Rest in Belarus by car route. What kind of passport do you need. To Belarus by car - where to go
Belarus is famous for its forests, lakes and rivers, but not only they attract tourists. There are many ancient castles, monuments that are perfectly combined with modern buildings. To get to know all the beauty of this country, you should go on a trip in the summer and by car.
What to see in Belarus?
Belarus is a small state located in the center of Europe, but which is of interest to more and more tourists every year. This is a great holiday option for residents of Russia, because no visas are needed, there is no language barrier.
For the convenience of traveling, we will review what to see in Belarus by car in the summer. Let's highlight the most popular cities and places in this country:
- Minsk;
- Stalin line;
- Khatyn;
- Brest Fortress;
- Grodno;
- Skidel;
- Polotsk.
Each of these points has its own characteristics, which makes them unique. Let's take a closer look at each of them below.
Minsk is the capital of Belarus
Usually a trip to Belarus starts from its capital - Minsk. It's lovely and amazing city, so every tourist will find here what he likes. Consider the places you definitely need to go:
Highlighted most popular places Minsk, but that's not all. There are also many museums, theaters, shopping centers and much more.
Stalin Line
The historical complex dedicated to the victory of the people in the Great Patriotic War. This memorial was opened in 2005 on the site of fortifications that stretched along the western borders of the USSR.
Getting there by car is quite simple: along the P28 Minsk-Molodechno highway. The complex is located 28 kilometers from the capital.
On Stalin lines It will be interesting for both adults and children. Here you can climb the trenches, visit technical rooms built like those that were during the war, etc. You can also ride a real tank and shoot from a cannon or any other weapon.
Khatyn - destroyed village
To honor the memory of the fallen during the Great Patriotic War worth going to Khatyn. This memorial Complex built on the site of a burned village.
Khatyn is located 54 kilometers from Minsk. Driving must be done on the highway M3(Minsk-Vitebsk), having seen the sign, it is worth turning off and driving another 5 km.
The complex exactly repeats the pre-war village. Obelisks with bells stand on the site of earlier erected houses. Sculpture in the center "Disobedient Man". Nearby is the wall of sorrow, where all the villages burned by the Nazis are indicated.
IN summer time you can go to palace and park complex located in the city Nesvizh. This point of Belarus is truly mesmerizing and will not leave anyone indifferent.
To begin with, we note that the distance from Minsk will be 70 km. Need to drive on the road M1(Minsk-Brest), as soon as they arrived in the city, there will be a pointer to the castle.
Here it is worth taking a walk through the park, which fascinates with lakes and alleys. But also go to castle of princes Radzivils showing us how they lived. Note that it is listed world heritage UNESCO.
Another famous castle in Belarus is Mirsky which is also listed by UNESCO. The castle is located on a hill, so it is easy to see from anywhere in the city.
Mir Castle is located 102 km from Minsk. By car, you also need to go along the M1 highway (Minsk-Brest).
The castle is made of red and white bricks, it was built as fortification, but, in fact, did not participate in the wars. For tourists, there is a chapel and towers showing the life of the former owners of the castle. Near the castle there is a lake that keeps secrets and legends. To get to know them, book one of the excursions offered by local tour operators.
Brest Fortress
One of the famous sights of Belarus and the main monument of the Second World War is Brest Fortress. After all, she was the first to take the blow of the fascist invaders.
In memory of the fallen wars, this memorial complex was erected there, covering an area of almost 4 kilometers. Here you can walk along the ruins of the bastion, see the surviving buildings, erected monuments. Every visitor who has visited the fortress will feel all the pain experienced during the war years.
65 km from Brest there is another object marked by UNESCO -. It is a reserve in which trees and plants have been preserved that have not been touched by humans. There are also enclosures with animals, which are looked after by the holders of the reserve. If a vacation is planned with children, then this is one of the places that you definitely need to come to. To make it easier to walk and not get lost, it is better to book a tour.
Royal Grodno
Grodno often considered European and royal city republics. For several centuries, the residences of various princes and kings were located here.
