A different type of journey – travel to Belarus

I usually don’t go to long excursions by bus, but when I decided to travel to Belarus this seemed as the only option. Belarus is quite a difficult country to enter with it’s customs and VISA’s, it was better to leave these organizing issues to the travel agency. Belarus is our close neighbor, only 300 km from Kaunas to Minsk, but the average time spent on the road is not less than 5 hours. A huge amount of this time is spent in the customs, while the officers count the travelers, check their passports.  Then you have to fill the migration form. After that each passenger steps out of the bus and goes through the customs by himself.  Sometimes the officers check your bags, and sometimes they don’t, some additional issues with driver’s documents, so we wait longer…

After the customs are done, we are here Belarus. Several kilometers from the border, we stopped in the gas station to buy the local currency. And boy, what an exchange rate it was! Always change your currency in the bank. Nowhere else…

Travel to Belarus starts through remote areas

The first place we stopped was the small village Gerviaty. The symbol and center of the town is the Saint Trinity church. This is the largest catholic church in the whole Belarus. While we were exploring the area a local cat and a dog entered the church and felt like at home. Seems it’s usual here.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Moving forward towards Minsk, we stopped at the place which is super important to Lithuanian and Belarus common history – the castle of Kreva. Our great Dukes were imprisoned here, and some serious historical contracts signed, related to our kings. As this castle dates XIII century, so for this day there are only ruins and walls left. Around the area local craftsmen are selling their made art.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Driving along the roads of Belarus, the country looks plain: forests, fields, forests…. When we drive through some villages, looks like the time stopped there. One or two local shops called “Produkty”. Though the villages are super neat and organised, all houses are facing the street, the fences are identical everywhere.

• 

• 

• 

Minsk – the metropolis of Belarus

When we reached Minsk, we had the feeling that we reached not only the different country but also the different time. I can just confirm that all the legends about the magnitude and the cleanliness of this city are true. The streets are super wide, clean and flowers everywhere.

I don’t like excursions by bus where the guides just say “look right”, “look left”, but this was a must on my travel to Belarus. We drove through half of Minsk in this way passing by President’s residency, Sports Palace, waterpark, theater, etc. We were able to walk more only in the city center, where we visited The Island of Tears, which is dedicated to the solders who didn’t come back from the war in Afghanistan. Also we were introduced to the most modern smart building where 1 sq. meter apartment price can reach 3000 USD. And other modern city’s skyscrapers.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Almost all of Minsk was destroyed during the World War II, so it allowed the government to rebuild the metropolis and “modern old town”.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Where did we sleep in Minsk

Belarus is heard for quite cheap stays and places to eat. Where you can find the same quality but for much lower price than elsewhere. Of course we went with excursion program so we have to accept what goes along the group’s budget. So our hotel is called “40 let pobiedy” (40 years of victory). The view inside is the same as outside. But the best benefit is that the hotel is quite close to the main street of Minsk – prospekt Nezaleznosti. Nevertheless, these hotels bring charm to the travel to Belarus.

Travel to Belarus castles

The second day of the excursion we were moving towards home. The first sop – castle of Niasviz. This castle was started in XVI century by the modern Europe standards. The castle complex consists of the castle and the church. The visiting of the church is free, but you shall not pass to the crypt without a mandatory donation of 1 rubl. This is the UNESCO object since 2005.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

The castle of Mir is another UNESCO object. It was built in gothic style at the beginning and, later on, finished in renessance. It reminds the fortress of the Middle ages. In the corners there are 4 defence towers 25 meters tall. And a huge pond is in the castle area. The legend say that this pond is cursed and every year at leas one boy drowned there until the swimming was prohibited.

• 

• 

• 

The further castle, o remains was in Navahrudak. It is assumed that in Navahrudak in XIII century the only King of Lithuania was crowned. Also this is the city where Poland’s king Jogaila (70 years) married his 4th wife Jadvyga (17 years). Also, one of the most famous poet of Lithuania and Poland – Adam Mitzkiewitsz was born here.

• 

The last stop – the city and castle of Lyda. The remains of the castle are fully reconstructed. The museum of history and art is in the castle area.

What treats to bring back from Belarus

Not the last castle was important for the travelers, but to be in time at the supermarket to buy treats. What is worth to take home when you travel to Belarus? The local cosmetics has a good ratio of price and quality, the beer of Lyda (especially “Premium” and “Aksom”), sparkling wine, the most unusual chips – with the taste of shrimps and “cholod” (slavic dish from meat vegetables and jelly), various types of marshmallows and sweets. Here is what I bought.

To conclude my overall experience, this was a different type of travel. But in a really good way. Belarus has even more beautiful cities, other than Minsk and I have a wish to come back here and explore it more and more. Belarus and Lithuania are so related in our history, and travelling in the footsteps of our ancestors brings a totally different meaning of travel. I will definitely travel to Belarus again.

Related posts: New Year without fireworks… in Kyiv