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| Belarus |
| Belarus is a tiny country that has spent very little time as an independent state. It is also where my great great grandfather came from.
I will spend 3 days in Minsk, 1 day in Brest, and 1 day in Hrodna. Depending on visa constraints I will add a buffer and have 5 days in Belarus. |
| Minsk
Minsk was settled in the ninth century by the early Slavic tribes of Krivich and Dregovich. In 1061 the city was officially founded. During the 13th century Minsk was attacked by nomadic tribes from the Golden Horde. In 1413 the area became a Polish province. By the 16th century Minsk had become an important center both culturally and economically of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was also a center for the Eastern Orthodox Church. In 1654 Minsk was captured by Russia. This, however, did not last long and Poland regained the surrounding territory through a bloody and destructive war. This high level of destruction caused Minsk to become a town of little importance. In 1793 it was once again annexed by Russia. This time around it grew and modernized. During WWI the city was right on the battlefront and suffered much damage. In 1918 it became the capital of the Belarusian People�s Republic. This only lasted a few months. Between the wars there was rapid development. In WWII Minsk was taken by Germany in only 4 days in 1941 as part of Operation Barbarossa. During the war it had more ghettos than any other city. Today it is a growing capital city of Belarus. To come to Belarus you will need an invitation, visa, and health insurance. The former need to be arranged in advance and the later can be purchased for about $1 a day. Things to Do: WWII Memorials- Head to Victory Square to check out the Obelisk. There is also a Minsk Hero monument. Visit the Jewish memorial. State Museum of Folk Architecture and Peasant Life- This collection of homes is a great way to learn about the country. National Arts Museum- This museum holds a collection of Belarusian and Russian artwork. Museum of the Great Patriotic War- This is the name that Russia and parts of Eastern Europe have given to WWII. Belarus lost 25% of its population in WWII; this museum chronicles what life was like. Don�t miss the tanks and planes out back. Day Trip from Minsk Mir Castle- This was the first Belarusian monument to appear on UNESCO�s World Heritage list. There is a small museum about its history. A guided tour is a good idea. Brest Brest was founded by the Slavs and was first mentioned in 1019. During the 16th century the name changed to Brest-Litovsk. Soon it became part of Russia. During WWI in 1915 it was captured by the German Empire. In 1918 the Brest-Litovsk treaty was signed here, marking the end of the war between Russia and the central powers. Then in 1919 Poland took control of the city. In 1939 it was annexed to the Soviet Union. During WWII the Nazi�s attacked and occupied the city. It was liberated in 1944 by the Red Army. Things to Do: Brest-Litovsk Fortress- This is where the 1918 peace treaty by the same name was signed. Museum of the Defense of the Brest Hero Fortress- This is about the history of the fortress. A large section concentrates on the siege. Hrodna Hrodna began as a small fortress. It was first mentioned in the 13th century. Due to the strategic location it was often attacked by invaders. In the 1250�s it became part of Lithuania. Soon it became an important center of trade and commerce. During WWI it was occupied by the Germans and then was ceded to Russia. The Germans also occupied it during WWII. Things to Do: Old Castle- This was constructed during the 16th century. Today it houses a local history museum. However, there are some odd additions to the collection. Church of Saints Boris and Gleb- Be sure to check out the multicolored stone patterns in the cathedral. |
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