At present, it is considered a regional city. Conventionally, it can be divided into old and new town. The city center is the old part, in which the main attractions are located: several churches, the New Castle, the ruins of the Old Castle, a wonderful park, a theater and much more. Note that Grodno is famous for its zoo, which is the largest zoo in Belarus. Both adults and children will be interested in this city.
Skidel - sweet town
30 km from Grodno on the river Skidelka sprawled city Skidel. It was founded in 1508, so it has a huge history. He managed to visit the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Russian Empire. From historical sites only a nineteenth-century Catholic church and the gate of the Antonovich-Chetvertinsky estate with a park have been preserved there.
Skidel is known for its sugar factory, which is the first in Belarus. Note that in this small town with a population of about ten thousand people, there are fifteen enterprises.
The first stone castle built on the territory of Belarus is Lida. It was erected in 1323 by the decree of Prince Gedemin, and performed a defensive function, and hostages were also detained and tortured there. In the castle, the instruments of torture of that time are open for viewing, and you can also visit inside the castle. In summer, jousting tournaments and festivals are often organized, in which any visitor can take part.
Polotsk - the oldest city in Belarus
Polotsk is the oldest city in Belarus, the first mention of the city dates back to 862. Going to Belarus, it is worth stopping by this amazing city, located not far from Vitebsk.
There is something to see here, because here on an area of almost 40 km 2 there are many ancient buildings and monuments. Among them stands out Saint Sophia Cathedral- the first Orthodox stone church built in Belarus. Also located here Spaso-Evfrosinevsky Monastery, which houses the relics of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk.
conclusions
Of course, these are not all places in Belarus that are worth visiting. Every city has monuments or architecture that keeps history. Traveling by car, especially in summer, you can fully enjoy the beauty of nature, and also see many new and interesting cities and places that have not yet been visited.
If you are going to visit Belarus by car, this is the right decision. I visit Belarus several times a year by car and can give a few useful tips. First, you need to choose not the most shortcut, but the best. The extra 100 km, with a general improvement in the road, saves one hour of travel per day. Checked again and again! Get out quickly to the Minsk highway and, without turning anywhere, rush to the border with Belarus. The total length of the road is 1050 kilometers ( Moscow — Brest), the average transit time in summer is 12-15 hours.
Smolenka on our side was repaired quite well, many sections are illuminated, everywhere there is a normal division. In general, the road pleasantly surprises, but I remember the times when it was impossible to accelerate faster than 40 km/h near Smolensk. No matter how easy the road - you need to refresh yourself. I haven't taken food with me for a long time. The level of roadside establishments has grown significantly. Secondly, I will recommend you a cafe located in hotel complex Mushkovichi village, 345 km of the Moscow-Minsk highway. Not as an advertisement (!): Luzhkov, Patriarch, Titomir stopped here ... Service is fast and tasty. If the cafe hall is full, guests are seated in the restaurant hall.
To the border with Belarus - 440 km of the route. ( In the photo at the top left: this is what the customs crossing looks like)
Border and customs control on the border of Russia and Belarus for cars is completely absent! The speed of movement on the territory of the checkpoint is 40 km/h. Pictured below left: toll road begins immediately after crossing the border.
In the photo at the top right: the first state farm after crossing the border, a memorable stele.
The only thing to do is to buy insurance.
Being in Belarus, you feel calm, reliable or, if you like, protected.
On this day there will be no big hauls. Inspection is scheduled for this day. Minsk And Zaslavl. Initially, it is advisable to drive to Zaslavl (about 50 km there and back), see everything there and slowly explore the beauties of Minsk. Accordingly, one more overnight stay in the same Minsk.
Attractions:
Historical and cultural complex "Stalin Line" is a military-historical museum under open sky. The historical basis of the museum is the bunkers of the Minsk fortified area. The company section of the fortified area has been recreated and equipped in the museum. Military engineers restored two machine-gun bunkers, an artillery semi-caponier, and a command and observation post. According to pre-war drawings, the engineering equipment of the area was recreated. The exposition has all kinds of trenches, trenches and anti-tank ditches of various profiles, positions for rifle squads, dugouts for shelter personnel, trenches for guns, gouges - wooden, concrete, metal, wire fences of various types. The military history museum contains the most complete exposition in Belarus of everything that was in service in various years, starting from the time of the war, military equipment, artillery, tanks, aviation, small arms. The museum has a unique exposition of Russian, Polish and German armored caps that have been preserved since the First World War.
