Finally, our journey to Belarus began. We were a little late with the trip and got ready for the journey only at the end of June 2018. I have long wanted to visit this country, which I have heard so much about. The funny thing is that the road to Belarus, or rather to Minsk from Moscow, turned out to be one of the easiest road trips of all that we have been. And was it worth it to pull so much? However, the road will be discussed in this article. And about the road with a toddler under the age of six months, who is not even sitting yet - this is our first experience. Looking ahead, I will say that the Moscow-Minsk route by car is ideal for beginners.
The distance from Moscow to Minsk is only 717 kilometers, according to Google maps, which, for the sake of experiment, we decided to go this year. Before that we used navigation from Novitel. Although I did my first route using paper maps, it was also a kind of experience. However, I will return to the road to Belarus.
Google offers three routes from Moscow to Belarus to choose from, see the map below:
- Fast route on M1(marked toll roads) with a distance from Moscow to Minsk of 717 km. Travel time is just over 8 hours.
- Average mileage on the A-130 highway through Mogilev
- Long route along the M9 highway through Velikiye Luki and Vitebsk region with a duration of 841 km
In fact, we were driving out of Kaluga region, through Protvino and Obolensk, so the navigator did not offer us the longest route - it is too far away from us. Trusting the description and common sense, we chose the M1 highway, almost straight, almost free. The mark "toll road" did not bother us. On the Russian side, we did not come across toll sections (it is at the exit from Moscow), in Belarus for Russian citizens, the use of roads is also free.
The travel time and the quality of the road played an important role in the choice of the route, since, again, we went to Minsk with all our small family, including Timofey. And for him it was the first such long journey. I think, in a separate article, I will talk about what it is like to ride with a baby in a car. The experience of the Minsk trip turned out to be very interesting
I would like to emphasize that this route is ideal for beginners in automatic travel. There are several reasons for this:
- A short distance from Moscow to Minsk - only 717 kilometers
- Short travel time. Especially without straining, the whole way can be done in 9-10 hours
- Simple road. Everywhere there are four lanes, no problems with overtaking
For comparison, you can see our no less interesting, but slightly more complex autotravels in the following series of articles:
Road to the border with Belarus
As I said, we still had to go to the M1 highway. In fact, we got almost from the M2 itself (who's to blame that it was in that area that we spent several days before the road) along the A108. I suspect that if we left Podolsk, we would even save a little time on the way. And from Moscow to Minsk it would be a couple of hours faster. This is due to the A108 highway with periodic passage of residential areas, where cameras and radars are installed solidly, and the permissible speed is 40 km / h
Highways M1 Moscow - Minsk, police, cameras in Russia
Leaving the M1 highway, we hurried to the gas station. And gasoline in Russia has risen in price! We refueled up to a full tank for 1800 rubles, according to my calculations, this should have been enough all the way to Minsk. By the way, in Belarus, gasoline is a little cheaper, given the last May rise in prices in Russia and the change in the ruble exchange rate.
What was striking on the way to Minsk from Moscow by car was the abundance of patrols and cameras on the road. In addition to the stationary cameras with which they are equipped, almost all the villages located along the M1 highway on the way to Belarus, we probably also met about 7 patrols, and somewhere with a couple of dozen trinods. And according to the good old tradition, the police are in the bushes, the tripod is covered by a civilian car- in general, a classic of the genre.
I, of course, tried to observe the speed limit as much as possible. At one time, I even settled behind a Belarusian truck - a very useful life hack for those who do not want to bring home fines. However, I am almost sure that happiness will not be enough without letters, our guardians of order are very good at hiding, and they also exhibit unexpected signs. In general, they advanced cautiously, like sappers.
The road from Moscow to Belarus, description and reviews
Paid backup of the M1 highway begins in the area of the Molodogvardeyskaya transport interchange of the Moscow Ring Road and ends at the 33rd km of the Minsk highway. The road goes around the town of Odintsovo. The length of the toll road is 18.535 km, the fare is 150 and 50 rubles day and night, respectively.
All M1 highway all the way from our exit to it, all the way to Minsk turned out to be a four-lane- a definite plus for any track. Taking into account the small load, it was a pleasure to drive in this way - it was not on a two-lane highway to reach for trucks for kilometers in anticipation of the coveted permission to overtake. Perhaps it seemed to me, but the lanes of the road were slightly narrower, at least compared to the usual highways. Two trucks fit on the road without much comfort. Yes, and it was not very convenient for me to overtake them on turns.
Please note that on the M1 Moscow - Minsk highway, from the Russian side almost everywhere the limitation is 90 km / h, of course, not counting the settlements. In addition, signs with a limit of up to 70 km / h were often seen, followed by portable cameras. By the way, it was these signs that made me doubt that the M1 is a motorway
I would like to note about high quality road surface. When driving at the permitted speed, there is no risk of losing the suspension - and this is already a good indicator for our roads. However, in recent years I have been driving on the paid sections of the M4 and on the free part of Leningradka in both cases I am also satisfied with the roads. I mean that in the central region the issue of roads is being resolved at least slowly.
