Weekend in Belarus. Vacation on the weekend. Turov. Unique crosses and no less unique birds

Cultural Life Center - anti-cafe "1387" (street Sovetskaya, 97/2). Here you can not only take a break with a cup of tea, with books and tabletops, but also get to the Brain Slaughterhouse, Mova Nanova, a poetry slam or a chamber concert. The guys even have a city quest - if you have a lot of time, you can take part, they promise a complete immersion in the city.

Where to eat? You can drink latte or raf in the open summer smile coffee (St. Komsomolskaya, 39). If you are completely cold after the promenade through the winter Bobruisk, there are drinks and stronger ones.

The main hot spot in the city is, of course, the restaurant "Red Vezha" (Pushkin St., 194/19) Bobruisk "Vodokanal" (!). The establishment itself is located in a restored water tower, the menu has almost 400 dishes, such as pork leg in a beer marinade or schnelclops. Visitors are pampered as best they can: billiards, hookah, a hall with a transparent ceiling.

If you want more beautiful interiors and less variety on the menu, so as not to hang out for a long time - head to a charming cafe l "histoire (Moscow street, 42).

Where to stay? Hotel "Rainbow" (Shevchenko, 14) is, in fact, a guest house with 10 rooms. It is not located in the very center, but the price tag here is excellent (single room € 13), and a hearty breakfast is included in the price.

Those who travel to Bobruisk by car may like "The Cherry Orchard" (v. Shchatkova)- a cool, really European-level hotel in the place where the estate was located Dunin-Martsinkevich. Sauna, swimming pool, beautiful views of the river bend - worth paying € 25 for a double room.

How to get there? Getting to Bobruisk is as easy as shelling pears: jump on the train that goes from Minsk (there are about a dozen of them every day) - on the Stadler train you will get there in an hour and a half, on the rest it will take up to two. The ticket costs €2.

If you like buses, then there are also a dozen options to get from Minsk. Book 2-2.5 hours on the road and from € 3. Do you want to go faster? Book a place on the minibus - for example, with these guys (€ 3 and 2 hours).

Deep

The smallest city in our selection and perhaps the coziest. At least two gastronomic endemics known throughout the country are produced in Glubokoye - sugar-coated cranberries (which we strongly advise friends to buy as a souvenir from Belarus) and the legendary condensed milk. In addition, it is here that the annual Cherry Festival takes place - one of the cutest regional festivities in Belarus.

Fortunately for diabetes fighters, this is far from all the city is famous for. Trinity Church XVIII century, unique Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, the surviving remains of a Carmelite monastery, an old cemetery with a memorial column in honor of the constitution of the Commonwealth of 1791 - safely lay 2-3 hours to see only the main sights.

There are dozens of monuments and sculptures in Glubokoe, which are still being actively erected today. The local community deserves special respect for the decisive reconstruction of the central square, where in 2012, instead of the traditional Lenin, they laid the Alley of famous countrymen, installing 8 busts of the legendary natives of these places. Among them are the founder of the Belarusian theater Ignat Buinitsky, writer, scientist and politician Vaclav Lastovsky, artist Yazep Drozdovich (oh, urgently google his work!) And other nice guys. There is also a monument to Baron Munchausen nearby - local residents claim that he is also from Glubokoe. At least there is a grave of a person with such a surname in the cemetery (find it, even though this is a whole quest).

Let's not forget to mention that there are five rivers and two lakes in the city and its environs. We recommend chilling a little right in the center, near Lake Kagalnoe, on which swans and ducks swim idyllically.

At the end of the walk, you should definitely stop by and take a walk in the local arboretum, located on the outskirts of the city towards Polotsk. The place is very cool, if only because it is the second largest arboretum in Belarus (after the Minsk botanical garden). The dendrological park was created in the 1960s for scientific purposes - now there are about 500 species of trees and shrubs from five different continents.

Where to eat? The choice is small. We recommend a cafe "Neon"(pl. September 17, 12)- the main and, to be honest, the only party place in the city, which combines the functions of a restaurant, a disk player and even a little bit of a nightclub. But they will feed a weary traveler here with pleasure and not for very expensive. As an alternative - pizzeria "Pizzeria" (Lenin St., 9), where, as the locals assure, they make quite good pizza (and what else?) On a thin dough.