Address: Near the village of Loshany, Minsk region, 6 km from the city of Zaslavl in the direction of the city of Molodechno, tel. (+375 17) 503-20-20, 503-23-43, 210-46-30
Working mode: Tuesday - Sunday from 10.00 to 18.00, day off - Monday
Coordinates: N 054 3.519, E 027 17.845
Rating: 134.42
Attractions:
Museum of the History of the Belarusian Railway
Founded in 1971. An extensive collection of items related to the history of the railway business (communication devices, coupling elements and warning structures, models of trains and cars). The collection is constantly replenished.
Address: Minsk, Chkalova st., 7, Palace of Culture and Sports of Railway Workers. tel (375 17).225-24-14, 225-54-79.
Working mode: Mon-Fri: 08.00-17.00 (break - 12.00-13.00), Sat-Sun: day off
As of May 2017 closed for renovation
Coordinates: N 053 52.676, E 027 32.200
Rating: 6.58
National Museum of History and Culture of Belarus
The museum presents archaeological, ethnographic, numismatic, military-historical collections, as well as collections of ancient books and manuscripts, icons, cult clothes, works folk art. Your attention will be presented to both objects of primitive art and works of high art of medieval culture - the world-famous Slutsk belts, altar gates, porcelain items.
Address: Minsk, st. K. Marx, 12, tel. 227-43-22
Working mode: from 11.00 to 18.00. Day off - Wednesday
Coordinates: N 053 53.811, E 027 33.334
Rating: 37.18
National Library of Belarus
The shape of the building is similar to a sphere with faces, it is also called a rhombicuboctahedron. The library is 72.6 meters high (20 floors) and weighs 135,000 tons, of which 20,000 tons are books. When the sun sets, the building is illuminated with special lights: flowers, patterns, laser inscriptions create a festive mood for the city residents every day.
At present, the National Library of Belarus is one of the largest in the world.
Excursions for individual visitors (group group):
Tue, Wed, Fri: 12.00, 15.00, 18.00
Thu, Sat, Sun: 12.00, 15.00, 17.00
Mon. - day off.
Viewpoint:
Mon. – Thu, Sun: 13.00–22.00
Last ascent - 21.30
Fri., Sat.: 13.00–23.00
Last ascent - 22.30
Address: Minsk, ave. Independence, 116
Working mode: Monday - Friday 10.00-21.00, Saturday, Sunday 10.00-18.00. During the summer period (from July 1 to August 31), Sunday is a day off. The last Monday of each month is a sanitary day.
Coordinates: N 053 55.872, E 027 38.776
Rating: 183.01
Belarus is a country of castles
Traveling in Belarus by car for many begins with the M1 / E30 highway Moscow-Minsk-Brest route. On the way from Minsk to Brest is the city of Mir and its main attraction Mir Castle (XVI-XVII century) On the banks of the Miryanka River.
Just 100 km from Minsk, a monumental feudal castle With magnificent palace. On the highway to Brest M1 / E30 to the sign "Mir", and there is another 9 km. For $5 you will have a personal guide, and the price of the entrance ticket is less than $1. Quite reasonable prices.
The ghost of Sophia Svyatopolk-Mirskaya, who lives in the castle. You can dine at local restaurant. And then, by car, move on. From Mir to Nesvizh only 30 km
The Nesvizh castle of the Radziwill magnates, whose wealth was legendary. This clan made its nest in Nesvizh at the beginning of the 16th century. Nesvizh residence. Front entrance. Attractions - Park Ensemble, Farny Church, City Hall, Benedictine monastery, Slutsk entrance gates…
Until 1939, the curators of the museum did not know about the existence of a secret underground passage in the castle, which led to Michalska Hill - 4 km from the castle. 91-year-old Elzbieta of the famous Radziwill family, the last resident of the castle (she lived in it until she was 18), arrived in Nesvizh, showed this secret passage and told how the castle was with her, how it looked: where was her bedroom, where was the room her teacher, where is the study of her father Albrecht Radziwill.