Where to eat on the way to Belarus, stops on the way
Since we were traveling with a small child in a car, we had to make additional stops. After all, Timofey is not used to long car trips, and in the infant car seat the position is not the most comfortable, albeit safe. I will return to it in a separate article, but perhaps I will describe our stops.
The first stop was at a gas station Gazprom Neft... We had lunch in the local canteen next door. The prices turned out to be quite friendly - our lunch cost us 380 rubles (the first two, and a side dish and one Kiev cutlet for two). The food was delicious and nutritious. Small portions - travel
Second stop at the source of the Moskva River... More in order to give your son a little rest. However, in this place we found a dozen comfortable gazebos where you can stop and have a snack. Despite the inscription "making a fire is prohibited" on the territory there were several barbecues and a large fireplace, nomadic motorists. In general, it would be used with a bucket of barbecue, it is quite possible to sit and have a snack.
We made another stop in the village of Istomino... Just like that, for no particular reason. The village turned out to be exemplary. Just 300 meters from the Moscow-Belarus highway, the asphalt ends and the Russian hinterland begins. Moreover, it is not the most colorful. It should be noted that after this village, the number of cameras on the road sharply declined.
Border of Russia and Belarus - highway M1 Moscow-Minsk
Let me summarize preliminary results. Without any special adventures, but with an unusual number of stops, we got to the border of Russia and Belarus. More precisely, at some point we just drove into a neighboring country, not really noticing the border. It felt good. This is how all trips to neighboring countries should go.
All border control consisted of passing a couple of pedestrians at the crossing of the sluggishly wandering border guards. There were no stops or document checks.
I would like to note that our CTP policy is not suitable for trips around Belarus and it is required to buy an international policy "Green Card" - the issue price for 15 days is 840 rubles... We bought it in our city. However, from about 160 km along the entire route, I began to notice green tents selling insurance. It will not be superfluous to purchase travel insurance in case of unforeseen calls to medical institutions, the cost of the policy is not significant, and the medical coverage is great:
To be continued, there is still the first impression of the Belarusian side and of the trip with the child.
Belarus is a country located in the eastern part of Europe. The famous Belovezhskaya Pushcha is located here, the glorious "Pesnyary" comes from here, and only here you can buy products made in accordance with the USSR GOST. This state is famous for its beautiful nature, magnificent castles and unsurpassed architectural sites. It is best to inspect by car, because this is the only way to enjoy their splendor to the fullest. All excursions in the state start from its capital - Minsk. The hero city, like a Phoenix, was reborn after the almost complete devastation that overtook it during the Second World War. Today there is something to pay attention to and where to go.
Dabro request or welcome
Inspection of Minsk begins from its airport or railway station... It all depends on how exactly you got here. If you are going to go around the sights of Belarus by car, then start from here anyway.
The national airport "Minsk 2" is located 42 kilometers from the city. On its territory there is a museum under open air, in which aircraft from the times of the Soviet Union are presented. There are exhibited models of such aircraft as Tu-134A, Yak-40 and An-2.
The main cultural and architectural object of Minsk is considered to be the railway station and the "Minsk Gate" located on the Privokzalnaya Square. The railway station building is incredibly functional and beautiful. Here you can exchange money, buy medicines and souvenirs, and have a snack.
"Minsk Gate" is two towers, each eleven meters high. They are built in the manner of Stalinist classicism. The towers are included in the list of the most recognizable city landmarks and are considered business card The object was built during 1947-1953. The left tower is decorated with a clock, the diameter of which reaches four meters, and the right one is decorated with the coat of arms of the Byelorussian SSR.
Conquer Belarus
Let's go further to see the sights of Belarus by car. The memorial complex "Khatyn", located in the village of the same name, evokes both sadness and delight. The village itself was burned to the ground along with all its inhabitants in March 1943. Only three people from the village were able to survive - an elderly man and two boys.
The authorities of the Soviet Union considered it their duty to perpetuate the memory of the victims of that terrible event and similar horrors of the war period. Therefore, in 1969 they opened memorial Complex"Khatyn". It includes a sculpture of a rescued old man from the village, who is carrying a dying child in his arms. Sculpture conveys tremendous emotional power. The prototype of the artifact was Joseph Kaminsky, a blacksmith who found his dying offspring under a pile of corpses. Every half a minute in "Khatyn" the ringing of bells is heard, amplifying the effect of what you see.
Country of castles
The sights of Belarus, photos of which are shown in our review, are a huge number of palaces. Each of them has received separate praise and description. For example, it is a monument of defensive architecture of the 16th-17th centuries. It is located in the village of Golshany and was built by order of Pavel Stefan Sapieha in 1610. Once it was a majestic rectangular building with an area of 89 meters * 69 meters. And today it has turned into ruins, which are overgrown with bushes. The dungeons, where in the old days the history of the country was created, are covered with earth and are not of particular interest. The east wing and a couple of towers boast slightly better condition.
The sights of Belarus, especially castles, are of great interest to tourists. The state can be proud of one more fortress. This is Borisov Castle. It took quite a long time to build: from the end of the XII century until the beginning of the XIV century. The object played a significant strategic role, because under its control there was a navigable route passing from Baltic Sea to Black. Few have survived to the present day, but Belarus can truly admire such a “hero”.
