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There is a really huge amount of guides to the capital of Belarus, but no one else, except for VETLIVA, raised its mind to such an extensive guide to the sights of Minsk with photos and descriptions immediately. Everyone knows that Minsk is a beautiful city, where history and modernity coexist, where the Stalin's empire and cult architecture organically look alongside. And if about the “Red Church” and the National Library anyone but lazy did not hear, then how about Zybitskaya Street or “Broken Hearth”? Even if you have already been to the capital, you will see that there is much more to see in Minsk after reading the guide!
Aspiring to heaven: temples of Minsk
Church of Saints Simeon and Helena in Minsk
We have already mentioned this bright dominant of the city center, without which the description of the sights of Minsk couldn’t be full. The temple has a truly sad background: it was built by Edward Voinilovich with all the money he had to perpetuate the memory of his untimely dead children, Simeon and Helen. Strangely enough, art saved the temple from destruction in atheistic Soviet times: at first the building belonged to the Polish theater of the BSSR, and then to the film studio “Soviet Belarus”. Due to this, now the “Red church” is considered to be one of the main sights of Minsk.
Holy Spirit Cathedral in Minsk
Holy Spirit Cathedral is a beautiful snow-white landmark of Minsk. There are just a few of the most interesting facts about it:
it was part of the monastic complex of the Bernardine nuns,
there is the icon of the Mother of God in here, which, according to the legend, was written by the Apostle Luke, who knew her personally. In addition, it is believed that the shrine itself sailed along the Svisloch to Minsk;
here are the relics of St. Sophia Slutskaya (granddaughter of Anastasia Slutskaya).
Visit this wonderful temple to feel its greatness!
All Saints Church in Minsk
Although this church can not be called a historical monument (its construction was completed only in 2010), it amazes with its greatness. Already from the photo of this sights of Minsk it can be seen that the All Saints Church is a real dominant of the city: the height of the temple together with the cross on the dome is a record 74 meters!
VETLIVA recommends: go on an excursion to Gervyaty and compare: there is one of the tallest churches in Belarus — Trinity, but even it is inferior in height to the Minsk temple.
The full name of the church is the Memorial Church in honor of All Saints and in memory of the innocent victims of our Fatherland. She glorifies the memory of those who laid down their heads, defending the Motherland …
Trinity Church in Minsk
The unusual temple is a bit like a graceful house made of matches, isn’t it? Despite its youth (erected only in 2001), it was built in compliance with traditional technologies. Only 6 people took part in the construction, and their main tools were axes. By the way, there is a logical explanation for this: it was believed that the cut tree was more prone to rotting than the felled one. There is a unique five-tier iconostasis inside the church, and each level is dedicated to a specific plot.
Monastery of the Holy Spirit Basilian in Minsk
This building is considered to be the oldest landmark of the hub of Minsk and once was a part of a vast complex. According to historical information, the buildings were located in such a way as to be able to defend against enemies. And peace-loving nuns often showed no less courage in defending their temple than monks. The snow-white building with an elegant facade is one of the main attractions of Minsk, located on Freedom Square, a visit to which is an obligatory part of the program for most sightseeing tours of Minsk.
Preserving the heritage of centuries: museums of Minsk
Museum of miniatures of Belarus "Strana Mini"
Museums are one of the main attractions of Minsk. We smoothly pass from spiritual food to the historical heritage of Belarus. The first on our list is one of the most unusual museums in Minsk “Strana Mini”. Here you will not find exhibits in the usual sense of the word. The main slogan of this amazing place is “See Belarus in 2 hours”. Intrigued? You do not understand how it is possible to get acquainted with our country, not very big, but still rich on interesting places in the country? It's simple: in the museum of miniatures there are copies of the key attractions of Belarus. And not just copies, but real works of art with interactive "chips". Guess what during the excursion (after all, if we reveal the intrigue, it will not be so interesting, you know).
Lifehack from VETLIVA: thanks to the specially equipped photozone, “Strana Mini” is also one of the best places in Minsk for photos. However, you can not worry about the battery of your smartphone — here you will be given a chance to charge it if necessary. So take pictures at your pleasure!