The castle is being revived, it has become the largest national museum became a UNESCO site. Each generation of the Radziwills, the castle was rebuilt, and the museum wants to show all historical sections. A grandiose work is underway to restore and return the exhibits to their native land. Black Panna is a local legend about a ghost wandering through the corridors of the castle (the restless soul of Barbara, the wife of the Polish prince Sigismund).
Traveling in Belarus - the next stop is Kossovo
On the way from Nesvizh to Kossovo, autotourists can stop for the night. For example, in one of the hotels in the city of Baranovichi. And in the morning he will go to see new sights, castles and palaces of Belarus.
Palace of the Puslovskys (Kossovo Castle)— It was built in pseudo-Gothic style, it has 12 towers. The property of the voivode and industrialist Casimir Adam Titus Puslovsky. If the castle had not been blown up and burned down during the war (through the efforts of partisans in 1943), but had survived to this day in its original form, then it would be the embodiment of advanced technologies and would be considered a wonder of the world.
For example, the floor of the main hall was made of glass and was a huge aquarium with exotic fish. In total, the castle had 132 halls - there were halls for receptions and balls. And this mega construction was completed 20 years before the appearance of the electric light bulb (in 1838).
Here, in Kossovo, there is the house-museum of Andrzej Tadeusz Bonaventure Kosciuszko, whose name is deeply revered in many countries of the world and remains almost unknown in his homeland.
Distance along the route Minsk - Mir - Nesvizh- Kossovo - Ruzhany ~ 393 km, approximate travel time ~ 5 h 27 min.
The next object of our attention is the village of Ruzhany, here are the ruins - the Sapieha Palace. The palace suffered the first world war and was finally destroyed in World War II.
And we rush by car to inspect this once majestic and grandiose castle. And also, the Trinity Church (1617), the Church of Saints Peter and Paul (1778), the Basilian Monastery (1788), the building of the synagogue (the end of the 18th century), the Church of St. Casimir (1792), the building of the austeria (the second half of the 18th century). Lake Papernya, unique in its beauty, on the outskirts of Ruzhany - here you can relax, swim and sunbathe.
If you go to Ruzhany from Minsk, the length of the road will be 240 km. It will be possible to have a bite to eat and fill up the car only in Volkovysk (roadside service in Belarus is poorly developed).
Ruzhany is one of the few medieval European cities endowed with Magdeburg rights, was the residence of the Sapiehas.
This famous family gave countless significant persons: 22 people were governors of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Commonwealth, 15 were Marshals of the Main Lithuanian Tribunal, some of the Sapieha family were bishops, chancellors, vice-chancellors, hetmans ...
Well, actually, further journey in Belarus by car, you can complete the road to Brest to the Brest Fortress, stopping by the Stalin Line along the way. And from there, to Lida - to the castle of Gediminas of the XIV century. There are castles in Grodno, Novogrudok, Lyubichi, Golshany, Krevo…
Traveling by car in Belarus will open up a lot of interesting things for you. Your gaze may suddenly open someone's estate or tomb, or memorial.
Chapel-chapel of the gentry family Ozheshko - Zakozel village Brest region. Or the Pototsky palace and park complex in Vysokoye, Brest region…
Report on a trip by car in Belarus in May 2017. Minsk, Mir, Nesvizh, Grodno, Khatyn, Belovezhskaya Pushcha and other beautiful places.
Foreword
May - the time of trips to foreign seas low prices, shish kebabs in the country and the first trips to the Russian south. But no, in May 2017 we decided to go on an epic journey through Belarus. The decision was not spontaneous: back in January, we began to discuss what and how, gradually develop a route and assemble a team.
As a result, we completed two cars, figured out the route, set the dates, and on April 29 we set off from Voronezh in our Volkswagen Polo and Opel GTC.
