| Duration: | 3 Day(s) - 2 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Military History |
The victory over fascist Germany in the Great Patriotic War (the 2d World War) was won around a half-century ago. Time flies and new generations enter into peaceful life. But the memory of the tragedy and the feat of the people must remain in memory even when there is not a single witness of these terrible events exists – the memory will not be erased and will not fade with age. This memory is written in mankind's history, its present, and future as the national identity to love and protect our motherland. Time, historians, architects, and sculptors created fascinating and exciting museums and memorial complexes to imprint this immortal feat that the tour is dedicated to...
Day 1: Minsk City Tour
During the Minsk city tour, you will see the wide avenues and cozy streets, a variety of architectural complexes, and beautiful parks – all the features that make the "identity" of the Belarusian capital. For its about 9 centuries of history the city was repeatedly destroyed and burned, but every time it revived and built up. Nowadays Minsk is a modern European megalopolis with a multimillion population.
It develops and becomes promptly more beautiful, combining the greatness of heritage with innovative trends of the present. You will see: Privokzalnaya Square (visual inspection), Independence Square, Nezavisimosti Avenue, Freedom Square, Ruins of Minsk ancient castle (visual inspection), Trinity Suburb, National Library of Belarus, Island of Courage and Sorrow, a sports complex Minsk-Arena (visual inspection) After the excursion – free time in Minsk
Day 2: Brest Fortress - Belovezhskaya Puscha
You will go to the South of Belarus and visit the thousand-year history city of Brest In the city you will visit the memorial complex "BREST HERO-FORTRESS" the place that became a symbol of Soviet resistance against Nazi troops in the Second World War. There you will see the ruins of the old fortress, the battlefields, and the monumental sculptures presented in a unified architectural and artistic ensemble of the memorial, that perpetuated the true story of the legendary heroes of the Brest fortress.
Then you will go 57 km from Brest to Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park which is one of the most famous places in Belarus and plays a very important role in the ecology of Belarus and has a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status. The park is located 340km to the southwest of Minsk in the Brest region of Belarus It is one of 4 National Parks in Belarus and the largest forest in the lowlands of central Europe. 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 You will see: Brest Fortress, Museum of Nature of National Park Belovezhskaya Puscha, Demonstration open-air cages with wild animals (visual inspection), Cathedral of St. Simeon in Brest (visual inspection), Museum of the defense of the Brest fortress, Church of St. Nicholas in Brest
Day 3: Khatyn Memorial
During the tour, you will learn about the most tragic historical period of Belarus.
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 It is a memorial to all those who died across Belarus that was built on the site of the former village.
A handful of soil from each of the 185 burned and never rebuilt was brought to Khatyn to create a symbolic graveyard. Khatyn became the 186th village, the site of this symbolic graveyard. As a haunting reminder of the horrors of war, it has become one of the most important places in Belarus.
The memorial complex “The Mound of Glory” symbolizes the heroism of the Belarusians who defeated fascism in their own land during the Great Patriotic War. You will see: the Memorial complex Khatyn, The Mound of Glory
Transfer to the railway station or to the airport.