National Historical Museum in Minsk
Do you think that a historical museum is boring and uninteresting, just like at school? We don’t think so! There are expositions for every taste:
- archaeological — for true fans of history,
- ethnographic — for those who is fond of the Belarusian traditions,
- armory — try to find true hunters here,
- numismatic, etc.
From the exclusive — Roman coins minted at the beginning of the millennium, “The Belt of Prince Vitovt”, map of GDL of the 1630s.
National Art Museum in Minsk
The National Art Museum is a “three in one”: the museum itself, the exhibition gallery and the place where creative people from all over the country gather. Pictures of Belarusian authors, Russian painters, tapestries from France — before World War II, you could see everything here. During the hostilities, the exposition was taken out of Belarus, and many masterpieces never returned to the museum...
Interesting fact: The National Art Museum is not just one building. It includes expositions located in the Mirsky and Golshansk Castles. Therefore, if you set yourself to see all the exhibits, here you will find a selection of tours to Mir.
Museum of Physical Culture and Sport in Minsk
Perhaps, without exaggeration, Belarus can be called a sports country. It is enough to remember how many awards were won at the Olympics of different years. The names of the Belarusian champions are immortalized in the hall of fame. In addition, in the museum you will see:
- the exhibition, which introduces the birth and history of sports in Belarus,
- art gallery with portraits of famous athletes,
- awards,
- pictures from various competitions.
Oceanographic Center "Open Ocean" in Minsk
No, this is not a photo from a trip to Egypt, but a snapshot taken at the Minsk branch of the world ocean — the Center for Oceanography at Brilevskaya, 3. What you can see here:
- 5 thematic halls - according to the number of oceans and separately dedicated to Antarctica,
- 140 types of exotic fish,
- submarine models and wetsuits.
Undoubtedly, one of the most interesting places in Minsk, which you should definitely visit with your children!
How nobility lived: estates, castles, palaces
Manor "Loshitsa" of Prushinsky in Minsk
The list of the main attractions of Minsk would be incomplete without this location. One of the most romantic and at the same time sad stories associated with the estate in Loshitsky park. Eustace Lyubansky, who became the owner of the estate in 1884, sought the hand of Jadwiga. One of the conditions that the girl set before her boyfriend was the introduction of significant changes in the architectural appearance of the estate.
For the sake of love, Eustathius was ready for anything, therefore, after a significant expansion of the house and ennobling the surrounding park, Jadwiga married him. But the happiness of the couple was short-lived: soon the girl drowned in the river under mysterious circumstances. Since then, Loshitsa is considered one of the most mystical places in Minsk.
Manor of Vankovichi in Minsk
The town house of Vankovichi was once a luxurious estate that surrounded a beautiful park with a small pond. With the advent of Soviet power, a potato station, then a school of the NKVD was located within its walls, and then the estate was turned into a residential building. Only in 1988 it was recognized as an architectural monument, which did not save the building from destruction ...
An interesting fact: the monument of architecture was restored thanks to ... Belarusian cuisine! Now there is a restaurant in its walls!
City manor on Freedom Square
More recently, in this beautiful building there was a recruiting office of the military registration and enlistment office. At the same time, the manor was captured on the map of Minsk in 1793, which means that it is already more than two hundred years old! Now the building has been restored, and within its walls is the Art Gallery named after Mikhail Savitsky.
Manor "Belaya Dacha" of Adadurov in Minsk
This historic building is shrouded in mystery. There are three versions of the appearance of the estate in Minsk:
It was in the possession of the landowner Kurasov, who built the village of Kurasovschina, which was later annexed to the capital of Belarus. However, the name of the landowner is not documented, so there are other versions.
According to the second theory, the construction of the estate was initiated by the head of the Lyubavo-Romenskaya railway N. Adadurov.
According to the third version, the estate was erected by order of M. Rogov, a candidate of natural sciences.
Who knows, maybe it will be you who are lucky enough to unravel the mystery of the emergence of the “Belaya Dacha” during a tour of the sights of Minsk!
