The water here is clean and clear, the shore is covered with sand and small pebbles. The beach does not have the usual infrastructure; lovers of a secluded and relaxing holiday amid picturesque nature will enjoy it here.
Beaches of Cape Meganom
The coastline of the cape stretches for 15 km. This is a great place for swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling. There are underwater caves and sunken anchors can be found. Most beaches are covered with coarse sand, and there are sun loungers and parasols for rent. There is a campsite with equipped fire pits, clean water points, and toilets. From the campsite it is easy to walk to the “wild” beaches.
Mojito Beach
Located in the western part of Sudak Bay. Clean yellow sand was brought to the coastline and the beach was equipped with the necessary infrastructure. Now this is a comfortable place to relax by the water, which is also interesting for divers. Entry into the water occurs from the stairs of concrete piers. A large selection of entertainment has been prepared for vacationers - windsurfing, catamarans, jet skis. They host beach parties and laser shows.
Castle and Lower Town of Minsk
So, the Castle and the Lower Town. It is located conditionally along Pobediteley Avenue on one side and Strozhevskaya Street, the nearest metro station is “Nemiga”. You won’t see the castle now, because during the construction of Pobediteley Avenue, formerly it was called Masherov Avenue, the castle, or rather the castle on which it was located, was simply demolished. Now it’s just an exit from the metro, a road and a little wasteland.
In this regard, Minsk, of course, is very specific, where its first historical center was treated this way. Among the historical and truly beautiful places in the lower city, it is worth visiting the Trinity Suburb, which is also the calling card of Minsk.
Diana's Grotto
The rock grotto, named after the ancient Greek goddess Diana, is associated with several historical events, and quite positive ones at that. This natural grotto was decorated and fortified with columns in honor of the first ascent of Elbrus. Later it was given a different name - Diana's Grotto, a name that has survived to this day. Another historical fact that makes us perceive this place somewhat differently is associated with Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. Here he was the organizer of a ball for ladies exactly a week before his tragic death. Apparently this life contrast - the ball and the duel makes us especially perceive this amazing place, from where you can admire the views of nature and think about the vicissitudes of fate, such an unusually short step separating life and death, fun and duel.
Trinity Suburb Minsk
I often highlight the Trinity suburb separately, like Rakovskoye and Tatarskoye. This is a whole complex of old houses, there is also a museum of Maxim Bogdanovich, a famous Belarusian writer, as well as many souvenir shops, many cafes and restaurants. Near the Trinity Suburb there is an island of tears on which a monument to internationalist soldiers is erected.
Minsk Upper City
When we consider the topic of Minsk attractions with photos and descriptions, we cannot ignore the Upper Town, because this is perhaps the most interesting and best preserved part of historical Minsk.
This part is actually located higher than the lower city, from there it is very convenient to watch the fireworks that happen in Minsk in spring and summer. This place is interesting because in one place you can find buildings with completely different features - Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism.
The center of the upper city is Freedom Square, at different times it was called differently, for example, High Market, Napoleon Square, Town Hall Square, Cathedral Square. In this part there is the Mariinsky Church, which is literally sandwiched by two Soviet buildings. Previously, there was a huge square in front of it, now it’s just a busy highway.
Also in the upper city it is worth visiting several streets, for example Cyril and Methodius, which is a pedestrian street and Zybitskaya Street, on the latter, in addition to interesting buildings, there are many different cafes, pubs, restaurants for every taste. Well, another calling card of Minsk, which is located in the Upper Town, is a large white cathedral. Initially it was made of wood, it began to be built back in 1633, then the war interrupted its construction, which was completed only by 1687. In 1864, this church was a prison. In 1870 it was transferred to the Orthodox Church. It is interesting because it was not originally Orthodox, which can be seen, however, from the architecture; it may also be interesting to see the original icons of the 17th-19th centuries.
Photos of Sudak
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This collection contains 79 photographs of Sudak, its views, houses and attractions, which were taken by local residents, tourists and photographers. In order to view a photo album of a specific attraction, you need to go to the appropriate section on the object’s page. All photos of Russian cities and attractions are presented in high quality, we hope that this will help you get to know them better.
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Rakovskoe suburb
Minsk residents themselves may give you the wrong directions; it’s best to focus on the Ne Nemige trading house; everyone knows this store for sure. This is the oldest place in Minsk, but due to the construction of the metro and Pobediteley Avenue, many buildings and streets were simply demolished. The Church of St. Peter and Paul is located here; it has a very scandalous history, since during the occupation of 1941-1945, the German authorities allowed services to be held in it. The church was rebuilt many times, it contains elements of several styles at once, this is the pseudo-Russian style, elements of Baroque and Renaissance.
If you walk between the church and the arch of a huge residential building, to which a trading house is attached, you can get to one of the most authentic Belarusian restaurant-breweries - the Rakovsky Brovar restaurant.
https://rakovskij.brovar.by
Also in this place there are many interesting and beautiful buildings, there are a number of embassies, among the entertainment venues there is the Belarus multiplex, a large cinema with six halls.
Among the interesting places worth visiting in Minsk is, undoubtedly, the Opera and Ballet Theater.
Leisure options
When traveling to the Sudak resort, you must take a passport; for a minor child, you need a birth certificate. For sanatorium treatment you will need an extract from your medical history. If you plan to treat a minor child, you must indicate the dates of vaccinations in the extract and provide a certificate of health.