Something like this looks like a map with all the places we wanted to visit
Road to Belarus
You can get from Voronezh to Minsk (our first point) in several ways: we considered the option to Moscow along the M4, and then to Minsk along the M1, or through Orel and Bryansk. After reading the reviews about the second option, we decided that it would be more convenient through Moscow than any other way, but we made one mistake, which I will talk about a little later.
How did we get there?
We left Voronezh at about 11 pm (all after work).
We got to Moscow without any problems (if we didn’t take money for travel on it, there would be no price for it).
We arrived in Moscow at about 4 am and spent the night (if 4 hours of sleep is considered an overnight stay) at a friend's apartment.
Due to the traffic jam on the Moscow Ring Road, Yandex.Maps decided that it was better to take the M1 by a roundabout way. As a result, we got to it only in the area of Mozhaisk.
We warmed up near Mozhaisk, walking around the Luzhetsky Ferapontov Monastery
What would we change now?
No overnight stays in Moscow! Why did we even do this? We eventually arrived in Minsk at 9 pm on April 29. We would have left early in the morning of the same day fresh and well-rested, we would have arrived a couple of hours later.
Here I'm not sure, but perhaps it would be better to stand in a traffic jam on the Moscow Ring Road and immediately go to the M1 than to wander through the settlements to Mozhaisk.
Well, okay, let's take it as a little adventure. But near Mozhaisk we saw the monastery complex - a small consolation prize. So, the border and the checkpoint are already visible.
The entrance to Belarus is marked somehow modestly
We calmly pass the checkpoint, as if we had stopped not in another country, but in a neighboring region. We read about this in various reviews, but for some reason did not fully believe it. It really is, it's very simple.
road impressions
From the same numerous reviews, we learned that the roads in Belarus are just sweet. The bitterer was our disappointment when we crossed the border. You can ride, but somehow not very pleasant. It doesn't look like we're going federal highway. Sadness, sadness, resentment
Scared? Now relax: it was the worst section of the road that we saw in Belarus, but it was already being repaired at that time. On the way back we drove through Vitebsk - it’s not very good there either, but the rest of the roads were really just gorgeous and here’s why:
The coating is of high quality with a minimum number of patches. In some places, however, there was a strange "washboard" effect, but these are trifles.
They are free even if there is a Toll Road sign.
Places to rest are very comfortable and picturesque, without gloomy cafes and parking lots for trucks.
Speed limit on the motorway: 120 km/h, on the highway: 90 km/h, unless otherwise indicated.
The roads are pleasing to the eye, they are clean, wherever you go. Here I have not seen such grooming and closeness to nature, except perhaps in the Krasnodar Territory.
There are warning signs for all fixed cameras, plus our anti-radar knew about them all. He also noticed a few tripods, but even earlier he let the oncoming stream know about them.
DPS is relatively rare, we once stopped the second car and immediately released.
The number of cars and trucks is minimal: only near big cities we stopped fearing that a zombie apocalypse had happened, and that there was no one else in Belarus besides us.
No, it's really beautiful!
Well, the roads are super, which means that you need to travel as much as possible! We pass to all the nooks and crannies where we managed to call.
In Minsk, we planned to stay only one day and stay in an unfinished suburban cottage of relatives of one of the expedition members. Oh, those nights in sleeping bags on the concrete floor... Unforgettable! But that's not the point. On the morning of April 30, we left the house, and from that moment our Belarusian adventures began.
Minsk (April 30)
We did not enter Minsk, so we had little idea of the traffic in it. It was decided not to risk it and go to public transport. And in vain! I don’t know if they always have it like that or not, but traffic cannot be compared even with Voronezh, let alone with Moscow. So you can safely move around the city by car, but at this time we are buying metro tokens and bus tickets.
Token already 1992 release, old school
I will not talk much about what you can see in Minsk, because there are many places, and all of them are very famous. During this day, we managed to walk around the center with Independence Square, a fountain with cranes, go to the church of St. Simeon and St. Helena, look into Trinity Suburb and the Island of Courage and Sorrow, take a walk in the Chelyuskintsev park and Upper City, look at National Library(which you need to approach in the evening, otherwise you will not see all these lights).
