Our guide to green Minsk has already proved to you that it is one of the greenest cities in Belarus. In the capital, 40% of the entire territory is occupied by trees, shrubs and ponds, many of which are favorite places for Belarusians to rest. It’s understandable: not everyone has the opportunity to spend every weekend on the Minsk Sea or in the country (although Belarusian farmsteads are a fairly low-cost vacation option). VETLIVA will introduce you to another amazing place called Gaudi Park - Tuchinsky Square in Minsk.

The story of one square

Tuchinsky square was founded in Minsk in the 60s. The name was given to it by the former Tuchink estate, which was once located near two ponds, which formed the basis of his composition. Once there was a brick factory, near which there were clay quarries. Over time, they filled with water and they began to call them clouds - so in fact, the square owes its name not only to the old manor.

An interesting fact from VETLIVA: Tuchinka is also notorious as a place where more than 14,000 Jews were killed during the war (although in fact a terrifying figure could be much larger). All because clay quarries were the best suited for the burial of victims ...

In the 70s of the last century, the square was completely transformed. It was then that he was called Gaudi Park - thanks to unusual sculptures decorated with colored mosaics. The work of architects Gelfand and Kustov became the hallmark of Tuchinsky Square.

For reference: Antonio Gaudi - the famous Catalan architect. A distinctive feature of his authorship projects is the variety of colors, pretentiousness coupled with harmony, the use of colored mosaics. If you have ever seen the palace of Guell, the El Capriccio tower and other architectural masterpieces of Barcelona - Mukhlya sculptures evoke associations with them.

Near Tuchinsky Square is the Sovremennik cinema. At one time it was a very popular place among Minskers, but it was closed in the two thousandth. The building was bought by the Turkish company Minsk Princess Hotel, which wanted to build a multifunctional complex in its place and at the same time ennoble the square itself. However, the plans were not destined to come true: in 2016, the construction site was mothballed. Its resumption is planned in the foreseeable future, so it’s quite possible that the Sovremennik cinema will still collect full spectator halls for world premieres.

The current state of Mukhlya

Now the Minsk attraction looks deplorable: the banks are overgrown, no one is cleaning the ponds, and mosaics gradually showered from amazing sculptures. However, the place is popular with locals, as some old-timers remember the heyday of Tuchinsky Square. People come here to take pictures with a fish, a seahorse, a hippo and other inhabitants of Mukhlya. On weekends, families with children walk in the park; you can often see fishermen. Despite the neglected state, Tuchinsky Square continues to live.

An interesting fact from VETLIVA: locals do not call ponds otherwise than Mukhlya. At the same time, there are three water bodies with this name in Minsk! Do you know why they were so christened? A manufacturer named Mukhlya at the end of the 19th century founded leather production in Minsk. Raw materials for products were just soaked in such ponds, which is why the water in them began to emit stench over time. Hence the name that has now become a household word.

You can plan a visit to Mukhlya if you like to visit unusual places. Take advantage of our guide around Minsk, which will help not to miss anything. Capture mosaic sculptures on the photo, sit in the silence of the park - perhaps you will be imbued with the atmosphere of this place and will return here during each trip to Minsk.