When considering places of interest, a good place to start is the UNESCO (United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage List that currently includes 830 places in the world considered to have outstanding universal value. Four places in
Mir Castle
Construction began on the castle at the end of the 15th century and was completed in the 16th century. The castle was restored in the 19th century. You can read more from UNESCO description or see
Nesvizh Castle and Church
The castle is a fortified structure that was built in the 16th century and renovated in the early 18th century. One of the most important parts of the complex is the Corpus Christi Church. It is considered to house the first Baroque Art in Eastern Europe. Inside are baroque frescoes from the 1760s. The alter dates back to 1583. You can read more from UNESCO description or see
Struve Geodetic Arc
A chain of 34 monuments, 5 of them in Belarus, created to survey the Earth. Built by Friedrich von Struve between 1815 and 1855 the arc was constructed to determine the size and shape of the earth. Read more from UNESCO
Places in Belarus currently on the UNESCO 'Tentative List':
Brest Fortress
Constructed from 1830-1842, it was built to be part of the western defense of the Russian Empire. At 4 Km2 it is the largest Russian fortress of the 19th century. In 1941 it was the scene of the first confrontation between the Russian and German Armies and endured a month long battle. Note the monument to the thirsty soldier. Many soldiers suffered dehydration and were shot when trying to drink from the river only a few meters away. Read more from UNESCO .
Muravanka Church-Fortress
Built in the 16th century, this is a unique combination of church and fortress, with towers in the four corners and shooting windows at the top of the walls. The basement contained food and water for time of siege. There are four wooden carved altars and a 18th century organ. Today the building is an active church. Read more from UNESCO or see photos.
Gomel (Homel) Palace and Park
Constructed in the 18th and 19th century, renovated several times, most recently in 1969, the main building is amongst the first examples of classical architecture in Belarus. Located on the River Sozh, it contains a palace, a park, the Peter and Paul Cathedral and a Chapel. Gomel, the second largest city in Belarus, is very near to Ukraine and the Chernobyl nuclear plant. It took much of the radioactive fall-out from the accident. Read more from UNESCO or see photos .
Built between 1152 and 1161, the cathedral was damaged due to an explosion in 1710. Its last renovation was completed in 1750 and has been preserved since then. The Convent of St Euphrosyne contains some 12th century architecture. To read the UNESCO or see photos .
Grodno (Hrodna) SS. Boris and Gleb Church
This five-domed church is the oldest structure in Grodno. Read more from UNESCO. or see photos. The city of Grodno is one of the prettiest cities in Belarus, since it suffered relatively little damage during wars. The Baroque Cathedral of St. Xavier contains 18th century frescoes. Other places worth visiting in Grodno include the Orthodox Church, botanical gardens, and the Old Town.(The contents of this website are copyrighted by TravelsWise.com)
Mogilev (Mahilyou) St.Nicholas Monastery Complex
This stone church was built in the 17th century and the cathedral, bell tower, walls, gates and frescoes are preserved from that time. To read the UNESCO or see photos . Also of interest in Mogilev is the St. Stanislaw Cathedral completed in 1752 in Baroque style. See photos .
Dudutki Park
This is a national heritage museum that features buildings and craftsmen from older times. Your visit will be ‘hands-on’ and may include assisting a blacksmith to forge a horseshoe or a master-potter to make a vase. You will likely taste homemade spirits such as vodka and perhaps sample fresh bread with milk and cheese as well as locally harvested honey. Get more information from Dudutki website o see the website Click Here.
Naroch
This is a lake in a pristine forest setting, which has seen very little development. You can bathe in its clean waters and take long walks in the forest. If you think that few people speak English in
Khatyn
Khatyn, a war memorial, is where German troops wiped out a village by setting all of the houses on fire with the occupants inside. This place is frequently confused with Katyn, the site of a mass murder of Polish troops. (Read more about the Khatyn Massacre and the Katyn Massacre). Khatyn is one of hundreds that the Nazis destroyed in retaliation for loyalty to Belarusian patriots. It is a somber memorial to the atrocities of war.
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