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| Belarus Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see People of Belarus People of Belarus www.photoclub.by The very word Belarus should inspire visions of beauty and kindness, if it does not,then most likely you have not been there. Belarus has retained its mystery, it has remained virtually closed and unexplored since the fall of Communism. Belarus is little known, little understood, and even less traveled. |
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| It is one of the few countries in the former Soviet Union where
Lenin still stands and the Soviet symbol, the sickle and hammer, can be
found in abundance. It is the only country that still uses the KGB. Powerful
forces in Belarus are guiding it forward and forcing it backward at the same
time. Despite, or perhaps because of, this, Belarus has become an intriguing place to travel. Belarus is filled with beautiful forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife. In many places the history seems alive, and can almost be felt. Reminders of war, suffering, oppression and survival can be seen throughout the country. Churches, fortresses, and many other aspects of Belarusian culture have kept their traditional feel. Traditional crafts, dances, and opera have survived Soviet Imperialism and give travelers a sense of the inspiring culture that is native to Belarus. Its capital Minsk is worth a visit and has quite a lot to offer compared to cities such as Gomel. Traveling to Belarus is not easy, in fact if you lack determination, go somewhere else, but if you are looking for an adventure that you will never forget, then Belarus is the place for you. ________Sights Edit This Khatyn WWII Memorial Khatyn WWII Memorial T. E. Watts If you have ever wondered what there is to see in Belarus besides statues of Lenin, you’ve come to the right place. Belarus has its sights, and they are not all remnants of the Soviet Era, although there are plenty of those too. Belarus is filled with churches, museums, and plenty of non-Lenin statues. [Add Sight] Khatyn Memorial Edit This Khatyn WWII Memorial Khatyn WWII Memorial photo by: T. E. Watts On March 22, 1943, all 26 homes of a small, traditional village located on this site were burned and all 149 people were killed by German troops, including 75 children. This is one of the many WWII memorials in Belarus. The site of the former village is now the Khatyn WWII Memorial, which was opened in 1969. The only remaining structures from the original homes are the brick chimneys, which now hold bells that sound occasionally. The only survivor from this village was a man (Josef Kaminski) who was visiting relatives in a nearby village; when he returned home he found more.. type: Memorials World66 rating: [rate it] address: 54km north on the Vitebsk highway, tel. (+375-17) 27 71 59. Mir Castle Edit This i The red brick Mir Castle is currently being restored, but one tower and the courtyard are open to visitors. With a lake, a village and an Orthodox church nearby, one can have a pleasurable time away from the hustle and bustle of Minsk. A hefty entrance fee is charge which is certainly not worth the money. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] address: 100km south of Minsk, off the Brest highway Mount of Glory Edit This This hill, topped by four bayonets, was built from the scorched earth of the nine "Hero Cities" of the USSR and battlegrounds of WWII in honor of the Red Army. It was built in the area of the last battle in Belarus. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] address: Junction of Minsk and Minsk II Highways Kuropaty Edit This Kuropaty are the killing fields discovered in 1988. Evidence showed that perhaps 250,000 people, from Belarus, Poland and the Baltic states were shot in the back of the head by the Soviets between 1937 and 1941. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] address: 15km north of Minsk city centre, 2km from Zelyoniy Luh Narac Lake Edit This photo Narac is the biggest lake in Belarus. It is a beautiful place to get away from the crowds and enjoy Belarusian nature. The natives come here to fish and reside at a sanatorium nearby, you can try it too. Other lakes include Selyava Lake near Borisov (100km north east of Minsk) and the Braslav lakes (250km north, near the border with Latvia). Depart to the latter locations from the Eastern Bus Station. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] address: 130km north of Minsk. Buses from Central Station ___________Practical Information Edit This Traveling to Belarus is difficult enough to make many people that would go there give up. With a few pointers traveling to and in Belarus can be not only easy, but exciting. Getting a visa can be frustrating and once you get it you have to make your way around Belarus, which can also be very frustrating. The key is information. If you know what to expect then your travels will go much more smoothly. Currency The local currency is the Belarus Ruble (BYR) [Add Practical address] Visas Edit This There are three options: A transit visa valid for 72 hours, intended for those who only want to pass through. Even if you are going from Russia to Poland you will need to get one of these. A single-entry visa (also known as an 'ordinary' visa) which is valid for 30 days. It only allows you to enter Belarus once within the 30 days stipulated on the visa. If you leave, you can't come back in. Watch out, there are some trains that go from Brest to Grodna that go into Poland. Sometimes they will let you go through, sometimes not. It depends on the mood of the Border Guard. A more.. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Taxis Edit This If you decide to travel by taxi keep in mind that the taxi drivers of Belarus are underpaid, so many of them jump at the chance to earn a few extra dollars. Taxis are required by law to charge by the meter. If they don't have a meter, or don't turn it on, they are driving illegally. Insist that they run the meter and you will not only be obeying the law, but you will also save yourself a large amount of money. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Laws Edit This There are many laws in Belarus and there are many more police to enforce them. Do your best to keep all of the laws in the country. Do cross only on crosswalks, I missed one by ten feet and was fined. Do pay for all buses you ride as soon as you get on the bus, and hang on to your ticket. You never know when they will check. Do not change money on the street. There is a large fine and possible prison time. Do not go anywhere near any demonstrations. Do not give them an excuse to name you as a cause for the civil unrest. Keep these tips in mind and you will have a safe trip. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] __________Getting There Edit This Citizens of most Europian countries, Canada and the Unites States require a visa to travel to Belarus. Starting April 1st, 2006 original invitation is required to apply for Belarus visa. For citizens of the Unites States, Canada, Japan and EU countries it is possible to buy visa in the airport Minsk-2. _______Economy Edit This Economy—overview: The Belarusian government has revived economic output since mid-1996 by pursuing a policy of rapid credit expansion ending years of cumulative decline. Real GDP increased by 2.6% in 1996 and the growth rate tripled in 1997. Lack of profitability and resurgent inflation—which increased from an average monthly rate of 2.8% in 1996 to 4.4% in 1997—however have kept enterprises from making much needed capital investments. As a result infrastructure and equipment stocks have continued to deteriorate. Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995 when LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism." Privatization of enterprises controlled by the central government virtually ceased in 1996. As of May 1997 only about 10% of all enterprises under central government control had been privatized. In addition LUKASHENKO has re-imposed administrative control over prices and the national currency's exchange rate and expanded the state's right to intervene arbitrarily in the management of private enterprise. Lack of structural reform and a climate hostile to business have inhibited foreign investment in Belarus in 1995-97. In 1995 Belarus ranked second to last among the 15 former Soviet republics in terms of the average amount of foreign investment it attracted per capita. Although it moved up to 11th place in 1996 this was largely due to inflows from Russia related to the construction of the Yamal natural gas pipeline. Belarus's trade deficit has grown steadily over the past three years - from 8% of total trade turnover in 1995 to 14% in the first quarter of 1997 - despite the government's efforts to promote exports and limit imports. Given Belarus's limited fiscal reserve a continued growth in the trade deficit will increase vulnerability to a balance of payments crisis. Belarus has continued to follow an isolationist policy, keeping the economy removed from Western open-markets. GDP: purchasing power parity—$55.2 billion (1999 est.) GDP—real growth rate: 1.2% (1999 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$5,300 (1999 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 28% services: 49% (1998 est.) Population below poverty line:22%(1995 est.) Inflation rate—consumer price index: 295% (1999 est.) Labor force: total: 4.3 million (1998) by occupation: industry and construction 40% agriculture and forestry 19% services 41% (1997 est.) Unemployment rate: 1,5 % officially registered unemployed (22 Dec. 2006); the number of underemployed workers, especially in the cities, is falling Budget: revenues: $8,6 billion (2005) expenditures: $4.1 billion including capital expenditures of $180 million (1997 est.) Industries: tractors, metal-cutting machine tools, off-highway dump trucks, up to 110-metric-ton load capacity wheel-type earth movers for construction and mining, eight-wheel-drive high-flotation trucks with cargo capacity of 25 metric tons for use in tundra and roadless areas equipment for animal husbandry and livestock feeding, motorcycles, television sets, chemical fibers, fertilizer, linen fabric, wool fabric, radios, refrigerators, other consumer goods. Industrial production growth rate: 8% (1999 est.) Electricity—capacity: 7.21 million kW (1997) Electricity—production: 21.893 billion kWh (1996) Electricity—consumption per capita: 3,144 kWh (1996) Agriculture—products: grain potatoes vegetables; meat milk Exports: total value: $6 billion (f.o.b. 1999) commodities: machinery and transport equipment chemicals foodstuffs partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Lithuania Imports: total value: $6.4 billion (c.i.f. 1999) commodities: fuel natural gas industrial raw materials textiles sugar partners: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany Debt—external: $1.1billion (1998 est.) Economic aid: recipient: ODA $194.3 million (1995) note: commitments $3 930 million ($1 845 million disbursements) 1992-95 Currency: Belarusian rubel (BR) Exchange rates: Belarusian rubels per US$1— 2 150 (22 Nov. 2006), After 2002 the ecomomical activity became much better thanks to stopping of hyperinflation and the steady grouth of level of life. ______People Edit This Women in the national cloth Women in the national cloth Dzmitry Samakhvalau Population: 10,293,011(July 2006 est.) Age structure: 0-14 years: 19% ( 982,959; female 942,062) 15-64 years: 68% (male 3,411,684; female 3,614,453) 65 years and over: 13% (male 466,929; female 948,632) (July 2000 est.) Population growth rate: -0.17% (2000 est.) Birth rate: 9.27 births/1 000 population (2000 est.) Death rate: 13.96 deaths/1 000 population (2000 est.) Net migration rate: 3.01 migrant(s)/1 000 population (2000 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female (2000 est.) Infant mortality rate: 14.63 deaths/1 000 live births (2000 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 68 years male: 61.83 years female: 74.48 years (2000 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.25 children born/woman (2000 est.) Nationality: noun: Belarusian(s) adjective: Belarusian Ethnic groups: Byelorussian 77.9% Russian 13.2% Polish 4.1% Ukrainian 2.9% other 1.9% Religions: Eastern Orthodox 80% other (including Roman Catholic Protestant Jewish and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.) Languages: Byelorussian Russian other Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 99% female: 97% (1989 est.) :::::::::::Brest Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Memory of war Memory of war Konstantin Urlihh Brest is located in the South Western Corner of Belarus. It is on the border of Poland, and is the place where Hitler began his invasion of the Soviet Union. It is 200km from Warsaw and 330km from Minsk. 