The nature in the vicinity of Sudak amazes with its splendor; sunrises and sunsets are mesmerizing and remain in the memory for a long time. Fishing lovers should take a special tour to visit all the best fishing spots. You can go fishing on your own with a spinning rod in Sudak on the pier or from a boat.
Shopping lovers in Sudak will be bored: the shops are the same as in other Russian cities, prices creep up during the high season, and the main direction of trade is souvenirs. Restaurants in Sudak treat everyone to a variety of dishes from more than 15 cuisines of the world. Some establishments have vegan, children's and gluten-free menus, and free Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere.
From Sudak you can take a minibus to Koktebel, where it is worth visiting the dolphinarium (where they give interesting performances with dolphins, killer whales, fur seals) and the bird park. The beach in Koktebel consists of large pebbles; on the coast there is a smoke screen from neighboring kebab shops and street cafes. With the opening of the Crimean Bridge, Feodosia has become famous for its traffic jams; it’s not worth going there during the swimming season, you can waste a whole day.
Minsk Opera and Ballet Theater poster
https://bolshoibelarus.by/rus/
Above I provide a link to the official website, by clicking on which you can familiarize yourself with all the planned events and even subscribe to news on social networks)
It was built in 1937 on the site of a burnt church. During the war, the area around the theater was surrounded by barbed wire; a camp for Soviet prisoners of war was located there. It is especially beautiful there in the summer, since in front of its entrance there is a whole complex of fountains, the theater is surrounded by a park, and there are many interesting bronze sculptures in the park. Among the modern calling cards of Minsk, it is worth noting the national library and the museum of the Great Patriotic War.
Traveling at different times of the year
Pyatigorsk has a temperate continental climate. Summers here are warm and winters are relatively mild. Many resorts in the city are open year-round. However, experts recommend going for health treatments from April to October. The most comfortable time for educational tourism is the second half of spring, summer and early autumn. During this period it is convenient to climb mountains. It can rain frequently in early spring, which can cause inconvenience. From mid-April the air warms up to +15. Summer in Pyatigorsk is warm, sunny and without precipitation. The air temperature in July can reach +30. In November there are frosts and it may even snow. In winter there is a lot of snow, and the temperature usually stays between -5–6 degrees.
In early autumn, Pyatigorsk is especially beautiful
National Library of Belarus
The library is perhaps the most controversial building, about which there is still a lot of controversy, some call it ugly, others, on the contrary, consider it a “diamond” in the literal sense, because it was built in this form. The library was built by the whole country; it is of interest not only because it has very beautiful lighting and various illuminations, but also because on its top floor there is an observation deck and a cafe. For a fee, you can take a special elevator and admire Minsk from above. It also hosts various exhibitions and events.
The cost of the sightseeing tour is $1.5. You can get to the library by public transport, for this it is best to install the Minsk Guide program on your smartphone, it is convenient because when you turn on geolocation, it will determine your place, just enter the name of any street in the city of Minsk and the program will tell you the nearest stop and all possible transport, It provides public transport schedules online, meaning you will know exactly how many minutes are left until the desired route. The program is completely free. The nearest metro station is "Vostok", when you exit the metro you can easily find your way around, since the library is a very tall building.
You can view the services that the library offers to visitors by copying the link into your browser:
https://www.nlb.by/portal/page/portal/index/content?lang=ru&classId=AF27941709CA4F7AA0228739F3384F76
Information on the observation deck can be seen by copying this link into the browser: https://www.nlb.by/portal/page/portal/index/content?lang=ru&classId=BBA686CBE3604225B7449E50DBF19AA4
Shameless baths
Swimming in shameless baths, buying a ticket to the lake from Ostap Bender, throwing a coin into the hat of the unforgettable Kisa Vorobyaninov and walking through the “Gate of Love” are on the “list” of mandatory attributes for a walk around Pyatigorsk. This open-air spa is also called folk baths. Since the source of hydrogen sulfide baths has not been officially identified, it is periodically closed. And society periodically returns to “public use” a year-round source of pleasure. Winter bathing in hot baths brings special bliss. But the healing effect that visitors to such baths want to achieve is greatly questioned by the lack of control and prescriptions from doctors. Here, each bather is his own doctor and independently regulates the degree of immersion and bathing time.
To be sure of the therapeutic effect of the procedure, it is better to visit the Pirogovskie baths, located on Gagarin Boulevard, 4. The building was erected in three months in 1914 and was originally named after the director of the resort - Tilicheev, after the revolution it was already the Provalskie baths, and they became Pirogovskie in the middle of the twentieth century, the renaming was timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great doctor Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov. The baths are still in operation today; water for the procedures is taken from the same sulfur spring from which the people’s baths are filled behind the building of the Pirogov Baths.
Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Minsk, opening hours and how to get there
https://www.warmuseum.by
The Museum of the Great Patriotic War is located on Pobediteley Avenue, the easiest way to get there is to take bus No. 1, which was written about earlier, the stop will be called the “WWII Museum”, every third Tuesday of every month, visiting the museum is completely free. Among the exhibition there is a lot of real equipment, many installations, there is a diorama and I would like to highlight the hall of fame, over which the USSR flag is still flying. Ticket price is $3.5.
Welcome to Minsk!