It so happened that big cities we are the least attracted, so the next day after spending the night in a cottage, we went to the Mir Castle.
Busy traffic in the center near the Opera and Ballet Theater
World
On the way to Mir, we stopped by Stankovo, where the Chapsky estate and park complex, which had fallen into disrepair, is located. Not exactly a cult place, but it was on the way, and we liked it. The main memory for me is the first stork, which I saw very, very close. Soon they will no longer cause a feeling of euphoria, but for now I cannot contain my admiration.
Before storks were perceived as ordinary pigeons
The Mir Castle itself is one of the most recognizable sights of Belarus. Looking ahead, I will say that he was the best of the palaces, fortresses, towers and castles. And this is despite the crowds of tourists who make moving between floors sooo fun.
It took us 4 hours to visit all the interesting things in the Mir Castle, and this is without a guide. Plus, we wandered a little around the World itself, and went on.
It's grandiose!
Nesvizh
The two most famous castle Belarus in one day? Why not? On the way we stopped in the village of Ishkold to look at the Trinity Church of the 15th century. The road there from the highway was unpleasantly unpaved, and the church itself was closed, so decide for yourself whether you need it or not.
Trinity Church
Nesvizh Castle is more of a palace of the 17th-18th century, although with history. In general, it's interesting, but after an unwise attempt to explore the Hermitage in one day, I have a glut of such museums.
For example, it was more interesting for me in Nesvizh to walk around the center, go to the church of the Body of God and see the tomb of the Radziwills. Just brrr, already goosebumps.
We were in Nesvizh until evening. It's time to decide where the first overnight stay will be. We decided that she would be in Lida, so while we were having dinner at a local cafe, we were looking for suitable options.
I'm talking, brrr
City of Lida
In Lida, they found only two separate apartments for 4 people, but that suited us perfectly. And yes, we did not know in advance exactly where we would be staying, so we started looking for options about 3-4 hours before spending the night. With such a strategy, my husband and I have never flown, not only in Belarus, but also in Russia and abroad.
Busy traffic in Lida on the way to Lida Castle
In Lida, the next morning, we wandered around the city a little, looked into the Lida Castle even before the opening (thanks organized group, thanks to which they let us in), and rushed to Grodno.
Grodno
It was quite a long journey, so it would be a shame not to see anything along the way. We went to the village of Murovanka to see a defensive-type church (a super facility, they even take tourists there), in the Dawn of Communism they tried to get into another palace, but it was behind a high fence and wild thickets, so it was not possible to see it. We also visited Zheludok and the church in Rozhanka: nothing special, but the caretaker was just a darling! He let us go to the organ and to the very, very top above the vault!
The path to Murovanka is worse, but you can get there without any problems
In Grodno we walked the rest of the day, looking into all the museums, churches and churches: a pleasant city in which the closeness of Europe is directly felt. I remember it with a pedestrian street and narrow sidewalks, where the bus can hit you with a mirror if you gape and do not press against the other side. And we also got on GrodnoTV, answering a couple of questions from journalists.
There are relatively many cars in Grodno
Kamenets and Belovezhskaya Pushcha
After a spontaneous overnight stay in Grodno (again, without any problems), we went to Kamenets to look at famous tower, and then Belovezhskaya Pushcha, where they rode bikes, tried to stroke bison and ate fresh cranberries with honey at a ridiculous price of 50 our rubles. The cafe at the very entrance to the park is perhaps the cheapest of all where we have been, and delicious! national park, but the prices are not lifted up, we should learn. Eh, I would have stayed here for another day, but there was sorely lacking time. It was decided to spend the night in Brest.
Belaya Vezha and the only dirt bike route in the forest
By the way, the tower in Kamyanets is called Belaya Vezha, from there it got the name Pushcha, so it’s worth going there, well, plus the 13th century of construction.
Brest
Another place for which an incomplete day was not enough.
The only walk in the rain was in the Brest Fortress
In the morning, immediately to the Brest Fortress (they were there just before May 9, the place, of course, gives you goosebumps and tears), then the Berestye Museum, a walk around the city. It's getting late, and it's time to head back.
