In Belarus, there are many different museums, fr om narrow-specialized to large-scale projects. The Belarusian State Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life cover the entire history and the development of Belarusian culture of different regions in different periods. It has several interesting features and advantages.

History of the State Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life of Belarus

Open-air museums have appeared recently in Belarus. By the way, many people come to visit them. You have a unique opportunity to see ancient items and enjoy the atmosphere of those periods.

In 1908, artist Ferdinand Rushits was the first who spoke about such a museum, which could show life and culture of Belarusian people. Probably, if the First and Second World Wars had not occurred, people would have enjoyed such a historical exposition long time ago.

In the middle of the XXth century, it was decided to create an open-air museum where all the ancient things that are interesting for lovers of history would be gathered together in one place. As a result, houses and other buildings from all over Belarus were disassembled and located near Minsk, near the village of Strochitsy. Here, under the guidance of experienced specialists and historians, all the pieces had been collected in a single picture. The Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life in Strochytsy is very popular, excursions are constantly organized here.

Exposition of the State Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life

The Belarusian State Museum of Architecture and Life consists of six sections: Poozerie, Podneprovie, Ponemanie, Western and Eastern Polesie, Central Belarus. Each has its own peculiarities and features of architecture and culture. You have an opportunity to plunge into the past, each visitor is allowed to enter buildings or ancient churches, wh ere all the attributes of peasant life are shown.

An ancient settlement stands on the river Menka, which is considered “an ancestor” of the city of Minsk. In addition, you can see ancient mounds of the IX-XI centuries.

In addition to examples of architecture, in the Belarusian State Museum of Folk Architecture and Life, there are many various attributes of the traditional life of peasants. There are more than 30 collections. They are arranged in homes and schools in accordance with those times. For the sake of convenience and clarity, each element is placed in an inventory book.

For example, a collection "Clothing" contains about 1600 items, from shirts, dresses, and skirts to rare exhibit items of temple vestments.

The collection of books includes more than 700 printed and handwritten materials: newspapers and magazines, leaflets and posters, greeting cards and postcards, plans of cities and buildings, fiction and religious literature and more.

In Belarusian homes, you will find household items made of wood and other materials available at that time. Elegant home decorations or massive troughs and ladders, boxes, candlesticks... It is interesting that some attributes look like its modern analogs. For example, one can find similarities between an ancient whisk and modern mixer.

Museum of Architecture and Rural Life in the village Ozertso wait for you at excursion

Annually, the open-air museum is a venue for festivals and cultural events. It is worth to visit it to plunge into the historical surroundings and see the original sights of Belarus. Going on a sightseeing tour of Belarus, you will also get an opportunity to get acquainted with architectural monuments located in one more museum-skansene in the village of Strochitsy. Both museums are located in close proximity to Minsk. If you have never visited the capital of Belarus, a trip to the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life in the village of Ozertso will be an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the sights of Minsk.