| Duration: | 3 Day(s) - 2 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Classic Tours |
Day 1: Minsk Sightseeing Tour
General sightseeing tour of Minsk - Independence Avenue, Red Church, Freedom Square, Town Hall, Svyatoduhov Cathedral Avenue Winners, Minsk Arena, the Trinity Suburb, Island of Courage and Sorrow, Victory Square Yakub Kolas Square, National Library, and others. At the request of a group visiting the Minsk city museums – “The National Historical Museum of the Republic of Belarus”, “The National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus”, “Museum of Theatre and Music Culture of the Republic of Belarus”, “Book Museum of the National Library of Belarus” and etc.
Lunch and transfer Minsk - Dudutki (45 km).
Excursion “Ethnographic Complex Dudutki” that offers to the visitors:
Ethnographic gallery featuring the items of the 18th-20th centuries
Handicraft yard (straw and willow weaving)
Pottery (museum of ceramics)
Woodworker’s shop
Blacksmiths shop of the 19th century
Creamery
Bakery
Brewery (a vodka brewing shop)
Shed with vintage cars (Zim, Chaika, Horch, Willis, Volkswagen Beetle, Ganomak, Fiat Topolino, Chrysler)
Windmill in the Dutch style (built-in 1903-1905 by brothers Mikhail and Ivan Polyakov)
Wooden church of John the Prophet
Stable with pedigree horses, a pony, and a donkey
Zoological gardens (with cows, goats, pigs, rabbits, poultry)
Ostrich farm
Return to Minsk (transfer Dudutki-Minsk, 45 km).
Day 2: Country Excursion Memorial Complex Hatyn
Khatyn Memorial is a tribute to almost three million Belarusians who died during the Great Patriotic War (World War 2). Until 1943, Khatyn was a usual Belarusian village to the northeast of Minsk. But on March 22, 1943, after a skirmish nearby in which a German officer was killed, the occupying German forces encircled the village. All the inhabitants were rounded up and taken to a barn, which was then set on fire. Some 149 people, including 75 children, died.
Only one adult, 56-year-old Joseph Kaminsky, survived the attack. He found his injured son but was unable to save him. At the center of the complex stands an astonishing 6m bronze statue called “The Unconquered Man” – a tribute to Joseph Kaminsky and his son and the Eternal Flame.
Lunch
Visit the Museum of the Great Patriotic War.
The current premises of the museum are impressive not only due to their scale but also symbolism that reflects major milestones of the history of 1941-1945. The composition represents four main blocks to match the number of years of the war and the army fronts that took part in Belarus’ liberation. Looks like a festive salute: 11 sparkling rays made of stainless steel to symbolize the Great Victory and at the same time 1,100 tragic days and nights of Minsk’s occupation.
A 45-meter stela Minsk – Hero City opened in 1985 for the 40th anniversary of the Great Victory and the sculpture of the Motherland is located near the museum. Heroes Square is embellished by a fountain of 170 jets indicating the number of Belarusian-populated localities that were liberated by the Soviet army during the war.
The exhibits are divided into 28 collections and showcased in ten themed halls:
Hall №1 Peace and War
Hall №2 World on the eve of and during the early years of World War II
Hall №3 By the Road of War
Hall №4 The Great Patriotic War. Defensive battles in Belarus in the summer of 1941. The Battle of Smolensk. The Battle of Moscow in 1941-1942.
Hall №5 Turning point in the war. Soviet rear
Hall №6 Nazi occupation regime in Belarus. 1941-1944.
Hall №7 Guerrilla movement and the anti-fascist underground struggle in Belarus. Participation of Soviet citizens in the European Resistance. 1941-1945.
Hall №8 Liberation of Belarus. The defeat of Nazi Germany and its allies and militarist Japan
Hall №9 After the liberation of Belarus. 1944-1950. Memory about the war
Hall №10 The Heirs of the Great Victory.
The museum is equipped with multilingual audio guides, plasma screens, demonstrating photos and newsreels, and self-service terminals. Today, the museum disposes of about 10 thousand items.
Transfer Minsk - Brest (350 km).
Day 3: Brest Sightseeing Tour
A sightseeing bus and walking tour of the Brest - one of the main regional centers and city of a thousand-year history – Holy Cross Catholic Church, Freedom Square, the theater, music, drama, etc. Visiting the Museum «Rescued artistic values» or the Museum of railway equipment, archaeological Museum “Berestye”(visiting museums upon request ). Excursion to the memorial complex "Brest Fortress - Hero" - One of the most significant places in Belarus.
The defense of Brest Fortress took place on 22–29 June 1941. On June 22, 1941, the garrison of the Brest fortress the first assumed blows of fascist aggressors will open and more than a month held the fort in a full environment. The Brest Fortress, defended by the Red Army against the Wehrmacht, held out longer than expected and after the Second World War became a symbol of Soviet resistance.
In 1965 the fortress received the title of Hero Fortress for the 1941 defense. You will visit the Museum of the Defense of the Brest Fortress exposition reflects not only the military actions of 1941 in the territory of the fortress but also the history of its construction, the largest battles of the Great Patriotic War, and the liberation of Belarus from Nazi invaders.
Transfer to Belovezhskaya Pushcha (65 km). Lunch
Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park is one of the most famous places in Belarus and plays a very important role in the ecology of Belarus. The first records of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park date back to the year 983. The name comes from a white tower in the vicinity (Belaya Vezha) erected 700 years ago, and the name Pushcha is mentioned in both Lithuanian and Polish historical documents dating back to the 15th century. Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. In 1993 it was granted UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status.
The park is famous for its ancient named oak trees dating back more than 500 years. In all, there are almost 900 species of trees and flowers. It is also home to more than 250 animal and bird species, including the largest population of the rare European bison. The demonstration of open-air cages is located near the Museum of the Nature of Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
On an area of about 20 hectares, you will see the main types of flora and fauna. You may come close to the forest inhabitants, to treat with a bread piece, apple, or a branch of the bison that got used to visitors, elks, boars, a Tarpanovidny horse, or a bear. The estate of the Belarusian Father Frost is situated in Belovezhskaya Pushcha and his estate operates even in summer.
Transfer to the Airport.
