History & Ecotourism in Belarus

Welcome to Belarus! After arriving at the airport, you’ll travel 40 minutes into the town of Minsk. Take your time settling in and relaxing. Enjoy the sights and sounds of your home for the week and grab a quick snack. Then, head over to the Cat Museum, the perfect place for any cat lover. Play with some lovely kitties or enjoy cat-themed art! Play games, enjoy a treat, or even make your own cat art. 

Your trip to the capital will be lots of fun! Start in the Museum of Miniatures, an interactive museum where you can enjoy 19 of Belarus’ attractions in one place. Learn about the history and culture of the country and even visit their shop to pick up your own handmade Belarusian craft to bring home with you!

Your next stop is the Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War, which opened around 76 years ago. While the title doesn’t roll off the tongue very easily, the museum has around 143 artifacts to teach you more about this war. The museum commemorates the end of the Nazi reign over Belarus and was the first WWII museum in the world, and it’s the largest and most important museum of its kind.

Your last stop will be at the Narachansky National Park. Built around the Narach lake, it opened in 1999 and stretches for over 200,000 acres! The flora and fauna inhabiting the park are rich and diverse and are sure to catch your eye. The lake is the product of a melting glacier from centuries ago. The park is split into four complexes: landscape, biological, hydrological, and geological. Take part in one of their two eco-itineraries to make the most of your trip! 

Just 3.5 hours away from Minsk, you’ll arrive at your next destination: Grodno. Swing by the Old Grodno Castle, the 11th-century home of the Black Ruthenians. It belonged to a few other noblemen and even went on to be part of a defense area. The residence was eventually refurbished after its destruction during the Great Northern War. 

Up next, you’ll enjoy the marvelous sights of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral. Built in 1687, it wasn’t until 1705 that it was at long last consecrated. The beautiful baroque church survived WWII virtually unscathed. While communist authorities tried to convert it into a museum or a concert hall, the parishioners prevailed and foiled their plans.   

Your final stop is at Park Gillibert. The park, which was named after a French scientist, has been around for 240 years! It was once home to over 2,000 different species, but unfortunately, they didn’t all survive. Enjoy a stroll around this lovely city park with its fountains, bars, and festivals. 

A little over three hours away from Grodno is Brest. Start your day with a visit to the Brest Fortress, a 19th-century fortification also known as Hero Fortress due to its important role during the war with the Germans. In 1941, the fort was even visited by both Hitler and Mussolini. Nowadays, the fortress enjoys the UNESCO World Heritage Site title and houses a memorial for the war. Take in the museum, sculptures and monuments, which capture the grief and strife of Belarus.

Next, stop at the Museum of Confiscated Art. Brest was once a center for art thieves, but they often failed to get their ill-gotten artifacts past customs. The museum has over 300 pieces for which their original owners couldn’t be located after being confiscated. From 16th century work to contemporary art, there’s a lot to see here. Sadly, some of the items were chopped up for transportation, and the museum had to put them back together. However, it’s well worth your time to admire the exhibits.

Last stop: Belavezhskaya Pushcha, which is another Belarusian park and home to the last primeval forest of Europe, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bialowieza Forest. The park is in its 610th year and hosts cafes, a museum, and the eco-center!

After traveling seven hours through the night, you’ll find yourself in Gomel. Here, your first stop will be in the Vetka Museum of Old Believer Faith and Belarusian Traditions. The museum was once the mansion of a merchant and has been around for over 40 years. The museum’s mission is to preserve and teach the culture and folklore of Belarus. Icons, manuscripts, and books dating back to the 16th century are still preserved here. Enjoy over 10,000 artifacts and dive into these ancient traditions.

Right after this stop, you’ll head over to the Chapel and Burial Vault of the Paskevich, a religious building within the walls of the Gomel Palace and Park complex. Up above, see the chapel and down below the vault of the prince and seven of his family members. Admire the chapel’s new Russian architecture style and the restorations that have kept this ornate building pristine. 

Lastly, you’ll visit the Pripyatsky National Park. The park was founded in 1996 and protects the landscape around the Pripyat river. Swamps and 51 species occupy the land making for a unique experience. The park is regarded as the Amazon of Europe and contains 25 animal preserves and 24 landmarks. Partake in their photo safari or stop by the nature museum to enjoy the park fully.

Today, you’ll reach Vitebsk, about four hours away from Gomel. Start at the unique Museum of Belarusian Book-Printing. Once a monastery, the building has been around since the 18th century. The museum officially opened in 1990 to commemorate the region’s first book printer. From manuscripts to contemporary books and writing utensils, the museum is thorough in explaining the journey and evolution of book printing.

Up next, visit the Church of St. Varvara. While it was originally a cemetery dating back to 1785, it was reconstructed as a church in the late 1800s in a neo-Roman style. It was closed when Belarus was under Soviet reign and partially destroyed by the Nazis during WWII, but has since been refurbished and repaired and now welcomes all visitors.  

Last stop: the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, one of the oldest protected areas of the country, which was created to counter a man-made disaster. Four types of ecosystems coexist in the reserve: forest, river, meadows, and bogs. It’s also the only wild place that’s still home to the Europe Big 5: bison, wolf, bear, lynx, and moose.  Enjoy the eco-paths and mythology museum along with the zoo, nature museum, and vast array of flora and fauna. 

Welcome back to Minsk! On your final day, visit the National Library. It’s the largest in the country and has been around for 96 years. It’s home to the largest collection of Belarusian material and third-largest collection of Russian material. A whole new building was constructed in 2006 with 23 floors and lots to see. Then, pack up and head back from this great adventure.