Lida
This is the name of a city in Belarus. It is located 160 kilometers from the capital. Here you can also see some of the sights of Belarus. The best way to get around is by car. The settlement is located on the Lydia River and was founded in 1323. At one time he was the most major center in the country. True, it was a long time ago, but still ... In the XIV century, the great Lithuanian prince Gediminas laid a castle near Lydia. Around it, a settlement began to form, which soon became a large and powerful city. The owners of Lida have changed several times, which has left an imprint on its culture, architecture and history.
What to see here
Lida (Belarus), the attractions of which are the monument to Adam Mitskevich, the Mound of Immortality and other objects, is old town, and therefore there is a lot of interesting things here. For example, the Lida Castle of Gediminas, which is built of gravel and sand on a piece island. Or Church Of the Immaculate Conception, created at the turn of the past and present centuries. Here you can also visit the sundial monument and other amazing objects.
And finally
Having admired the beauty of the country and already leaving it, pay a little more attention to the museum of ancient folk crafts "Dudutki", the way to which will be indicated by a map of Belarus with sights. Previously, it was a farm-type farm. And now it has turned into a huge tourist complex, on the territory of which there are a smithy, a bakery, a menagerie and a mill.
Report on a trip by car to Belarus on the May holidays in 2017. Nesvizh Castle, Minsk, "Stalin's Line", Mound of Glory, Khatyn.
Foreword
Belarus is a country where my husband and I love to visit, regardless of the season, place and purpose of travel. It attracts, firstly, because it is imbued with "Sovietness", friendliness and generally positive, secondly, it reminds of the young years of life spent here, and thirdly, smooth roads, well-groomed, cozy streets, friendly local residents, the relative cheapness of prices.
If you set a goal, you can go around the whole country literally in 10-15 days. We haven’t made such a march yet, but we have already visited many cities (Vitebsk, Grodno, Gomel, Borisov, Mogilev, Dzerzhinsk, Brest, Minsk, Kobrin).
According to the glorious family tradition, shortly before leaving for long, holiday-related "vacations", we begin to plan a vacation. In May a large number of holidays, God himself ordered to go on a trip. I have long wanted to visit Belarusian castles, one of the most attractive for me turned out to be Nesvizh, judging by the reviews and descriptions on the Internet (located in the city of Nesvizh, not far from Minsk in the south-west direction), and at the same time my husband offered to visit the sights associated with the Great World War II - Victory Square in the center of the Belarusian capital, the Mound of Glory, Khatyn and an open-air museum, a historical and cultural complex called "Stalin's Line".
Preparation
We began to prepare for the trip at the end of April, as we planned to hit the road on the first May holidays. My husband bought a green card for a 15-day stay in Belarus, and carefully examined the machine for its technical condition. Fortunately, the spouse is a mechanic, so they did it on their own, they did not incur any special expenses regarding repairs. By the way, the car is not new - Volkswagen Passat 1993 release, but reliable.
The date of the trip had to be postponed due to unfavorable weather conditions: On April 29, 30 and May 1, rain was expected in Minsk. I didn't really want to spend all these days in the car or any eateries, so I had to wait for the next holidays (May 6, 7, 8, 9).
But there was still time to collect my thoughts, decide on the route, time of departure, study the festive program in museums, etc. We planned to leave Moscow late in the evening on Saturday, May 6, cross the border of Belarus in 5-6 hours, stop for the night at any of the campgrounds along the way, fry barbecue, and the next morning, May 7, be in Nesvizh just in time for the opening of the museum, and the rest of the day walk around the city and the castle.
Then they planned to spend the night at a hotel in Minsk, see the sights on May 8, visit the National Library, the Mound of Glory, "Stalin's Line" and Khatyn. On May 9, I had to go home in the morning. In order not to use the Internet once again on the territory of the Republic of Belarus, we downloaded Maps.Me to our phone, uploaded a map of the country and quite successfully used it all the way.
On the eve of departure, on Friday, May 5, the training began. The set of necessary things for travel is always standard - documents, chargers, tools, bedding, a navigator, warm clothes and shoes, a brazier with a barbecue grill, a thermos, food, dishes.
Road and border with Belarus
There is a direct road from Moscow to Minsk -. It was on her that we left, heading to the capital of Belarus. As planned, at about 7 pm we drove away from the house. The path ran through Odintsovo, Mozhaisk, Vyazma, Safonovo, Smolensk.
As such, there is no border between our countries. The only reason why the Russian border guards can stop is to show the documents (passport), after viewing they are released in peace. They rarely stop at the Belarusian border. I'll run ahead and say that we have never shown the green card to anyone.
On the border with Belarus
At about one in the morning we found ourselves not far from Orsha. We decided to spend the night at one of the gas stations combined with the camping. Belarusian campgrounds deserve a separate discussion - usually they are spacious, always clean areas equipped with benches, tables and free toilets reminiscent of shower stalls. Sometimes there is a cafe on the territory, sometimes campgrounds are combined with gas stations.
