Duration: | 2 Day(s) - 1 Night(s) |
Tour Category: | Classic Tours |
Polotsk is one of the most beautiful towns in Belarus.
Situated on the River Western Dvina,
The town was founded in 862 and is not only is it the oldest town in the country, but it is also one of the oldest in the whole Slavic region, making it a popular tourist attraction in Belarus.
You will see the St. Sophia Cathedral a symbol of equality of Polotsk with Constantinople, the Spaso-Evfrosiniyevsky monastery - the center of the Belarusian Orthodoxy and spirituality in which venerable Euphrosyne of Polatsk's relics and the most ancient fresco paintings – the main sights of the city are stored. You will be able to imagine the 12th-century history of the place - the geographical center of Europe, the biggest monument to Francis Skorine in the world, Borisov the stone granting desires, magnificent coastal landscapes, ten unique museums, and a set of bridges. You will fully feel the atmosphere of old times on the beautiful streets of Polotsk
The general sightseeing tour lasts around 2 days:
Day 1: Moving to Polotsk (230 km) from Minsk
Сomplex of Jesuit collegium in Polotsk
Jesuit Collegium in Polotsk – the first Jesuit educational institution in the territory of modern Belarus. Thanks to teaching only in the local language, to a high education level, a big library, and a laboratory, the number of students increased from 5 to 450 people. The richest коллегиум was the cultural and educational center of the Polotsk lands and received the high status of the academy where 700 people studied. Here continues the existing tradition of education – in an architectural monument of Baroque style the Polotsk State University was located.
In a collegium the exposition "Reconstruction of the project of Gabriel Gruber "The mechanical head is open" - it is executed in Socrates's image and is ready to answer all your questions in 5 languages. Epiphany convent in Polock. The Polotsk earth long since is famous for its history, social and religious life.
Among other witnesses, there is the development of religion in the city, pilgrims Sacred and Bogoyavlensky Polotsky attract the monastery. For 5 centuries of existence, he repeatedly burned and burned down completely, was reconstructed, and received guests of honor. At the end of the 18th century he was visited by Catherine II then it noticeably changed – the two-storeyed big case was completed.
Today it is the Museum of the Belarusian Publishing and the museum library of Simeon Polotsky who taught at a brotherly school before going to Moscow to train Ivan, Sovyyu, and Fedor – children of the Russian tsar Alexey Mikhaylovich.
Borisov stone
Someone sees in them memorable signs of the prince, someone boundary marks or track signs, someone entreaty about help – but all of us understand that it is a unique and remarkable witness of legendary events that occurred tens of centuries ago.
It is about a whole series of huge stones – boulders - with cut signs and inscriptions – you will see one of them. The stone which has received the name Boris is brought to the Polotsk Sofiye and majestically welcomes guests. And on him an inscription "Jesus Christ. My God Pomoz to the slave Boris".
Saint Sophia Cathedral in Polock
From what party you wouldn't drive up to the city – you will see a majestic and graceful baroque silhouette of the Polotsk Sofia. Have built the most ancient Christian shrine and the first stone temple in Belarus, one of the earliest in Ancient Russia 10 centuries ago - the copy of the Byzantine monastery.
Now, from the initial shape, only the crypt, three apses, a part of internal columns and the finishing of the base have remained. Today St. Sophia Cathedral - the first representative of art that has incorporated lines peculiar to the Polotsk earth. Church services stopped even here at the beginning of the 20th century: now it is a unique museum and one of the best concert halls in Europe where you will hear fine body or chamber music.
Lunch
The Savior and St Euphrosyne Convent in Polotsk
The young beauty – the princess who decided to become contrary to the will of the father the nun, and as a consequence the mother superior of the convent, the first in the territory of Belarus, – Euphrosyne of Polatsk. Exactly thanks to it in Polotsk there was a Spaso-Evfrastiniyevsky monastery and in it a spiritual symbol "Zyaml_ Stalemate Belym_ Wing _" - an invaluable cross of Eufrosinia.
The Orthodox convent was built 9 centuries ago. Its first temple – the Spaso-Evfrosiniyevsky church decorated with the most ancient frescos – was built only in 30 weeks and became the best, from the remained constructions, an example of Drevnepolotsky architecture.
Free time. Overnight
Day 2: Moving to Minsk (230 km)
Free time in Minsk, visiting shopping malls, cafes, museums, Transfers to the airport.