Where to stay? Hotel at your service "Deep"(Moscow street, 7) with her inveterate service for € 22 for two or a mini-hotel "North"(Skorina St., 60), where prices will be slightly higher, but they promise a "common kitchen" and almost home comfort. There are a few more options for Booking.com.

How to get there? It's best to have your own car, of course. If you don't have your own, rent a car. If this option does not suit you, 6 buses a day go from Minsk to Glubokoe (three of them rush through Glubokoe to Braslav). See the schedule at ticketbus.by. The ticket will cost about €4.

Polotsk and Novopolotsk

A cool combo for lovers of time management: the oldest city in Belarus and one of the newest - in one fell swoop. Well, as one - between them 20 km. But public transport runs!

Polotsk was founded in 862, and therefore the energy here is quite special. You will feel it as soon as you approach the famous Sophia Cathedral (Zamkovaya street, 1)(one of the three among the Eastern Slavs - on a par with Kiev and Novgorod, erected in the XI century by Vseslav Charodey). Stand on the cliff, thinking about something important (otherwise it never works here for some reason), make a wish by touching the Borisov stone, which lies right next to Sofia.

Be sure to go to Spaso-Evfrosinevsky Monastery(st. Euphrosyne of Polotsk, 89)- one of the oldest in Belarus. If you don’t really care about religion, look at more mundane and even scientific things - a monument to the letter “Ў”, which, as you probably know, is found only in the Belarusian alphabet, as well as the geographical center of Europe. You don't need to go far - everything is along Skaryna Avenue.

We advise you to look into the local art gallery (Streletskaya st., 4а/4). Modern avant-garde artists, original works by Yazep Drozdovich (you already know something about him if you carefully read the article), ancient Polotsk frescoes.

Bomb selfie can be taken at the bas-relief of the cinema "Space" (Molodyozhnaya street, 25), dedicated to the first manned flight into space, until all the beauty finally fell apart - the cinema does not work, and no one is especially watching it.

If you decide to stay longer in Polotsk, in the evening we advise you to go to

08.30 meeting with the guide at the railway station in Minsk (near the assistant on duty at the station on the 1st floor).

Breakfast in the cafe of the city (portions).

Sightseeing tour of Minsk (3 hours)- will introduce you to one of the most beautiful European cities, whose history spans more than nine centuries. You will pass along the main avenues of the capital along Independence Avenue and Pobediteley Avenue, which are the visiting card of the city, you will see the unique buildings of post-war Minsk, ensembles of its squares, parks and squares, sports facilities and modern areas. During the exit to Independence Square, you will get acquainted with the Government House, the Catholic Church of Saints Simeon and Helena, which are original symbols of the city. On the island of "Sorrow and Courage" you will see a monument in honor of the Afghan soldiers, learn the history of its creation. And next to the island is the Trinity Suburb quarter - a quarter of urban development of the 19th-20th centuries, walking along the streets of which you can imagine how our city looked before. During a walking tour of the Upper Town, where the gray-haired antiquity met today, you will get acquainted with the history of Belarus, see the building of the City Hall, the Cathedral of the Mariinsky Church, the Orthodox Cathedral, the former Basilian and Bernardine monasteries, and also learn the history of the appearance of Minsk.
Dinner in the cafe.
Country excursion "Architecture and history of the castle in the World"- acquaintance with the masterpiece of Belarusian architecture - the castle complex in Mir. The castle in Mir is a wonderful monument of defense architecture of Belarus (XVI-XVII centuries), with its towers and walls, creating a surprisingly complete and harmonious picture of the Belarusian Middle Ages. The walls of the majestic Mir Castle have seen a lot during their centuries-old history - both solemn entrances of princes, and knightly tournaments, and sieges during enemy invasions. And although its walls are riddled with scars, and the luxurious decoration was burned and looted, the castle still stands unshakably and confidently. Mir Castle is included in the list of world cultural and historical heritage of UNESCO.