So far, everything was going according to the planned plan, except for the barbecue - at night there was absolutely no time for them. In the morning we went further - to Nesvizh. The road ran through Borisov, Zhodino, Minsk and Dzerzhinsk. The castle, which we were eager to get into, is the main attraction of the small town. The road to Nesvizh itself after turning from the main road seemed to me similar to the American one, a la local Florida. Only instead of palm trees, poplars rose along the roadside, creating a completely cozy, incomparable atmosphere.
Panorama of Nesvizh Castle
As soon as you get into the city, you immediately see the direction. Nesvizh Castle is located in the center and rises on a small moat so that it can be seen, probably, from any end and from any street. After driving along a paved road for a couple of kilometers, we found ourselves near the gate, behind which the main attraction was hidden. To the right was the temple, which was under restoration.
Having successfully parked, we headed towards the castle. First, in the courtyard, they passed all sorts of enticements - shops with all sorts of things like magnets and key rings, barkers, inviting people to forge personalized coins, and other entrepreneurs. Then we ended up at the building with the sign "ticket office", bought tickets (with our money: 500 rubles per person). By the way, when paying, we used an ordinary Russian card, we were not even interested in currency exchange, since in Belarus it is possible to pay by bank transfer even in unremarkable village shops.
There were not very many tourists buying tickets with us, but at the very entrance to the museum we found a fairly large crowd of people. Few people got here on their own. Basically, there were organized groups with a guide who arrived by bus from Russia. We imperceptibly joined one of these - we explored the entire castle, secretly eavesdropping on the stories of the guide.
The time spent in the museum flew by quickly, but it was very eventful. The castle at the time of the existence of the Lithuanian principality (which included Belarus) belonged to the Radziwill family until the middle of the 20th century. Each room in it is a whole world, a whole era.
Billiards and stuffed animals
More hunting trophies
Here the princes of the Radziwills dined
The rich interior is impressive
The museum is not like any other, everything here breathes some kind of European spirit, something alluring. May 7 (the day when we just visited the Nesvizhsky complex) - the day of its construction. For such an event, the actors even acted out a scene from the life of Prince Radziwill, which tells about the birth of a family and clan as a whole.
To say that we were delighted when we left the castle is to say nothing. The walks through the territory of the nearby park, entwined with emerald greenery, framed by a pond, along which boat trips take place in summer, helped to extend it.
Walks in Minsk
It was already around 5 pm when we walked around the castle and the park and decided to move on to Minsk. At the entrance to the city we went to the local Euroopt supermarket - the chain is very common in all cities of the country. We bought groceries to cook and have a snack on our own at the hotel.
There are not so many hotels in Minsk, while many of them are quite budgetary. We accidentally came across one of these right next to the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, opposite the Island of Tears. The hotel is called "Apartments on Bogdanovicha", located at st. Bogdanovich, 23, here is a link to Booking. A double room cost 1,500 rubles. The room is completely ordinary, with two beds, not very spacious and resembles a Soviet sanatorium. But this room is clean, with fresh linens and even a TV.
On the morning of May 8, we went for a walk around the city. Over the past 3 years, we have been to Minsk 5 times, and each time the capital of Belarus is revealed to us from a new side. We have heard the epithet "home" from many of our friends who have been here. It's hard to argue - it's so cozy, so free, calm and relaxed here that you really feel as if you are safe at home.
This time our goal was National Library, in which you can "ride" on the glass elevator to the observation deck and admire the city from a bird's eye view.
One of the central streets of Minsk
Nothing supernatural, the view is completely ordinary. But here you can once again be convinced that Minsk is a clean, green and uncomfortable city in a capital.
For fun, we stopped at Victory Square to see if preparations were under way for May 9th. Despite the rain, she was in full swing - the guys rehearsed the dance to a very soulful song and under the watchful eye of the leaders, standing under umbrellas.
Second day. "Stalin's Line" and the Mound of Glory
On this day (May 8), our program was even more intense. We visited three iconic places- "Stalin's Line", the Mound of Glory and Khatyn.
To get to the "Stalin's Line", it was necessary to go to the P28 highway and move in the direction of the village of Loshany. We were guided by the signs. Entrance ticket to the territory of the complex cost 500 rubles per person. According to the program, a performance was planned - a reconstruction of the battle for Berlin.
Reconstruction of the battle for Berlin
The territory itself is a large area with a slight slope, military equipment is located on top, and a hollow at the bottom for demonstrating reconstructions. A large number of spectators gathered for the performance, including even foreign delegates.
After watching the reconstruction, the organizers invited everyone to shoot from machine guns, pistols and other wartime weapons. There was even the opportunity to ride a tank and taste the field cuisine. All this atmosphere cannot but evoke sorrowful feelings. The task of the actors and organizers - to involve the public in the study of history - has been done perfectly well.
Both from the Mound of Glory and from Khatyn to head to Moscow is equally convenient. You can get to the Mound of Glory from Minsk in 30-40 minutes along the M2 highway. The complex itself is a hill with steps and a stele.