1999 was the 980th aniversary of the city. _________Sights Edit This There may not be much to see in the city besides the Brest Fortress(which is worth the visit), but a short distance outside of the city are beautiful forests and a variety of wildlife. [Add Sight] Belovezhskaya Pushcha Nature Reserve Edit This Once the residence of Polish princes and Russian tsars, on December 8, 1991 the documents which sealed the end of the USSR and the creation of the CIS were signed here by Belarus, Russia and the Ukraine. Now, there are just plenty of roaming elk, lynx, beaver and bison. Yes, bison. If you can’t manage to find some animals to watch in the wild just visit the nature museum which houses the resident forest dwellers. To get here: Five busses run from Brest to Kamenets daily. If you decide to drive arrange your visit with the Brest Intourist people. You’ll need some paperwork in more.. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] address: 60km north of Brest, north of the town of Kamenets. Brest Fortress Edit This To get here from the centre: walk 20 minutes along Masherova street or take bus N°17 from the Hotel Intourist. The fortress is one of the most important Soviet WWII war monuments marking the heroic resistance of the Red Army against the surprise German attack on June 22, 1941. "We were three. It was difficult for us but we die as heroes", a soldier scibbled on the wall before his death. Walking around inside of the fortress it is easy to feel the desperation that must have faced the defenders as they were outnumbered and annihilated by the German forces. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] ____________Gomel Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Homiel Estate - XVIII-XIX Homiel Estate - XVIII-XIX gomel.by Gomel, the second largest city after Minsk, is located in the south eastern part of Belarus, in the same area that was once the centre of the atomic energy disaster at Chernobyl. It is one of the oldest towns in the country and although it served as a fortified military stronghold in the 15th and 16th century, it is not of great historical importance. At the beginning of the 19th century many of its original wooden houses where replaced by brick ones, leaving only a few remnants of the classicist architectural influence, such as the the Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace. At present, the economy is slowly recovering again, not in the least because of the impact of the Chernobyl disaster and the fall of the former Soviet Union. _________Hrodna (Grodno) Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Hrodna Hrodna © Radzima.org History The first mention of Hrodna (Grodno in Russian and Harodnya in old Belarusian) appeared in 1128 A.D. in the Ipat'ev Chronicle. The name of the city stems from the eastern Slavonic work for town, "gorad," and refers to a "fenced settlement." Hrodna was founded on a high hill overlooking the confluence of the rivers Nyoman and Hradnichanka. Located today in Belarus ("White Rus","Litva") it was a center of Chornaia Rus' ("Black Rus") until the early 13th century. The symbol of Hrodna since XVI is St. Kazimir's Deer jumping over the fence. Apparently, St. Kazimir was a saint of hunters and the very first nature conservationist! An avid hunter he stopped hunting and sworn to protect Nature when a deer with a golden cross between horns miraculously appeared in front of him during his last hunt. In 1496 Hrodna was awarded a Magdeburg "Right" to promote its economy and the 500th anniversary of that important event was celebrated in 1996. Travel Belarus Rates Visiting Belarus & Need a Hotel? Travel Belarus Bargains! Travel.NexTag.com From the second half of the XII Century Hrodna was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Belarus), and in 1569 it merged with the Kingdom of Poland to form Recz Paspalitaja Polska-Litouskaja - the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania(Old Belarus). The name Belarus appears only later. During the period of the Vitaut Duchy and the reign of King Stefan Batory of Rzhech Pospolita Hrodna was their residence and the capital of entire state. In 1588, there were two castles in Hrodna, nine Orthodox and three Catholic churches, one synagogue, 31 streets and 4,000 inhabitants. Between 1760 and 1780 the major of Hrodna, Antonij Tyzenhaus, founded a number of royal manufacturing businesses. Also, during that period there was a medical academy in Hrodna with Dr. Jan Emmanuel Giliber, a French surgeon and botanist, serving as rector. He founded the botanical garden in Hrodna which at the time was considered the best in Europe. The Central City Park is located now in place of his garden. In 1795 Hrodna was incorporated into the Russian Empire. Hrodna was occupied in 1812 as Napoleon's Army marched toward Moscow. It was liberated in the wake of Napoleon's defeat. Famous Belarusian poet Maksim Bahdanovich was living in Hrodna. His house is nowadays a museum of Bahdanovich. Hrodna was in the front lines of World War I. From September of 1915 it was occupied by the German Army. In the subsequent turmoil caused by the end of the war and the onset of the Russian Revolution Hrodna was captured by the Pilsudski Army in 1920, was ceded to Poland by the Treaty of Riga and remained part of Poland until 1939. In September 1939 Poland has been occupied and divided between Nazi Germany and USSR according to Ribbentrop-Molotov agreement. At this time Western Belarus (including Hrodna) rejoined Eastern Belarus (BSSR). At the beginning of the Nazi attack on the USSR, June 22, 1941, Hrodna was bombed by the Luftwaffe. It was occupied the next