During the tour, you will be told about the main stages of the construction of the castle, you will find out who were its owners for centuries, hear interesting stories associated with them, as well as legends that still excite our imagination. You will visit the main exposition of the museum, visit the castle tower, the prison basement and see the church-tomb of the Russian princes Svyatopolk-Mirsky, who became the owners of the castle at the end of the 19th century. In the very former place of Mir - multinational and colorful, the Catholic Church of St. Nicholas, the Orthodox Trinity Church, the complex of Jewish synagogues and the famous Mir Yeshiva, the houses of artisans and the ensemble of the former Market Square have been preserved.

Return to Minsk.

Hotel accommodation.

It is better to start getting acquainted with the country that gave the world the game World of Tanks, the Viber messenger, the MSQRD (“Masquerade”) application and the rap artist Max Korzh, better from the capital of Belarus - Minsk with its wide avenues and sun-drenched squares. And to plunge into history, go to Brest. The city is located almost on the border of Belarus with Poland.

Walk around Minsk

Today, the capital of Belarus is not only a city with a rich Soviet heritage, but also a modern metropolis with new places that attract tourists from different cities and countries. Kazan is no exception. You can get to Minsk from the Tatarstan capital by direct flight in just over two hours, while visiting Belarus requires an internal Russian passport.

Minsk was completely destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. Later, the hero city was revived in a new guise. You can look at its main attractions by walking along Independence Avenue - this is the main artery of the city, stretching for 15 kilometers.

Start your tour from Independence Square, where the monument to the leader of the October Revolution, Vladimir Lenin, is adjacent to the Red Catholic Church, the Government House and the city executive committee. Then go to the eternal flame on Victory Avenue and take a famous photo from Minsk postcards with the words on the roofs of nearby houses - "The feat of the people is immortal."

Very close will be the house where Lee Harvey Oswald, the main suspect in the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy, lived for two years.

And the painted and most “instagrammable” Oktyabrskaya street will remain a little aside - a real open-air graffiti gallery. The former industrial street has become the creative center of Minsk. Walking along it, you will certainly stumble upon a bust of Lenin, who turned away from all this colorful variety. Today, Oktyabrskaya Street houses offices of advertising companies, fitness centers and editorial offices of local media, and Max Korzh shoots his videos here.

Take a look at the new national library in the form of a giant diamond (or a death star?). And even better, go upstairs - to the observation deck, where you can look at Minsk from a bird's eye view.

Tired of the noise of the roads, head to the city parks. For example, in Chelyuskintsev Park. Here you can not only wander along the alleys in the shade of tall pines, but also ride the rides, and, if you're lucky, feed the squirrels.

Visit the Brest Fortress

The most convenient way to get to Brest from Minsk is by train. Travel time will be approximately four hours. Trains run almost every hour, but it's still better to play it safe and buy a ticket in advance, especially if you have planned a weekend trip.

The key point to visit in Brest is, of course, the Brest Fortress. It is located at the confluence of the Western Bug and Mukhavets rivers, surrounded by moats and consists of three fortifications (Kobrin, Terespol, Volyn) and a citadel.

Several gates lead to the memorial complex. The most impressive is the main entrance, which is a reinforced concrete block with a carved five-pointed star. Lingering at this gate, you will hear the voice of Yuri Levitan, who announces the attack of fascist Germany on the USSR. The song "Holy War" is also played here, and the sounds of bombing and shooting are heard.

Once on the territory of the fortress, you will pass by the sculpture "Thirst" in the form of an exhausted warrior with a helmet in his hand, who reaches for water. The composition is dedicated to the first dramatic days of the war, when the inhabitants of the fortress were cut off from water sources, and the approaches to the river were constantly shelled. Now in the soldier's helmet there are always fresh flowers.

In the central square of the fortress, the Eternal Flame burns and an obelisk in the form of a Russian rifle bayonet rises. Here the main monument is a huge sculpture of a warrior. High school students of local schools carry the “Memory Watch” near it. Last year, this tradition turned 45 years old - every day the guys stand in military uniform at the Eternal Flame and honor the memory of famous and nameless heroes.