The surrounding area is planted with trees, there is a cafe nearby. In the parking lot, we met foreigners - Frenchmen making a voyage in several cars from France through Belarus throughout Russia. These are happy and wealthy European retirees who decided to arrange such an exciting trip for themselves, while not knowing a word of Russian.
"We didn't want to die ...". Khatyn
As for Khatyn, we already visited it in 2013, but for some reason we wanted to come to this place again. You can get to it on the road to Logoisk, the Minsk-Vitebsk highway, 54 kilometers (M3). This time we drove along the road from Kurgan (P80) to MKAD-2 (Minskaya ring road) and turned onto M3 (there was also a sign to Silichi - a ski sports complex). The journey took about an hour. At the entrance to the memorial there is a signpost - large concrete letters "Khatyn". After the turn, it remains to drive a few kilometers.
The complex consists of two parts. The first is parking, ticket offices for paying for the services of a guide (the entrance itself is free), the second is memorials in the form of chimneys at the sites of burnt houses.
There are small bells on them that ring after a short period of time. In the center there is a monument to a blacksmith holding his deceased son in his arms.
Monument to the blacksmith
It is impossible to be there without tears. It seems that here every piece of land is saturated with blood and tears of people who died at the hands of the Nazis. Here the war is remembered every day.
It was this territory that took the first blow back in 1941.
Memorial messages in Khatyn
Khatyn became the final point of our Belarusian trip. From here, along the M3 highway, and then P63 (M1), we returned back to Moscow on the morning of the next day, May 9.
Both days we spent in Belarus were marked by a friendly and sunny weather... The capital of Russia met with unexpected snowfall. The holidays are over, but the memories remain.
Results and finance
In total, we drove about 1,500 kilometers. It is more profitable to buy gasoline in Russia, it is much cheaper here. However, it is undesirable to transport it in cans across the border. If you are stopped by the Belarusian border guards, you can run into trouble.
You should be careful on the road from Smolensk - there are a lot of cameras, one of them took a picture of us. In Belarus itself, the speed limit should also be observed, especially in settlements - the fines are substantial, and the driver's license can be taken away as collateral.
- gasoline: about 5000 rubles (round trip);
- green card: 800 rubles;
- tickets: 2000 rubles (to the Nesvizh Castle and to the territory of the "Stalin Line");
- groceries: about 3000 rubles;
- hotel accommodation: 1500 rubles;
- small expenses (magnets, coffee in a cafe): about 500 rubles.
Total: 13,000 rubles. Very budgetary and eventful.
Many travelers planning to travel to Belarus for the first time wonder whether they need a passport to enter. To travel to the Republic of Belarus, citizens Russian Federation no passport needed. You can enter Belarus by presenting your passport, but no marks will be put on it. The Western European architecture of the cities of Belarus will allow you to plunge into the atmosphere of old Europe, even for those travelers who have not issued a passport.
Usually, excursions in Belarus start from the capital of the country, the city of Minsk. A trip to Minsk from Moscow by private car will take about 12 hours. It is also possible to get from Moscow by train, the journey will take about 9-10 hours. The most fast way travel from Moscow to Minsk is by plane. Direct flights are operated daily by several airlines.
The exchange of Russian rubles for Belarusian rubles can be made at any bank branch or currency exchange office. You will need to present your passport or passport with which you entered the country. One Russian ruble equals approximately 275 Belarusian rubles.
A trip by car to Belarus will be especially interesting. You can rent a car in Minsk. This will give you complete freedom of movement and the opportunity to travel to any part of Belarus. The cost of renting a car at the airport depends on the rental period and starts from 350,000 rubles per day.
Cheap hotels in most cities are located near the train station. In a budget hotel you can check in from 140,000 rubles per bed. Hotels offer private rooms from 350,000 rubles.
Most interesting objects Minsk are:
- Town hall.
- Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.
- Catholic church of St. Simeon and St. Helena, Virgin Mary, St. Roch.
- The ensemble of the former monasteries of the Bernardines and Bernardines, St. Elizabeth's Monastery.
- Trinity Suburb.
- The churches of Peter and Paul, Alexander Nevsky, Mary Magdalene, John the Baptist and the chapels of all Belarusian saints.
- Pishchalovsky castle.
- National Library of Belarus.
Where to go in Minsk in winter time, so this is the skating rink, which is poured in front of the Palace of the Republic, and also to visit ski resort Silichi 30 km from Minsk. In addition, the Khatyn memorial complex is located 50 km north of Minsk. The cost of the visit is 40,000 rubles for adults, 25,000 for students.
Mir Castle is one of those places that you should definitely go to, especially if you are traveling around Belarus by car. It is located 90 km from Minsk. Mir Castle is the easternmost in Europe architectural complex in the gothic style. Since 2000, it has been part of cultural heritage UNESCO.
To enter the Mir Castle you need a ticket, its cost is 200,000 rubles. On the territory of the castle there is a restaurant and a hotel with a room rate starting from a million rubles, so those who want to save money should go here for one day, returning to the hotel in Minsk in the evening or continue their journey towards the city of Nesvizh.
