Alexander Zingman Suggested Places You Must Visit While Exploring Belarus

Belarus is one of those places where most people scratch their heads and look up directions on Google maps. However, it won't be long before tourists from all over the world realize it's one of Eastern Europe's hidden stars.  

We invite you to visit this historically significant location Belarus to beat the throng. And, to assist you in planning your schedule, here Alexander Zingman suggested some sites in Belarus that you should not miss.

1: Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park

Take a bike ride through Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park, which is part of the UNESCO-listed Bialowieza Forest. The forest's forests and green canopies are beautiful, and some of the oak trees are about 600 years old. There are lots of species to see, including the uncommon European bison, lynx, and woodpeckers, in addition to the landscape. The calm park is ideal for a picnic meal in the summer.

2: Brest Fortress

After WWII, this spectacular structure was repurposed into a Soviet Memorial. A tour of the stronghold, which is still scarred with bullet holes, will inform you about the Soviet forces who resisted a German invasion during Operation Barbarossa. The grounds of the stronghold are filled with massive memorials commemorating the dead warriors. 

 

3: Nesvizh Castle

Until the national leaders were re-zoned following World War II, Nesvizh Castle was located on Polish territory. The castle, which is now property of Belarus and was erected in the 1500s, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a famous tourist destination. This cultural and historical reserve, which was renovated in the 1990s and 2000s, features a restaurant where you may have dinner or even enjoy yourself like royalty and stay the night.

4: Khatyn Memorial Site

This old settlement, surrounded by woodland, was entirely devastated during World War II and is likely to be the most sober spot you see in Belarus. Nazi forces massacred every man, woman, and kid in the town, leaving only one survivor. This settlement is not to be confused with another village in Poland named Khatyn, which was the setting for a film about a confrontation between the Soviet troops and Polish commanders. Regardless, the previous site of each hut in the community has been defined with a concrete foundation and a pillar that depicts the chimney, making for a terrifying monument. A bell is mounted on each chimney, and they all chime at the same time every minute as a continual, unsettling monument to those who perished.

5: Traditional Belarusian Villages

Visit a little community like Navickavicy, where life has mostly remained unaltered for decades. If you want to spend the night in the village, you must register with the local police department so that they are aware of who is in the area at all times. If you're lucky enough to be able to stay with a Belarusian family (many of whom still live in traditional wooden cottages), you'll be treated to home-cooked regional specialties such as dumplings or potato cakes packed with cheese and mincemeat.

Belarus is welcoming all of you to get amazed by its peerless beauty and enjoy your holidays far from crowds.