Brest has attractions that will interest you

City architecture

The famous Brest Fortress is an ancient building of amazing beauty that once served a defensive function. It is located in the center of the old part of the city on the street. Heroes of the defense of the Brest Fortress.

Construction of the fortress began not so long ago - in 1833 - and lasted almost 10 years. Then, at different times, the fortress was completed and expanded.

During the Second World War, the fortress played its heroic role in protecting the Soviet people and land.

In the very center of the fortress there is another important landmark of Brest and the Brest region - St. Nicholas Garrison Cathedral .

The temple has amazingly white walls, for which it was nicknamed the “white church,” and also high golden domes.

The cathedral has a very rich history. Built in 1851 on the site of an Augustinian church, the temple was an Orthodox church for a long time. After the First World War, it was given to the Catholic Church, and when Soviet power came to Brest, an officers’ club was established within its walls.

Unfortunately, during the Second World War the temple was almost completely destroyed and continued to crumble until the 90s.

And in 1994, the cathedral was returned to the Orthodox Church and little by little restoration began. Now it has acquired its elegant original appearance, and also acquired the largest and loudest bell in Belarus!

One of the most beautiful churches in Brest is St. Nicholas Fraternal Church . The haram has a very rich external architecture - it is decorated with kokoshniks and friezes, and its vaults are covered with beautiful paintings. Valuable Orthodox relics are kept inside the temple.

You will find the church at st. Sovetskaya, 10.

In the city of Brest you can also visit the following attractions:

Holy Cross Church (Lenin St., 34);
Cathedral of St. Simeo on (K. Marx St., 84);
Resurrection Cathedral (Moskovskaya St., 271);
Soviet street.

Obelisk bayonet

The main monument of the Brest Fortress as a memorial complex. The design appeared in 1971. Its height is 104.5 m, and its weight is 620 tons. Towards the base it thickens to 5.5 m.

The obelisk bayonet is the bayonet of the famous “Three Line” - this rifle was in service with the Soviet Army during wartime. The monument is a symbol of the victory of the Soviet people over the Nazis. The obelisk consists of 10 sections, has a steel frame and is lined with titanium sheets. The monument is visible from afar, and in the Brest Fortress it can be seen from anywhere.

Monuments of Brest

There is one monument in the city that grandly depicts the history and life of Brest.

We are talking about a 15-meter monument to the 1000th anniversary of Brest , made of bronze and granite. Here you can see images of both historical figures and ordinary citizens.

It also displays 6 important historical periods for the city. The monument is complemented by a colorful fence made in Art Nouveau style in 2011.

And this whole majestic plan is crowned by a sculpture of the city’s protector angel.

You can find the famous monument at the intersection of the street. Soviet and Gogol.

Here are some more monuments and sculptures of the city:

“Cats on the Roof ” (Sovetskaya St., 18);
Alley of Heroes (Masherov Ave.);
Zero kilometer Brest (Lenin Square);
Fountain on Komsomolskaya street (lane Komsomolskaya and Ordzhonikidze streets);
Monument to St. Athanasius of Brest (K. Marx St., 84);
Alley of forged lanterns (Gogol street);

Memorial “Border Guards” (lane Lenin St. and Masherov Ave.);
“Lantern-distance indicator” (train station);
Monument to border guard soldiers (Brest Fortress);
Monument "Courage" (Brest Fortress);
Monument “Thirst” (Brest Fortress).

Kholm Gate

The object is a symbol of the Brest Fortress, into the Citadel of which 4 such gates led. The building was built at the beginning of the 19th century in the neoclassical style. The external facade is decorated with turrets, which were preserved partly due to severe damage during the Great Patriotic War. The Kholm Gate was built from red brick, on which marks from bullets and shells remained as a memory.

City museums

Brest Museum of Local Lore , located on the street. K. Marx 60, managed to collect considerable numismatic and archaeological collections. Here you can also see exhibitions of paintings and graphics, as well as old printed books.

The local history museum includes 4 branches:

And the archaeological museum “Berestye” (Brest Fortress);
Art Museum (Brest Fortress);
Museum “Saved Art Treasures” (Lenin St., 39);
Kamenets Tower (Lenin St., 3a).

Brest Railway Museum
In addition to the local history museum and its branches, there are many more museums where you can go in Brest. Among them:

Fifth Fort (Kolkhoznaya St.);
Brest Railway Museum (Masherov Ave., 2);
Museum of Defense of the Brest Fortress and (street of Heroes of Defense of the Brest Fortress).