day by the Nazi Army. My Grandmother stayed in fascist occupation with my Mother and Aunt (6 and 5 year old girls) for three long years. Hrodna buildings did not suffer the massive destruction during the war - the fate of other major cities between Berlin and Moscow. The population, however, did suffer at Nazi hands, especially the Jews who had lived in three large ghettos. The population of Hrodna decreased more than in half - from 57,200 in 1939 to 25,000 in 1944. The Soviet Army liberated Hrodna from Nazis in 1944. Most of the battles were conducted on the banks of Nioman outside the city. There were no battles in the streets. My Grandmother told me that one day she simply saw a lone Russian soldier walking down the street and started to cry out in happiness. She was hiding with her daughters for two last weeks under the bridge listening to approaching cannonade, because fascists were executing people from their black lists and destroying strategically important objects before their retreat. Ever since, Hrodna has been a part of Belarus. Many of the old churches survived the war and the destruction of the Nazis, but in the late 1950s the huge XIV Century "Garrison Catholic Church" was criminally destroyed by they Soviets in their effort to stamp out religion. Today Hrodna has more of the old architecture than any other Belarusian city. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1990 Belarus has been an independent country. :::::::::Mir Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Castle - Mir Castle - Mir © Radzima.org The castle of Mir (16-17 c.c.) Mir was first mentioned in the chronicles of 1345. Mir is famous for its outstanding example of Belarusan stone architecture: the ancient castle, founded at the beginning of the 16th century by Prince Juri Il'jinic. After the County of Mir changed hands and became the possession of M.Radzivil-Sirotka in 1569, the castle was completed in several stages. Its architecture reflects the Middle Ages: strong fortress walls with towers, surrounded by earthen walls with bastions and a moat, protected the magnificent palace, the magnate's residence. Monumental and unassailable, the castle remained the symbol of strength and power over several centuries. Its ornamental features give it the appearance of a palace - here the influence of traditional West European castle architecture can be felt. The long construction period of the palace-castle compound has left its mark; the castle is mainly gothic, whereas Renaissance features can be observed in the palace and the Eastern towers. The massive construction constitutes a link with Russian architecture. There was a time when the palace had three storeys and 40 rooms which were decorated with marble and luxuriously furnished. None of this has survived to the present day. The Castle Tower During its history, the castle was frequently besieged and attacked. Like Mir itself, the castle burned many times, was plundered, altered and destroyed. Several attempts were undertaken to rebuild it, but the wounds it had received in the course of the sieges of 1655, 1706, and 1794 could never really be healed. The Napoleonic invasion was especially disastrous: the palace was burnt, the tower blown up and the fortifications almost completely destroyed. After 1812, only part of the Eastern wing of the palace and three towers could be rebuilt. The park, laid out in the 17th century and changed several times thereafter, was another important attribute of the castle. At the end of the 19th century the park was re-designed and many exotic trees and bushes were planted. The park's main attraction was a large artificial lake with a small island created in 1896-1898. In 1904 a further addition was made to the composition with the chapel which became the burial-vault of the princes of Sviatapolk-Mirski, an unusual building with a colourful mosaic panel, designed by the architect and member of the Academy of Sciences, R. Marfeld. Disastrous wars and social tensions during the last period in its history deprived Mir of many of its invaluable monuments. During the First World War (1914) the palace was burnt and the Second World War turned out to be even more destructive. The Troicki Church 16 c. While it was owned by the count of Radzivil-Sirotka, Mir enjoyed its heyday. During this period, the wooden Troicki church was built (rebuilt after the fire of 1865), soon after that the red-brick Catholic church of St. Mikalaj the Miracle-Worker was constructed (renovated in 1970), and a series of other significant buildings were erected in the town's main square.The Mir castle is a significant and unique work of art and an invaluable monument of times long past. Erected by the skilled hands and talented minds of Belarusan masters, it deserves to take a place among the monuments representing the world's cultural heritage. It embodies Mir's history and Mir's pride.Restoration work has been under way since 1978 and an extensive programme is being carried out with the aim of restoring the castle, palace and the park to their past beauty. Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: http://www.belarusguide.com/cities/index.html :::::::::::Navahrudak Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Navahrudak, ''Navahradak''(Novogrudok in Russian, Nowogrodek in Polish) is the center of the Navahradak district, situated in the Hrodna region, 162 km East of Hrodna, 22 km from the station Navajel'nia on the railway line Lida-Baranavicy. ::::::::Niasvizh ( Niasviž ) Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see BA. Radzivil Palace - XVI-XIX A.D. BA. Radzivil Palace - XVI-XIX A.D. www.photoclub.by Niasviž ( Cyrillic : ??????