Ostrog "Pishchalovsky Castle" in Minsk
One of the most unusual sights of our list, because to this day is ... a prison. This is the only place in Europe where the death penalty is executed ... However, it is rumored that this place may soon become a themed hotel, because the prison is not a place in the city center. Would you like to spend the night here or would you prefer to stay in a more familiar place?
Architectural "highlights" of Minsk: historical buildings
In Minsk, with more than historically significant buildings, it’s better to see them live once rather than read a huge canvas of text. Therefore, here is a guide for action - you will be in Minsk, be sure to take a look:
- Ofli Confectionery Building,
- the building of the shoe factory Zitvera,
- building of the tannery,
- Pinkhusov's house,
- Lee Harvey Oswald's house (no crime: one of the most famous killers in history only lived here a couple of years in apartment number 24).
"Forest" corners in the city: parks and squares of Minsk
Botanical Garden in Minsk
Do you think you need to go to the Netherlands for the beauty of tulips? And philosophical hockey and tanka are born only under the blossoming sakura in Japan? And no! More than 570 varieties of tulips bloom annually in the Botanical Garden in Minsk, and sakura can also be admired here. A corner of peace and tranquility, where you can stroll through the shady alleys and see tropical plants - all this is the Botanical Garden, one of the most beautiful places in Minsk, ideal for relaxing from the city rush.
Gorky Park in Minsk
Gorky Park is also called the Central Children's Park. Among the sights of Minsk for children, it occupies a special place. If you do not know how else to take your child and the opportunity to go to nature there, but really want to — you direct road here. Cool rides, a lot of educational sites and even a planetarium — here not only children, but also adults will have fun and interesting time!
Yanka Kupala Park in Minsk
Yanka Kupala is one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. The park is named after him, on its territory there is the Yanka Kupala Museum with several tens of thousands of exhibits, as well as a sculpture of the poet. There is nothing better than to walk along the narrow paths of the park, take a picture with the monument and look into the museum, because it contains personal belongings of relatives of the Belarusian literature poet, his autographs and photographs.
Victory Park in Minsk
It is symbolic that the opening of this park was scheduled for June 22, 1941 - the day when the Great Patriotic War began. In 1945, when there was a question about the name of the square, no one had a shadow of a doubt as to call it. Victory Park is also called the Victoria Square, and all locations refer us to the feat of the Soviet people:
- the park is located on Pobediteley Avenue,
- there are beautiful fountains Victory and Eternity,
- nearby is the famous museum of the history of the Great Patriotic War.
Beautiful Komsomolsk lake, on the banks of which the park is spread, makes the park a favorite vacation spot for Minsk dwellers.
Loshitsky Park in Minsk
The five forest sights of Minsk are completed by Loshitsa. About the estate, located on its territory, we wrote above, as for the park itself, it also flourished during the times when Evstafy Lyubansky owned the estate. Many trees are more than a hundred years old; among them are truly rare species — magnolia, Siberian fir, Crimean and mountain pine. And when apricots are blooming in the park, you can see the ghost of Jadwigi Lubanskaya, the wife of the estate owner, who died in strange circumstances. In the place where they found her body, he ordered to plant an apricot tree — hence the legend.
The poetry of the stone and the eternal memory: memorials of Minsk
Island of Tears in Minsk
Here, even those who are not accustomed to openly express their feelings ache the heart. A stone angel is crying for the victims of the 1979-1989 war in Afghanistan, they are sadly waiting for their 800 sons and stone figures, symbolizing Belarusian mothers... The names of the dead are immortalized in a small chapel with an unusual central icon "Mother Holy Belarus." Belarus is embodied in the image of a woman-mother, to whom her sons are leaning — the victims of not only the Afghan, but also the Great Patriotic War, and other wars, from which our country suffered at one time. It is impossible not to feel the atmosphere of this place!
Military cemetery in Minsk
Another attraction of Minsk related to the victims of the war. Soldiers of various epochs, partisans, as well as famous Belarusians such as Yakub Kolas, Kuzma Cherny and others are buried here. The Alexander Nevsky Church, which was built in 1898, deserves special mention.