The preserved settlement-museum of Berestye
Baranovichi
From Brest to Baranovichi, where we spent the next night, we drove through Kossovo, the Puslovsky Palace (now being restored, and they are not allowed there) with the estate of Kosciuszko and Ruzhany with the awesome unrestored Sapieha Palace. In Baranovichi themselves, apart from the church, they didn’t find anything special, so we decided to slowly move forward to the last point of our journey.
Sapieha: being on the territory is life-threatening, there are even signs there
Braslav lakes
To get to the lakes, we had to return to Minsk, so we decided to finish off the military-patriotic program and drove to Khatyn. A very sad place, but I didn’t want to stir my soul for half a day, so we started our journey to the lakes in an hour.
The creepiest part of the memorial is the chimneys
First Myadel, then Naroch, in the late afternoon we went along the eco-trail "Blue Lakes". On the Braslav lakes, we stayed in a house, many rent them there, and we had to get there by 11 o'clock in the evening.
We wander along the eco-trail "Blue Lakes". Not the most blue Lake, Yes?
From blue lakes we drove through Lyntupy (where Father Jacques Yves Cousteau is from, for a moment) and Kamai, and finally reached our lake Strusto.
Our settled place by the lake Strusto
Here we settle for two full days indulging in passive recreation. We will also stop by to see Braslav himself, go through the Slobodkovskaya Ozova ridge eco-trail and take a walk along Mayak Mountain, but all this is very close, so you can relax.
Well, now home through Vitebsk, Kaluga and Tula!
In general, the trip passed without incident, the memories remained the most pleasant, but I’ll tell you about a few nuances - financial, domestic and travel.
On the tracks, the speed limit is pleasant, but in settlements often you can run into 40 and even 30 km / h.
We were warned that with the observance of the regime, everything is very strict, and it is better not to violate it. You drive along a good, straight, empty road at 90 km/h and grieve.
Poland is already across the river in Brest, but no one will ask for documents, but on the way to the Braslav Lakes we ran into a checkpoint in the border zone with Lithuania. On the last day, they also ended up in the border zone with Latvia, but they didn’t even check their documents, unlike the first ones.
Buy local sim card At least for the sake of the Internet, it is very necessary. This should be done in any country you visit.
When returning through Kaluga, be on the lookout: before it lies new asphalt with huge, no, well, just ORGOMENY pits that are dangerous for the life and integrity of the car. Perhaps they will be patched up by the time of your trip. But it is not exactly.
Taxi in Minsk killed us, namely, UBER. Tried to leave shopping center really more than an hour. Very irresponsible.
No traffic jams anywhere, no problems with parking. Taught by experience, we sometimes parked a little further from popular tourist sites.
If you want to go with tents at this time of the year, as we do, I do not advise. It was cold, damp and swampy. The tents were carried all the way by dead weight.
Change money in advance: in Minsk, for example, we were not allowed in the park in paid toilet. True, in other cities with many owners of apartments, we paid with our rubles.
In addition to Yandex.Maps, we use Maps.me. They are convenient to mark points and pave the way, and they also work great offline.
Do not forget to get a green card, which is not a residence permit, as in the USA, but only car insurance (700 rubles per car). Although, how to forget, when in front of the border of these kiosks there are 100 pieces through every kilometer of the road.
On the road, a walkie-talkie helps a lot, especially if you are driving two cars.
There were a lot of ticks, so be careful when wandering through the forests.
A squirrel, a hare, a stork and even a deer may well run across (or fly over) the road right in front of our noses, as it happened with us. Be careful.
Do not worry: the prices in Belarus are adequate for everything, I would even say that they are lower than ours. In a cafe, the average check came out a little less than Voronezh, gasoline - a little more expensive. In total, our car spent 11 thousand rubles, rolling about 4 thousand kilometers. We rented accommodation for no more than 300 of our rubles per person per night, which is simply mega-economical.
And there are also kind people in Belarus: many times they approached us to offer help, even when we did not ask.
Traveling by car is much easier than it might seem, honestly! Well, dare to repeat?