´?; Russian : ??????, Nesvizh; Polish : Nieswiez) is a city in Belarus . It is the administrative center of the Niasviž District (rajon) of Minsk Province and location of a UNESCO World Heritage Site entitled Architectural, Residential and Cultural Complex of the Radziwill Family at Niasviž . Niasviž was first documented in 1223 . Shortly it fell under the rule of a powerful neighbouring state, later known as Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Old Belarus). In the 15th century, while still a minor town, it passed to the Radziwill princely family. Since then and until 1939 , the foremost branch of that illustrious family developed Niasviž as its family nest. In 1562 , shortly before Grand Duchy of Lithuania joined the Kingdom of Poland in personal union to create Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth , the first book in Belarusian language was allegedly printed there . The Corpus Christi Church (1587-93) was one of the earliest (if not the earliest) Jesuit church in the world and the first baroque structure in Polish-Lithuanian (Belarusian) commonwealth . Its Italianate design exerted immense influence on architecture of Belarus , Poland . Part or or all of this text stems from the original article at: Niasvizh ( Niasviž ) :::::::::::::Pinsk Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see BA. The city of Pinsk BA. The city of Pinsk www.beauty.of.by Pinsk is a very nice city, but very small. There is one hotel there, Hotel Pripyat'. It is located next to the prominade, you can't miss it. There is also an attraction park at the end of the prominade. There are lots of street markets there, they are called Bazzares. If you are a person who is into fast and exciting cities that include a good nightlife, Pinsk is not for you. If you are, on the other hand, a person who likes to relax, Pinsk is perfect. Pinsk is looking very calm, but probably it has much changed. I found there 5 hotels (and Pripyat is not the best one, i liked Aelita (Chyhunachnaja St, 37A)) and about 15 restaurants only near the main square. Pinsk is good as a transite town, because it is stricktly connected by railway and buses with other principal cities of Belarus and two beautiful Ukrainian towns of Lutsk and Rovno. For all visitors I advice to taste local meat delicacies that are seen the best in Belarus. Local inhabitants are very friendly. I also noted mistletoes in many trees. ::::::::::Polacak Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Polack Polack Radzima.org Polacak or Polotsk in Russian is the most ancient town of Belarus . It was mentioned in the chronicles in the 9th century and ruled with its own dynasty of the Viking stock. In the 12th century it was one of the largest cities of Europe . Minsk , the modern capital of Belarus , was a simple border castle of the Polacak Principality. Euthrosinia of Polacak, a nun of the 12th century, became the first woman-saint in Eastern Europe . Even in the early 16th century Polacak was larger and wealthier than London . But then it was ruined by the Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible. In 1812 the Napoleonic soldiers again burnt a large part of the town during the battle with the Russian Army. At the time of the Second World War the region of Polacak was the net for Belarusian guerillas. Most attractions , as the rests of ancient settlements of 1000 BC – 800s AD, Upper and Lower Castles , St Sophia and St Epiphany Cathedrals, and city buildings of the 18 – early 20th centuries, are situated in the territory of the Cultural Historical Reservation in the northern part of the Dzvina River . Here you would find traditional cottages, museums of printing and fabrics. Do not miss the museum of St Sophia Cathedral that is situated in the building of the St Sophia Cathedral. It was built in the 12th century in the shape of St Sophia Cathedral of Constantinople . In the 16th century it was ruined and rebuilt with the baroque style. There is a wonderful organ hall here. In April and November they organize the festivals of organ music. Every Sunday the organ hall is open for all wishers to listen to organ and chamber music. All museums are opened daily 10AM: 05PM . On Monday they are closed. The other one interesting place is the Orthodox Christian Nunnery of St Euthrosinia founded by this St Euthrosinia. Tourists are welcomed. Nuns receive all pilgrims and tourists and organize guidance for free. But girls and women have to cover their heads and wear skirts (no T-shorts or trousers!). The original museum of the old water-pomp tower is near. Destination is easy, because Polacak is connected with all large cities of Belarus and most small towns of the north by rail way or by bus. Places for staying: Dzvina Hotel, 13 Karl Marx St. Phone (375214) 442235 Steklovolokno Hotel, 60 Hvardzejskaj Armii St. Phone (375214) 435637 Sometimes these two hotels are overcrowded, so that you would take another one in Navapolacak, an industrial town not far from Polacak and connected with it with usual municipal buses. Places for staying in Navapolacak: Naftan Hotel, 48 Kolas St. Phone (375214) 528849. Vityaz Hotel, 25A Blakhina St. Phone (214) 550393. Belarus Hotel, 5A Kalinina St. Phone (375214) 555034. Spartyunaya Hotel, 49A Maladzjozhnaja St. Phone (375214) 553430. Izmeritel Hotel, 6 Alimpijskaja St. Phone (375214) 523624. Rodnik Pansion, Balnichny Haradok. Phones (375214) 573250, 57340. By the way from Polacak to Minsk there is a long chain of lakes. To visit and to see them you have to stop in the town of Lepel . The place for staying in Lepel is the municipal hotel in the Central Square :::::::::Vitebsk Travel Guide Edit This The best resource for sights, hotels, restaurants, bars, what to do and see Vitebsk town Vitebsk town tut.by Vitebsk (Viciebs or Witebsk) is a Belarussian city situated on the North-East of the Belarus in the land of glacier lakes on the picturesque banks of the three rivers: the Zakhodnyaya Dzvina (in Russian - Zapadnaya Dvina, in old Belarusian -Rubon, in Latvian - Daugava) river, the Vitba and the Luchesa river. It is one of the oldest settlements in Europe . According to a legend Vitebsk was founded in 974 by Princess Olga of Kiev after successful campaign against the Baltic tribe Jacviahi . But the first information about the town in chronicles was in 1021. It had sprung up on a busy road "from Varangians to Greeks" and stood witness to a great number of glorious events and heroic deeds. Since early times the town had been known as a " warrior ". So it is not by chance that its ancient emblem featured a horseman holding a spear and shield. Vitebsk was an important fortress and merchant center at the north-eastern