subject: Tourist Attractions In Minsk, Belarus [print this page] Minsk is the capital city of Belarus, an ex-soviet country once part of the USSR. The location is quite good; on two rivers which enabled the city to grow (this is now the largest city in the country). Nowadays, Minsk is the capital city of CIS, which stands for Commonwealth of Independent States.
The history of this city was quite turbulent as Minsk was almost entirely torn to the ground during the Second World War. It was later rebuilt, under the supervision of Stalin, so there is little of the older structures still present inside the city. Do not be surprised to see that most buildings in the city are blocks built in the Soviet style. However, if you want to learn more about Soviet architecture, this is a good place to visit.
It serves to learn a little bit of Russian if you travel to these parts of Europe, as few people speak English. The native language can be even harder to learn, so it's recommended to have a Russian conversation guide with you to make it easier to understand the locals and make yourself understood.
One spot you may want to visit here is the former home of Lee Harvey Oswald. The man traveled to the Soviet Union in 1959 and was given an apartment in Minsk. He took a native woman as his wife and lived here for a few years, after which he returned to the United States.
While the old city was almost destroyed, there are still a few buildings dating from the old times. You can visit the St Mary Magdeline Church, an Orthodox church that was built during the first half of the 19th century. The church has an octagonal tower at the entrance, where the bell is located, which is specific to Orthodox architecture.
Another old church is Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church, which was erected at the beginning of the 17th century. The church was renovated in the 19th century and is considered to be the oldest one in the city.
If you want to learn more about the history of the place, there is no better place to start that the National Museum of History and Culture. This is open only on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. There are plenty of exhibits here that will teach you what you want to know.
While closed on Mondays, Palats Mastatsva can be visited on any other day of the week. Here you can admire exhibits of modern art or buy second hand books from antique stalls.
A local art gallery is found at Mastatsky Salon. It usually houses exhibitions of young artists. The souvenirs sold here can be quite pricey.
The city is also known for its sea, which is actually an artificial reservoir located in the northern area. Here you will also find a public beach and you can rent a catamaran or a pedal boat. You can reach the place by car or bus.
During winter, you can visit the ice skating rink located across from Palats Respubliki. If you don't have your own skates, you can rent a pair from there.
by: Archie Blazer
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