5 places to visit in Belarus

Belarus is a landlocked country surrounded by Russia in the northeast, Ukraine in the south, Lithuania in the east and Poland in the west. The Republic of Belarus’s capital is Minsk. It is a very populated city. The major industries are service and manufacturing. It became independent from Russia in 1991.

The name Belarus is said to have derived from the name Belaya Rus meaning white Rus.

Predominantly Christian the Belarusian follows some or the other form of Christianity – eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism or Greek Catholicism.

The history of Belarus goes back to 5000 BC which was dominated by the Dnieper Donet culture. It was a part of Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Republic of Central Lithuania ceased to exist in 1943.

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With a culture going back to almost 5000 years there is a lot to know and understand and enjoy in Belarus. We take you to five places which are a must visit in Belarus.

Chalk Quarries or Belarusian Maldives

You will wish to stay back forever. The azure water and beautiful landscape reminds you of the Maldives. Surrounded by the Chalk quarries, there is legend about a crane having drowned in these waters. It can still be seen at the bottom of the quarry on sunny afternoon.

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These quarries are located close to the town of Krasnoselsky and Volkovysk. It has got fame from its soil which is chalk and the waters which are an unusual turquoise and emerald green in color. The waters are surrounded by high slopes in white covered in wild vegetation that reach into the water.

The chalk quarries are not open to visitors. You can get there by car, bus or train to Volkovysk and by bus to Krasnoselsky village.

At the end of the article, you can find a map with Volkovysk chalk pits and other Belarus tourist attractions mentioned in this article.

Nesvizh castle

The nest attraction that should not be missed is the Nesvizh Castle. It is one of the most popular tourist sites in Belarus and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The castle has a mix of architecture and is surrounded by ponds, landscaped parks and the river.
The architecture is mix of Baroque, renaissance, Rococo, Neo Gothism, Classicism and modernism. It was the residence of the Radziwill family, an aristocratic family that traces its lineage to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Built in the 16^th century it has been restored and renovated. The castle is surrounded by stories of ghosts and haunting. The castle is famous for an unusual legend about the Black lady of Nesvizh-Barbara Radziwill. The Black Lady has been roaming the castle since last 400 years, appearing in a black dress – mourning her lost love.

Image Source : Vadim Troshkin

In Nesvizh there are many things to see. You can walk in the town and check out the town hall in the market square. It is the oldest building in Belarus; the 16^th century Nesvizh Benedictine monastery; Nesvizh church of the Jesuits (also called Farny Church). This is where the family burial vault of the Radziwill princes is located. As you enter the city you will see the Slutskaya Brama - the gate. You can get to Nesvizh by bus or by car via Minsk. It takes 3 hours. The best way to know this town is by walking through the streets at a leisurely fashion.

Naroch national park

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The Naroch National Park is a very young national park. Naroch is the largest lake in Belarus. There are many hotels, recreation centers, and sanatoriums here for tourists. His is a golden place for connoisseurs of nature and solitude. It also brings lots of tourists visiting Belarus. It is a health resort of the country. It attracts a lot of tourists due to the natural resources and crystal waters. The park contains 36 natural landmarks of importance here.

It is a natural reserve and regulations need to be followed while visiting the place neglecting which will lead to punishment. You can get there by a car.

Boris and Gleb - Kolozhskaya Church
This building is the only surviving building from ancient Rus.They are over ten centuries old. It is located on the banks of Neman River in Grodno.

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It has been declared a historical and architectural reserve as it contains a monument complex of the Castle Hill. This is a great example of ancient architecture. The walls of the church and façade are decorated with large polished stones and colored tiles that form crosses. There are ceramic vessels built into the vaults of the walls with their necks out.

Brest Fortress

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Every guest is familiar with the city of Brest. It is located in the southwest of the country. The fort is a symbol of Soviet resistance during World War II. For a long time it was a prison for political prisoners. Today it is a memorial complex for the Heroes - “Heroic Brest Fortress”, the “Courage” monument, the obelisk-bayonet, Ceremony Square, “Thirst” sculpture, burials, various ruins of the fortress and a museum. This memorial complex begins at the entrance itself and is in the form of a huge five-pointed star made in the concrete itself. The song “Sacred War” by Alexander Alexandrov is played constantly with the message German troop attack on the Soviet Union. It can be reached by public transport.

There are lots more to see in Belarus these five are just the beginning.