border of the Polatsak Principality and later of the Grand Duche of Lithuania ( GDL )(Old Belarus); a famous medieval state which became the cradle of Belarusians. Vitebsk was included into the GDL in 1320 and its citizens obtained some merchant privileges and a self-government. In 1597 Vitebsk was granted the Magdeburg Code of Law. On July 15, 1410 a troop of armed Vitebsk citizens took part in a glorious battle near Grunwald (in Eastern Prussia) where united army of the Grand Duche of Lithuania, the Polish Kingdom and volunteers from the Czech Kingdom won the army of German knights (Tevton Order). The dramatic page in the town's history is its people's revolt of 1623 when they overthrew and drowned in the Zapadnaya Dvina the odious Iosafat Kuntsevich who was trying to put the Unia yoke upon the people. In XVI-XVII centuries Vitebsk much suffered from aggressive wars of the Moscow Principality (later Kingdom) against the GDL. About every year numerous but poorly armed hordes of Muscovites ruined Eastern Belarus. Vitebsk was burned to a crisp by soldiers of Ivan the Terrible (XVI century), of the czar Alexei Mikhailovich (XVII century) and of Peter the First (1708). After unification with Russia (1772) Vitebsk became an ordinary provincial town of a huge military empire. Culture, public education, science and health service developed at a rapid pace. During the Napoleon campaign in Russia (1812) Vitebsk noblemen supported Frenchmen because the latter promised to restore self-government in the former Polish – Lithuanian(Belarus) kingdom, but Belarusian peasants were mobilizing by Russian army. In 1812 Vitebsk was burned again. After war ended among few other cities Russian czar ordered to put in Vitebsk the monument in honor of 1812 battles. In 1840 after suppression of 1830-1831 insurrection Russian government abolished ancient Belarusian constitution (the famous 1588-year Statute of the GDL) and open Russian colonization of Belarus began. The World War II was a very serious trial for Vitebsk people. Soviet Army soldiers and people's voluntary detachments did their best to save the town. Yes, it was captured by Hitler's invaders but never subdued. On the June 26, 1944 day Red Army troops cleared the town of fascist occupants laid in ruins and only 118 people survived in the basements from about 170 000 of population before the war. Only in the end of 60s population of Vitebsk achieved the level of 1939. Since then every year Vitebsk people celebrate this date. In its centuries long history Vitebsk had never been devastated like that. The town's new life began after the liberation. New factories, plants, dwelling houses, schools, hospitals, streets and avenues were built in place of the charred ruins. Vitebsk today is a major industrial, scientific and cultural center of the republic Belarus. Cultural life flourishes in Vitebsk as well. The Belarusian State Academic theater named after Yakub Kolas is one of the oldest in the state. Picturesque neighborhood of Vitebsk and its ancient streets was always attractive for painters. Vitebsk was the native land of Mark Chagall , the world famous artist, who died in Paris but he always dreamed about Vitebsk. He was inspired by his native town of Vitebsk, which he often depicted in his works. A famous Russian painter Iliya Repin lived and worked near Vitebsk during some years in the end of XIX century. Some of his works are presented at the Vitebsk art museum. Although Vitebsk much suffered from numerous wars, some architectonic sights are saved such as: Rathaus (Coloncha, former City Hall) (1775), Governor's palace (before 1772), St.Barbara's Catholic church (1785, rebuild in end of XIX), St.Michael church (XVIII century), some buildings of Basilian and Bernardin Catholic monasteries (XVIII century) and some nice quarters of old town . Before the Governor's palace a monument in honor of 1812 battles near Vitebsk was stated in 1912. In 1988 Vitebsk was chosen to hold Slavic Bazar musical festival that gathers hundreds of musicians from all around the world who sings songs on Slavic languages and attracts thousands of tourists. The festival is a major event in the city's life. ___________At first glance, Vitebsk is not very exciting, but if you are willing to look you can find a city filled with Mystery and History. [Add Sight] World War II Museum Edit This This museum is a smaller version of the World War II museum in Minsk. It has some good exihibits and a lot of little known information about the War in Vitebsk. See the picture at the top of the page. It is the building with the clock. type: general World66 rating: [rate it] Zoo Edit This If you wander around behind the war museum, you will likely run into the zoo. Note, it is not very big. If you consider yourself an animal lover stay away from the zoo. The animals are in small cages and are underfed. type: Hotspots World66 rating: [rate it] address: Yanky Kupaly street,17 tel: 375-212-36-00-67 openingHours: 9-00 till 17-00 |
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La Repubblica di Bielorussia, o Russia Bianca (in bielorusso: Белару́сь, in russo: Белору́ссия) è uno stato (207.595 km², 9.849.100 abitanti nel 2004, capitale Minsk) dell'Europa orientale. Confina a ovest con Polonia e Lituania, a est con la Russia, a sud con l'Ucraina e a nord con la Lettonia. La Bielorussia è una repubblica, l'attuale presidente della repubblica è Aleksandr Lukašenko e il primo ministro è Sergey Sidorsky. Le lingue ufficiali sono il bielorusso e il russo dal 1995.
[modifica] NomeStoricamente, in italiano, la Bielorussia veniva a volte indicata come Russia Bianca o "Rutenia Bianca", una traduzione letterale del nome. Questa traduzione viene usata anche in altre lingue, ad esempio, Weißrussland in tedesco, Baltarusija (Baltarus, oggi) in lituano e Valkovenäjä in finlandese. Il nome "Bielorussia" (Беларусь) è considerato
denigratorio da alcuni, ed è percepito come una reminiscenza dell'imperialismo
russo e sovietico e delle politiche di russificazione (il titolo completo
dello zar russo
era "Imperatore di tutte le Russie - Grande, Piccola e Bianca"). Per
questo motivo viene a volte preferito il nome "Belarus".