The following establishment cannot be called a museum, but it definitely deserves your attention. This is the Winter Garden - an indoor greenhouse containing more than 250 plants commonly found in the tropics, subtropics and desert. Among them there are very rare and unique species.

You will find the greenhouse on the street. Mitskevich, 28.

Fifth Fort of the Brest Fortress

The building appeared in the 70-80s of the 19th century. Today a branch of the memorial complex is organized here.

The fort was part of a defensive system that was created to stop the enemy at the distant approaches to the fortress. The area of the structure is 0.8 square meters. km, pentagonal shape. Brick was used for construction; the structure was surrounded by an earthen rampart with a moat, which was filled with water. A caponier was installed in front for 6 guns - fire could be fired in two directions.

At the beginning of the last century, the fort was modernized by covering it with a 2 m layer of concrete. After the war, the structure gradually deteriorated, but in 1997 a large-scale restoration was carried out. Today, the Museum “History of Fortification and Armament” is open here, and an impressive collection of artillery weapons is displayed in the open area.

Natural attractions of Brest and its surroundings

Garden of Continuous Flowering
Garden of Continuous Flowering is an amazingly beautiful, simply fabulous place. In a relatively small area, 160 varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs and more than 100 varieties of perennial flowering plants coexist.

You will find this blooming corner of nature at the intersection of the street. Mitskevich and Blvd. Cosmonauts.

Also in Brest you can take a walk:

Along the river embankment Mukhavets ;
In the park of culture and recreation "May 1 ";
Along the river Western Bug .

I also strongly recommend visiting the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Nature Reserve, located 50 km from Brest in the village of Kamenyuki.

Kamenets Tower

It is also called the White Vezha. This attraction is located not in Brest itself, but in its regional city of Kamenets. The structure is the tallest and best-preserved defensive tower of the Volyn type. It was built in the 13th century. The basis is the Romanesque style, there are elements of early Gothic. There are no architectural decorations.

The height of the structure is 31 m. It is round in plan, the diameter is 13.6 m, and the thickness of the walls reaches 2.5 m. The tower has a powerful foundation, its diameter is 16 m, and its height is 2.3 m. For the construction of the tower they used dark red and yellowish paving bricks. There are 5 tiers of floors inside, connected by stairs.

Kamenets Tower - memorial. For almost 70 years it has been occupied by a branch of the Brest Regional Museum.

What to see in Brest in 1 day?

For those who find themselves in Brest but have little time, I offer a list of what you can see in just one day.

Our journey begins from the Brest railway station .
We walk to the city center on Sovetskaya Street . You can see a sculpture of a lamplighter .
If you go to the end of the street, we go out to the river. Western Bug . If you wish, you can take a boat ride.
Then you can go along the street. Masherov to get to the famous Brest Fortress . We are greeted by the “Courage” monument .
We walk around the vast territory of the fortress.
The Railway Museum is located next to the fortress .
We get back to the city center on foot along the street. Gogol , where we see the Alley of Forged Lanterns .
If you have time and energy left, you can also look at:

Winter Garden;
St. Nicholas Brethren Church;
Museum of Local Lore ;
Museum of Salvaged Values.

Central city park.
You can also take a walk in the central city park .

Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Exaltation Temple)

The temple is Catholic, it was built in the mid-19th century. The church is made in the style of classicism and is considered an architectural monument. The building is brick, the main facade has two towers. The building was damaged during the Great Patriotic War, after which it was completely rebuilt.

The building has a rectangular shape. The church has three naves, the division is provided by 8 columns. The central nave ends with a semicircular apse and there is one sacristy. The main facade is vertically divided into 3 parts by pilasters, and it is completed by an attic wall.

The temple is notable for one of the most revered Belarusian icons - the icon of Our Lady of Brest. This is a copy of an image from the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

What to see in Brest and its surroundings in 2 days?

1 day

We begin our exploration of the city from its central street - st. Soviet .
We examine the Trinity Church and the monument to the millennium of Brest .
We go to the Brest Fortress on foot, along the street. Masherova.
We walk around the territory of the fortress, visit the defense museum and the Berestye museum .
If you wish, you can go to the Railway Museum and the Museum of Saved Art Treasures , located nearby.
In the evening you can stroll around Alley of forged lanterns on Gogol Street and watch how the Brest lamplighter lights a fire in the kerosene lamps of the lanterns.

Brest lamplighter.

Day 2

Early in the morning I suggest going to Belovezhskaya Pushcha , a walk along which will take at least half a day.
Upon returning to the city, you can still have time to explore the St. Nicholas Fraternal Church , go to the Museum of Local Lore or the Winter Garden in the village.
You can spend the rest of the day looking for souvenirs, taking a walk in the May 1st Park or taking a ride along the river. Western Bug or river Mukhavets on the ship.