Next place, where it is worth stopping by by car - Nesvizh castle. This castle complex is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located 30 km from the Mir Castle, so both castles can be viewed in one day. Visiting Nesvizh Castle, you can stay in the town of Nesvizh. A small private hotel will cost from 180,000 rubles for a single room. Nesvizh Castle also has a hotel on its territory.
The castle is open to visitors every day, in the summer from 9.30 to 18.30, in the winter from 9.00 to 18.00. You will also need a ticket, ticket prices: 50,000 rubles for children, 100,000 - for adults. It is possible to visit Nesvizh Castle free of charge, on the last Monday of any month. Nesvizh Castle is also famous for the oldest town hall in Belarus, entrance to it is paid separately, and for the Church of the Corpus Christi.
If, thinking about where to go next, you decide to move west, then you should visit Grodno. It is quite easy to get to Grodno by car from anywhere in Belarus, the roads are good here. There will be no problems with finding a hotel. There are many offers from individuals at the station, the prices offered there are very loyal. The hotel will cost an average of 350,000 rubles.
Where to go in Grodno is museums. There are seven of them, the average entrance ticket price for adults is 15,000 - 30,000 rubles, for schoolchildren - 10,000 - 20,000. In general, the main sights of Grodno can be seen in one day. These include:
- The old castle is a medieval palace.
- New Castle - located opposite the Old Castle.
- The Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier is a Catholic church in the Baroque style.
The historic center of Grodno is a pleasant place for walking. V architectural ensembles the center of Grodno is intertwined with many different European styles, so a trip to Belarus can give you a unique opportunity to feel the atmosphere of old Europe, but you don't even need a passport.
Brest is located on the border with Poland and is one of the five oldest cities in Belarus. With a Schengen visa and taking with them a passport, tourists have the opportunity to travel to Poland. Here's what to see in Brest will be the most interesting:
- Brest Hero Fortress. To view it, you need a ticket, entrance ticket prices: 30,000 rubles for adults, 15,000 - for students.
- Archaeological Museum"Berestye". Admission ticket for adults - 20,000 rubles, for schoolchildren - 10,000. Every second Wednesday of the month the museum is open to visitors free of charge.
- St. Simeon's Cathedral.
- Holy Cross Church.
Budget hotels in Brest offer beds from 200,000 rubles. V inexpensive hotel it is possible to move in from 250,000 rubles per room.
Another place worth going when visiting Brest is national park"Belovezhskaya Pushcha", which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the territory of the reserve there are hotels and guest houses... The average cost of rooms is from 500,000 rubles. In winter, there is a Santa Claus house for children.
In the north of Belarus, it is worth visiting the city of Vitebsk - cultural capital country. From what to see in Vitebsk and where to go, it is worth highlighting such objects as:
- City Hall.
- Governor's Palace.
- Art Museum.
- Museum and Exhibition Complex Chagall.
- The building of the regional executive committee, which previously housed the female diocesan school.
- Victory Square is the largest in Belarus.
- Churches and cathedrals of the 18th - 19th centuries.
It is quite easy to rent a hotel in the city, but the prices in Vitebsk are somewhat overpriced. When choosing a budget hotel, you should count on a bed from 180,000 rubles.
Hello everyone) I am writing for the first time a report about one of our travels, do not judge strictly ... The trip to Belarus was planned for a long time, I chose optimal route, looked for accommodation, studied various reports on road trips and finally decided on the travel time (May 3-13, 2015) and the route. Before the trip, a guidebook was purchased in the store, with which we, in general, went everywhere. The price of the issue is about 500 rubles, but the thing turned out to be useful, the maps of the republic and Minsk were also attached to the guidebook)
Before the trip, maps of Belarus were loaded into the navigator, and accommodation was booked in all desired cities on the site olx.by/ Do not be alarmed, prices are in Belarusian rubles, apartment owners willingly accept dollars, Russian rubles, alas, did not. I called the owners of the apartments a month before the trip, many apartments had already been booked. Then I phoned everyone again beforehand so that there would be no surprise upon arrival. I will make a reservation right away: the apartments did not always look as "beautiful" in the photo, some were not well-groomed, the furniture already seemed shabby. Because we were always on the road and, as a rule, we needed an apartment for spending the night, then we stayed where it was booked. A visa to Belarus is not required, you only need car insurance (green card or local policy). I previously bought a green card in the first insurance company in the city a few days in advance, the cost is 700 rubles. This can be done before the border, but I advise you not to waste time for this and stock up in advance.
day 1, May 3, the road to Belarus, the first stop city of Polotsk.