Rus' fa riferimento alla popolazione che precedette Russi, Ucraini e
Bielorussi. Comunque esiste molta confusione sulla localizzazione del territorio, dovuta al fatto che si tratta di un territorio pianeggiante i cui confini sono cambiati continuamente nel corso dei secoli. Ne sia a riprova il fatto che alcune mappe antiche segnano "Rutenia Alba" sul territorio della Moscovia, in una regione oggi comunemente identificata come il cuore della Grande Russia. Una spiegazione di queste incertezze si può trovare nel Rerum Moscoviticarum Commentarii di Sigismund von Herberstein. Secondo il testo, i primi zar moscoviti indossavano vesti bianche – per distinguersi dagli imperatori Bizantini che usavano vesti color porpora e da quelli Persiani che vestivano in rosso – in accordo con la dottrina della Terza Roma, che voleva rendere Mosca il fulcro del Cristianesimo mondiale. Così, i governanti della Moscovia vennero chiamati "Zar Bianchi":
Questo appellativo, assieme alla dicitura solenne "Zarato Bianco", fu in uso fino alla fine dell'Impero. Alla fine, questo colore venne trasferito al nome dell'Armata Bianca, che combatté contro l'Armata Rossa durante la guerra civile. Non è ancora chiaro come il nome "Russia Bianca" sia infine stato applicato ai Bielorussi. Ci sono diverse ipotesi speculative, comunque nessuna conclusiva prova documentale e stata trovata per alcuna di queste. Una di queste teorie si basa sul fatto accettato che l'etnia bielorussa si sia formata principalmente dalle interazioni storiche tra etnie slave e baltiche. La radice "balt-" significa "bianco" nelle lingue e dialetti del ceppo baltico, ovvero, in lituano e lettone. Quindi "Mar Baltico" (Balta jura in Lituano) significa letteralmente "mare bianco". Quindi "Balta Rusija" potrebbe essere stata l'originale autodenominazione, piuttosto che una successiva derivata dalla "Russia". Un'altra teoria suggerisce che l'etnia bielorussa avesse capelli chiari, essendo vicina a quelle baltica e scandinava. Un'altra ancora è quella secondo cui i bielorussi sono così nominati per il colore predominante dei loro abiti tradizionali (lino non colorato). Esempi simili di nomi "colorati" nelle etnie slave sono i Serbi Bianchi e i Croati Bianchi; mentre in Cina troviamo i Miao Rossi, Neri e Verdi.
[modifica] StoriaLe prime tracce di presenza umana risalgono al paleolitico (100-40 mila anni fa). I primi insediamenti sono comparsi 27-24 mila anni fa. Fra il VII e IX secolo il territorio era popolato dalle popolazioni slave dei Dregovici, Krivici e Radimici. Le prime compagini statali furono i Principati di Polotsk, di Turov e di Smolensk. Le prime testimonianze scritte riguardo a Polotsk sono datate al 862. Il primo principe che conosciamo è Rogvolod. Il principato di Polotsk raggiunge la massima potenza nel XI secolo sotto il governo di Vceslav Charodey "Il Mago". Con il diffondersi del feudalesimo i Principati di Polotsk e Turov si divisero in compagini minori. Alla fine del X secolo inizia a diffondersi il Cristianesimo secondo il rito Bizantino, ciò favorisce lo sviluppo della cultura, la comparsa della pittura e della letteratura. All'inizio del XIII secolo comincia a formarsi la lingua bielorussa. Nel XIII secolo i territori della Bielorussia entrano a far parte del Granducato di Lituania, con capitale Novogorodok, nel 1323 la capitale viene trasferita a Vilno (attuale Vilnius). Il principato raggiunse il culmine della propria potenza sotto il governo del principe Vitovt. I confini dello stato si estendevano dal mar Baltico, fino al mar Nero. Grande importanza per il consolidamento dello stato ebbe la vittoria in alleanza con Polonia nella battaglia di Grunwald (1410) contro l’ordine teutonico. Nel XVI secolo venne stabilizzata la struttura statale con gli statuti del 1529, 1566 e 1588. Lo stato era governato dal gran principe e dalla nobiltà feudale. Fra il 1558 e il 1583 entra in conflitto con il principato di Mosca. Le sconfitte portano all’unione nel 1569 con il regno della Polonia in uno stato federale. Il principato mantiene la propria autonomia e grazie all’unione, sconfigge il principato di Mosca conquistando la regione Baltica di Livon. Nel XVII secolo approfittando dei contrasti dovuti alla Riforma protestante, alla crisi economica e alla guerra antifeudale, la Russia si impadronisce della gran parte della Bielorussia. Come conseguenza ci fu un grande regresso economico e calo demografico. Fra il 1700 e il 1721 Bielorussia è stata teatro del conflitto tra Russia e Svezia, che provocò un'altra crisi economica che fu superata solo nella seconda metà del XVIII secolo. Nel XVIII secolo lo stato nato dall’unione del regno della Polonia e del Gran Principato di Litva venne diviso tra Russia, Prussia e Austria. La Bielorussia è stata il principale campo di battaglia della campagna russa di Napoleone (qui si svolse la battaglia di Borodino e quella della Berezina). Nel è scoppiata la rivolta patriottica per la liberazione dalla Russia. La rivolta fu sedata con conseguente indebolimento dei cattolici e della nobiltà (la rivolta fermentò in questi strati della popolazione). Nel 1861 venne abolita la servitù della gleba. Nel in Polonia, Bielorussia e Lettonia scoppiò una rivolta per la liberazione dallo zarismo, anche questa volta fallita. Lo sviluppo del movimento democratico porta alla nascita nel 1903 del primo partito politico nazionale e alla rinascita della cultura bielorussa. Con l’entrata della Russia nella Prima Guerra Mondiale, parte della Bielorussia viene occupata dalle truppe tedesche fino al 1915. Nel 1919 sull’onda della rivoluzione di febbraio viene proclamata la Repubblica Socialista Sovietica Bielorussa, la RSSB.