Near the central square is the Museum of the Defense of the Brest Fortress. Here are the personal belongings of the defenders found during the excavations, documents and awards. However, the museum is dedicated not only to the Great Patriotic War. In the first halls you can get acquainted with the pre-war history of the fortress.

You can buy souvenirs on the territory of the complex in a small bus, which during the war was used by medical units to transport the wounded. Today here you will find magnets with the image of Brest and a portrait of the head of the USSR Joseph Stalin, as well as Soviet posters such as "The Motherland Calls" or "Chatterbox is a godsend for a spy."

Walk around Brest

Brest is still closely associated with the Great Patriotic War - with its beginning, with the defense of the fortress, with piercing inscriptions on the walls and a huge monument. But the city is not limited to this. So, having examined the fortress, do not rush to leave.

Not far from the memorial there is an open-air museum of railway equipment. Head here to see retro trains.

Arriving in Brest by train, one of the first sights you will stumble upon will be St. Nicholas Brothers Church. It was installed in memory of the sailors participating in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, and even itself is somewhat reminiscent of a five-masted ship with blue sails.

Directly opposite the church is the Winter Garden at the Pedagogical University, where you can admire plants from the tropics, subtropics and deserts.

One of the main monuments of the city is dedicated to the 1000th anniversary of Brest. Brest residents will celebrate the anniversary date only next year, but the monument has been standing here since 2009. Under the cover of a guardian angel - figures of princes, a chronicler, images of a mother and a soldier. There is a high relief with historical plots in a circle: the legend of the founding of the city, its construction, the participation of citizens in the Battle of Grunwald, the publication of the Berestey Bible, the defense of the Brest Fortress in 1941 and space exploration.

Next to the monument there is a Gogol street and an alley of lanterns, passing through which you can find sculptural compositions based on the works of Nikolai Vasilyevich. Here is the devil who stole the month from the story "The Night Before Christmas", and the Nose, who escaped from the owner, and even a terrible scene from "Wii".

Get to know the national cuisine

Of course, potatoes can be safely considered one of the brands of Belarus. So, it is with her that it is worth starting acquaintance with national cuisine.

In local cafes, be sure to try draniki - potato pancakes served with sour cream. Similar to them, but thicker due to the filling - sorcerers. They can be with meat, mushrooms, fish, cottage cheese or even fruit.

Another national dish is potato babka - grated potatoes baked in the oven with meat and onions. For a delicate taste, the dish is generously seasoned with sour cream.

For the first try holodnik - a soup for the hot season, like the usual okroshka. Cold national soup is made from beets, fresh cucumbers, boiled eggs and greens. Beetroot broth, kefir, kvass or even mineral water are taken as a basis - as you like. Kholodnik differs from okroshka primarily in that it does not contain meat products, which means that vegetarians can safely eat it.

Istanbul

Great metropolis on the banks of the Bosphorus: cats, seagulls, ferries, mosques and street food.

how to get there?

Belavia (€ 270) and Turkish Airlines (€ 290) fly from Minsk to Istanbul 5 times a week. Pay attention to flights with transfers at UIA or Aeroflot (€ 200-220).

What can you do in a weekend?

If you are in Istanbul for the first time, there is just enough time to honestly work out the main program: see the miracle of Hagia Sophia with your own eyes, look into blue mosque(if you ask politely, you can stay and sit quietly in the corner during prayer) and go down to Basilica Cistern. The rest of the time should be devoted to the free program - take a ferry to the Asian part of the city, by chance (well, or with our help) find a popular and very authentic hookah Corlulu Ali Pasa Medresesi, located right on the site of an old cemetery, try street food everywhere - roasted chestnuts, mussels with rice and, of course, “balyk ekmek” (freshly fried mackerel sandwich) or “kokorech” (Istanbul signature sandwich stuffed with lamb offal).

Check out the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art Istanbul Modern, and after visiting it, go up from the sea to the bohemian quarter Cihangir (Cihangir), located in the Beyoglu region. Here you will find old bookstores and many antique shops, as well as cozy cafes and coffee shops of the third wave.

How to prepare for a trip?

Watch the documentary "City of Cats" ("Kedi") - about the most important inhabitants of Istanbul's streets and lanes.