About 1000 km. on the way, the M9 highway, through Rzhev, after Velikiye Luki, exit to P51, then through P133 and here we have a section of the road called "toll section". At first we did not take it for the truth, because road section 50-100 km. turned out to be completely broken and narrow-lane, the movement on it could not exceed 70 km, because it was not possible to go faster. At the end of the road there really was a payment point and a barrier, the fare was 300 re) not fair ... I'm used to seeing paid sites in a slightly different light than this one. Having paid 300 re, the barrier was raised and a few meters later a sign "Belarus" appeared in front of us). we stopped, checked the course, switched on roaming. Then settlements began with names in the Belarusian language, it was somewhat unusual. Small villages with a measured, unhurried life. Because The first day of the trip fell on May 3, on a day off, then on the way all the branches of local banks were closed, so it was somewhat difficult to change our rees for their local rubles. It is important to note that there are many storks in Belarus, as soon as the border was crossed, storks began to appear in their nests in the very first settlement. We have never seen anything like it at home. In Polotsk we were already at 5 pm, in total on the road from 5 am, the travel time with stops for refueling and snacks is 12 hours, the road as a whole is not difficult. In the evening we settled in rented apartment, found an exchanger, which was only at the railway station, and this was where our acquaintance with Belarus began)
Day 2, May 4, 2015, acquaintance with Polotsk
Polotsk is the most ancient city in Belarus. The city itself is compact, provincial and attracts with its uncommonness, but already in nm, a trend begins to be felt Western countries and their cultures. The city does not have large grocery stores, boutiques and other attributes of comfort inherent in large cities... I will make a reservation right away that in Belarus, as in the Russian Federation, there are many banks, the most common is Belarusbank (http://belarusbank.by/), it also offers the most unprofitable currency exchange rates for the consumer, so if you decide not to show off, then it is better walk farther around the city or find another bank on the map that will save you a little rubles).
There are few sights in Polotsk, so we walked around them in half a day.
monument to Francysk Skaryna 
Freedom Square 
Polotsk is the geographical center of Europe 
Monument to the letter "u" 
Everything is clean and cozy at home 
Monument to 23 Soldiers-Guards 
Monastery of the Epiphany 
Lutheran Church 
The most a nice place Polotsk - Cathedral of St. Sofia 
Further, our path proceeded not along the embankment of the city, but along its upper part: Jesuit Collegium 
Monument to the Krivichs-founders of the city 
Monument to Euphrosyne of Polotsk 
The Spaso-Euphrosyne Monastery is located far from the city center. 
You can have a tasty meal in Polotsk in the Domian cafe (Polotsk, Nizhne-Pokrovskaya st., 41 b), there is National cuisine, then we tried a local attraction - potato pancakes). We spent the whole day in this city, exchanging currencies, then recalculating it for a long time, because our 5 tr. turned out to be the equivalent of more than a million Belarusian rubles in 50,000 pieces of paper), bought a local SIM card for calls around the republic.
In Polotsk, they sell Polotsk kvass and local beer. We managed to try it only in Polotsk, then we never met them anywhere. Therefore, there is an opportunity, then we advise you to buy such kvass either on the road, or as gifts)
Day 3, May 5, the road to Minsk through Khatyn, about 230 km. 
We left Polotsk early, because the path is 200 km. not close, and even in an unfamiliar area. In Belarus, the speed limits are the same as ours: highway 90, city 60, highway 110, but there is a slight difference! If we do not receive a fine when the speed is exceeded up to 20 km / h with the existing restriction, then here you can only overtake 10 km / h. Be careful! There are many tripods, cameras and traffic police posts both in ambush by radars and at the entrances to cities.
Before reaching Minsk there is a memorial complex Khatyn. This complex was opened in 1969 on the site of a village burned down by the Nazis. On the territory of the complex there is the only cemetery of villages in the world ... 
On the eve of the holiday, the anniversary of the Great patriotic war, the whole complex was full of workers who painted and cleaned the territory.
In general, I would like to note that during the whole trip, we did not meet a single village that would not honor those who died in that terrible war. Each village has an obelisk, a memorial that reminds of the days gone by and the fallen soldiers who defended these lands.
I would also like to note and draw your attention to the fact that the prices for gasoline throughout the republic are the same regardless of the name of the gas station, the approximate cost of 92 gasoline is about 50 of our rubles, a little expensive, but wherever you are: the capital or small village - price for gasoline will be unchanged.
Minsk greeted us with good weather, cloudy, but not rainy, a good apartment with a talkative owner. We settled in the Minsk-lease area. A developed area, many supermarkets, shopping centers, public transport stops nearby, not the center, but once again ride on local trolleybuses and listen to how stops are announced in Belarusian is a pleasure. tickets to public transport can be bought both from the driver and at kiosks at bus stops. 
Although Minsk is the capital of Belarus, it did not parasit me with its scope and splendor. 
We stayed in Minsk for 2 days, but 2 days were enough to see the whole city.
We started our route from the railway station and the twin towers. 
Then we went to Mikhailovsky Square 
Then we went through the passage to the Independence Square, on which the Red Church is located. 
There are many Catholics living in Belarus, so there are often Catholic churches that are unusual for us. 
Further along Independence Avenue we went to the upper city. 
Above is the photo of the Cathedral of St. Virgin mary
City hall 
Church of St. Joseph 
Memorial "Island of Tears" 
And of course, the national cuisine, we recommend the cafe "At Francis", a little expensive, but this is Minsk) - Minsk, Nezavisimosti ave., 19 
Day 4, May 6, Stalin Line, sightseeing in Minsk
Depending on where you stay in Minsk, the Stalin Line is 20-30 km away. Stalin's Line is a historical and cultural complex located on the former line of defense. 
The complex occupies a huge area ... 