St. Nicholas Cathedral

The temple is located on the territory of the Brest Fortress and is a monument of the Russian-Byzantine style. Construction of the cathedral began in the mid-19th century and took approximately 20 years.

The basilica has three aisles with a stepped composition and sloping cylindrical roofs. The main facade is a two-tier semicircular arch. The first tier is highlighted by an arched entrance portal, the second - by an arcature of 5 bays with a chiming clock above it. The naves are separated by powerful arcades and have barrel vaults as ceilings.

The cathedral contains several shrines. The most prized icon is the one with a particle of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. There are also images with particles of the relics of other saints - the Great Martyr Panteleimon, the Blessed Matrona of Moscow, the Saints Amphilochius and Job of Pochaev. The cathedral contains particles of the relics of other revered saints, as well as the Life-giving Cross of the Lord.

Where to go with a child in Brest?

As practice shows, there is something to see in Brest for tourists traveling with children.

The May 1st Park will not only give you a pleasant walk, but will also delight your children with a variety of attractions.
Zoo country "EnotiYa" is suitable for children who love animals.
The winter garden of Brest will introduce you and your children to the diversity of flora of different continents.
Fans of active recreation may enjoy a visit to the Ice Palace .
And, of course, surprise the kids with a colorful, fun performance at the Brest Puppet Theater .
You can also go to Belovezhskaya Pushcha. By the way, next to it in the village of Kamenyuki there is a real Residence of Father Frost!

Residence of Father Frost.

Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God

The temple was built in 1999 and is still officially considered a temporary prayer room. People started coming here when the church was not yet completed, only the walls stood. Even the Christmas frosts did not stop the parishioners.

The temple contains several relics: the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God (copy) and pieces of the relics of Orthodox saints.

The church is popular for weddings of young couples. It is believed that this promotes peace, tranquility and well-being of the family. The church has a children's Sunday school and an Orthodox sisterhood.

Video tour of the sights of Brest

We have put together a short video tour of the sights of Brest especially for you, so that you can get to know this hospitable city a little better.

I have the warmest memories of Belarus, including Brest. Remembering it, you want to stroll its streets and rediscover the many secrets and beauties of the city.

What are your impressions of Brest? Perhaps you saw something that I did not describe and want to share it with readers - then I will be glad to see your comments.

St. Simeon's Cathedral

This Orthodox church is also called the Cathedral of Simeon the Stylite. This is an architectural monument of the Russian-Byzantine style. It was built in the 60s of the 19th century.

The temple has a centric composition; its plan has the shape of a cross. The cathedral has a square plan and stands on a high paneled plinth. There is a narrow porch and a semicircular apse. The cathedral is completed by a five-domed structure, which was covered with gold leaf at the end of the last century.

The temple has three aisles, the interior space is divided by columns. The central nave is connected to the choir gallery by a wide arched skylight. There is a wooden iconostasis. The cathedral icons are notable for the images of Saint Lyudmila, Saints Kirik and Julitta, and the “Lamentation of Christ.”

Train Station

Once upon a time it was a real Brest castle in Belarus, created in the medieval style. In 1915 the building was destroyed. In 1953, the greatest architectural structure was restored; it changed its appearance, but did not lose its former grandeur. Now it is one of the most beautiful train stations in the world, located 347 km from Minsk.

Brest is connected by rail with Kiev, Warsaw, Paris and Berlin. The central station serves long-distance trains. A very comfortable environment has been created for passengers here.

Nemtsevich Estate

This is a historical memorial museum located in the village of Skoki, Brest region. You can come here by taking minibus No. 20t on Lenin Square in Brest. The journey will take 40 minutes.

The Baroque-style estate was created in 1777, it was owned by Yu. U. Nemtsevich, a famous statesman and publicist. The park in which the building is located is a very beautiful, romantic place. The estate itself often hosts wedding photo sessions and even weddings themselves. In its interiors there is a museum where you can wander through some of the rooms, for example, the secular salon and state rooms.

Address: Brest region, Brest district, Skoki village, st. Mira, 486. Opening hours - from 10:00 to 19:00, day off - Monday.

Ostrich farm

This attraction is located in the village of Kozische. The local ostrich farm is one of the largest in Europe. The area is always clean and orderly. About 200 adult ostriches and a hundred chicks live here. They feel quite natural, and they behave accordingly.

You can explore the farm on your own or book a tour with a guide who will tell you all about the life of ostriches. You can try ostrich meat - the taste is delicate, but specific.