Gruppo di resistenza Bielorusso
Nel 1921 i territori occidentali della Bielorussia passano alla Polonia. Nel 1922 avviene l’unione dei territori orientali con l’URSS. Nel 1939 i territori occidentali vengono annessi alla Repubblica Socialista Sovietica Bielorussa. Nel 1941 la Bielorussia viene occupata dalla truppe tedesche. Nasce il movimento di lotta partigiana che coinvolge più di 400 mila persone. Nel luglio 1944 la Bielorussia viene liberata dall’occupazione nazista. Durante il conflitto sono state rase al suolo tutte le città medio – grandi, è morto un terzo della popolazione e tutte le industrie sono state distrutte. Nel 1986 a causa dell’incidente alla centrale atomica di Chernobyl, la voblast di Homyel, Mahilou, e parte di Brest, Minsk e Grodno vengono contaminate dalle radiazioni. Si è resa indipendente dall’Urss il 27 luglio 1990. Ciò è stato riconosciuto il 25 agosto 1991. Il 15 marzo 1994 viene approvata la nuova costituzione. Il 10 luglio 1994 viene eletto il primo presidente della repubblica Alexander Lukashenko, dittatore di stampo comunista, infatti, è l'unico paese ex-sovietico, ad avere il servizio segreto nominato ancora KGB.
[modifica] Geografia
Bielorussia da satellite
Dicembre 2002 La Bielorussia si trova nell'Europa Orientale. Ha una superficie di 207.600 km² e, benché senza sbocco al mare, ha 11.000 laghi. Viene attraversata da tre fiumi principali: il Neman, il Pripjat, e il Dnepr. La Bielorussia è relativamente piatta e ricca di paludi. Il più grande territorio paludoso è la Polesia. Il suo punto più alto è la Dzyarzhynskaya Hara (Colle di Dzyarzhynsk), con 346 m, mentre il punto più basso sul fiume Neman a 90 m. Le risorse naturali della Bielorussia sono foreste, depositi di torba, piccole quantità di petrolio e gas naturale, granito, pietra calcarea dolomitica, marna, gesso, sabbia, ghiaia e argilla.
[modifica] Popolazione
[modifica] Etnie
La maggioranza della popolazione bielorussa fa parte del gruppo etnico dei Bielorussi, che comprende l'81,2% del totale su una popolazione di 10.293.011 persone. I Russi sono il secondo gruppo etnico più grande (11,4%). I Polacchi e gli Ucraini seguono con il 3,9% e il 2,4%, rispettivamente.
[modifica] ReligioneCome tanti stati ex URSS, la maggioranza della popolazione si dichiara atea (49%). Tuttavia, dalla caduta del regime comunista, le chiese cristiane hanno avuto una forte ripresa, e oggi il 31% dei bielorussi si dichiara ortodosso, il 18% cattolico e il 2% protestante.
[modifica] Ordinamento dello stato
[modifica] Suddivisioni amministrativeAl più alto livello amministrativo, la Bielorussia è divisa in 6 voblast e una municipalità (horad, ovvero, "città"); quest'ultima è la capitale della Bielorussia.
(Nota: i centri amministrativi sono tra parentesi.) I voblast sono ulteriormente divisi in raion (normalmente tradotti come distretti).
[modifica] Città principali
[modifica] Istituzioni
[modifica] Economia
Il «Беларусь» a
Minsk,
centro economico della nazione
L'economia della Bielorussia è un'economia basata principalmente sulle risorse minerarie del sottosuolo. Il terreno, essendo poco fertile, non è adatto al raccolto, anche se fruttano un modesto guadagno alcune colture specializzate, come quella del lino. Lo sviluppo economico del paese è in discreto aumento, anche grazie all'industrializzazione nei campi della meccanica, della chimica e del settore tessile. Vicino alla capitale, Minsk, si stanno sviluppando anche industrie dedicate alla microelettronica e all'informatica. Nel 1986 le regioni meridionali bielorusse furono danneggiate dall'incidente della centrale nucleare di Chernobyl, una città dell'Ucraina. Questo incidente danneggiò gravemente l'economia della Bielorussia, causando gravi danni alle coltivazioni e all'allevamento, oltre che un drastico calo nelle esportazioni.
[modifica] Cultura
Le festività civili e religiose in Bielorussia sono:
Lo scambio dei doni avviene la notte del 31 dicembre. Babbo Natale che si chiama Nonno Gelo (ded moroz) porta i doni il 31 dicembre la notte, l'Albero di Natale si chiama Abete di Capodanno. Esiste anche in Bielorussia la tradizione dell'Vecchio Nuovo Anno russo.
[modifica] Voci correlate
[modifica] Altri progetti
[modifica] Collegamenti esterni
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