Monument "Broken hearth" in Minsk
What does the broken hearth symbolize? That's right, this is a monument to the innocent victims of the war, those who were cruelly tortured in the ghetto... The remains of the house, ground with merciless millstones of war, now remind of those who could still live but were deprived of this right because of the war.
Memorial "Roses" in Minsk
The memorial commemorates a terrible accident that happened not so long ago. May 30, 1999 in the city held a holiday. Suddenly it started to rain, and a crowd of people rushed down to the Nemiga metro station. Wet steps, high heels - and the fun suddenly turned into a tragedy... 53 people died in a crush, and all of them were no older than 20 years.
Monument to Möbius strip in Minsk
Do you know what Möbius strip is and why it is so unusual that it deserves a separate monument? This geometric shape is truly unique: the ball can roll along it from the outside to the inside — and at the same time it cannot leave the figure. The real embodiment of infinity!
The memory of the great: sculptures of Minsk
It is impossible to imagine a big city without sculptures, and there are a great many of them in Minsk. Here are just some of the monuments that can be seen in the city:
- monument to Francis Skaryna near the National Library of Belarus,
- monument to the Ukrainian classic Taras Shevchenko,
- monument to Marat Casey
- monument “Girl with an owl” is an interesting sight of the center of Minsk, located in the Trinity suburb,
- sculpture "The Architect" and others.
Must have for the tourist: classics of the genre
About the main attractions in Minsk for tourists didn’t write that lazy, so we’ll go over them briefly:
Usually the acquaintance with the Belarusian capital starts from Independence Avenue — the main sights of Minsk are concentrated here. Do not forget to charge the phone — it will be a shame if it sits at the most inopportune moment!
Go to the Central Department Store, because it is not just a store, but a special atmosphere! So special that even one of the highest-grossing Russian films “Hipsters” was filmed here. By the way, this is not the only Minsk location, "lit up" in world cinema — read in our article what sights of Minsk can still be seen in the cinema.
From the Central Department Store to the Town Hall Square a stone’s throw away — just see what beauty awaits you there!
The next point of the route is the Trinity Suburb, a real historical center of Minsk. Want to see what the capital was a few centuries ago? Then you urgently need to go here!
If shopping in the Central Department Store was not enough for you — welcome to Komarovka! The biggest, the most famous, the most beloved by the local market is ready to offer you everything — from fresh Georgian pastries to caviar and exotic fruits.
5 sights, without which no guide can do
Here VETLIVA will also be brief - for sure, you know about these architectural masterpieces not less than us:
The gates of the city of Minsk, which meet visitors,
National Library of Belarus, or “Knowledge Diamond”,
Minsk-Arena is a modern sports complex, where, by the way, the final of the Junior Eurovision was held (we already wrote about it here),
National Academic Opera and Ballet Theater,
Independence Square (you will definitely get to it by walking along the avenue of the same name).
Life hacking for "advanced" tourist: pedestrian streets
Minsk and its sights are not limited to historical parks and architecture. If many people have heard about Oktyabrskaya Street with its graffiti, then perhaps you have not heard about other pedestrian streets of Minsk. Then here is a list of cool places for tourists in Minsk from VETLIVA:
for cool bars go to Zybitskaya;
for spiritual food — on Karl Marx: here is the National Academic Theater named after Yanka Kupala, the Central House of Officers, Alexander Square;
for the indescribable atmosphere and cool photos — to the Revolutionary and Komsomolskaya. After reconstruction, they look just magical!
50 attractions: are you sure that's all?
Oh, no, even after our guide you can be sure: Minsk will still surprise you! And we will show you life hacking how to get new impressions from what you have already seen: go with us on a tour of the evening Minsk! Romance rolls over: in the light of illumination, familiar buildings look very different, and it’s impossible to resist the charm of the city! Write in the comments if you think that we unfairly cheated any sights in our guide. Minsk is waiting for you, and we are waiting for you to like and to read =)
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