It was chilly outside, so we hurried to find a cafe. On the territory of the complex there is a small cafe where you can order soldier's buckwheat porridge and warm up with hot tea) After the complex we drove back to Minsk, or rather to the Vostok district, where the famous library is located 
The library has a panoramic pay lift that will take you to the top, to observation deck... Neither the elevator nor the platform is worth the time and money spent. There is a cafe upstairs. The top view only opens onto residential areas. We spent the rest of the day in the apartment, resting and gaining new strength.
Day 5, May 7, the road to Grodno through the ruins of the Krevsky and Golshansky castles, through the Lida castle, more than 300 km. on my way 
We set out from Minsk in the morning, the weather was terrible, it was raining, flew quickly along the Moscow Ring Road and moved towards the castles. The first on the way was the Krevo castle, or rather its ruins (the village of Krevo) 
During our journey through the republic inland, the weather began to change and we arrived at the ruins of the Golshany castle (the village of Golshany) 
Further, the road ran to Lida and the Lida castle. Lida is famous not only for the Lida Castle, but also for the Lida beer and kvass, which are as good as the Polotsk ones) 
The castle was restored and preserved to the present day according to historical information. 
And so, we got to Grodno 
Day 6, May 8, Grodno
There are few attractions in Grodno, on the eve of holidays and weekends there were many tourists in the city, mainly from Poland
Fire Tower 
Old castle and new castle 
Nothing remarkable inside, not worth spending money
Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross 
Cathedral Church of St. Francis Xavier is the main attraction of Grodno 
The sights were examined quickly, so we went in search of sights outside the guide, they turned out to be the forts of the Grodno fortress (fortifications of the First World War) in the village of Naumovichi 
Day 7, May 9, Belovezhskaya Pushcha through Krasnoselskie chalkpit and Ruzhany (castle in Ruzhany) 
n / a Kovali, river Ros 
Although shy, but incredibly friendly and talkative swans, I loved them
The Krasnoselsky chalk quarries are located in Krasnoselsky, the quarries were formed from the extraction of chalk, everyone here will find a quarry to their liking and liking. People come here on vacation, for photo sessions. 
Ruzhany - small locality in the Grodno region, Ruzhany is known for its castle, which is currently being actively restored. The castle in Ruzhany is majestic and amazes the views of visitors with its scale. 
Further the road to Belovezhskaya Pushcha runs through the village of Kamenyuki, along the entire route there are many signs that will lead you to Kamenyuki, and then to the main entrance to Belovezhskaya Pushcha (http://npbp.by/). The fresh air of the relic forest is heady. The hotel room in the Pushcha itself was booked in advance without prepayments (http://npbp.by/images/Dok/25.pdf). Prices for rooms are available on the website, you can choose a room both in a hotel on the territory of the Pushcha, and a room in a hotel near the Pushcha (500 meters from the main entrance). Staying at a hotel on site, we did not regret it. The room was clean and comfortable, the staff were welcoming. The room rate included a very hearty breakfast, it justified itself before the trip. On the territory of the Pushcha and at the entrance to it there are several cafes where you can eat, in the main building there is a restaurant where you can taste buffalo meat. The range of services in the Pushcha: both health-improving and cultural and entertainment. We chose a bike ride. If you have bicycles with you, then you will not have to pay for entry to Pushcha on them, only if you want to buy a route for yourself. I’ll make a reservation right away - this is optional. There are signs on the territory of the Pushcha, so you can safely navigate along them and ride bicycles on your own without maps. We rented bicycles + route 15 km. Separately, you can buy a ticket for viewing animals, but I also do not advise you to spend money, if you take bicycles, then one way or another on the way back of the route you will go through all the animals and see them for free. We had a chance to admire them before going to bed, when it was getting dark and they were going to bed, the evening walk only benefited us, we slept very well. 
Day 8, May 10, Brest via Kamenets (distance 50-60 km) 
Kamenets is famous for the Kamenets Tower, which is located directly in the city. The Kamenets tower is a monument of defensive architecture, the tower stands on a high hill, inside the tower there is a local history museum. 
We got to Brest quickly, before settling, we managed to visit the Brest Fortress, I will not describe it, everyone knows what it is, the photos do not convey all the feelings that you experience inside its walls 
After checking in, we had a bite to eat and went to get acquainted with the city, the sights from us were within walking distance. The city is beautiful and modern, there are not many attractions. 
It is worth walking along 2 streets: Cosmonauts Boulevard and Gogol Street. 
The recommended place for lunch is the Dali cafe on the boulevard. Cosmonauts
Church of the Exaltation of St. Of the cross 
This is where the acquaintance with Brest ends. In the city there are many branded shops of the Brest distillery (sells Zubrovki and other liqueurs) and chocolate factories.
Day 9, May 11, the road to Mir through the village. Kozischi, Nesvizh castle (about 350 km) 
In the village of Kozische there is a large ostrich farm, it is difficult to find it without a navigator, because sometimes I had to drive along a rural dirt road. Because We left Brest early, then arrived at the farm for the opening, at 10 am. But as it turned out, the staff had not yet arrived and we had to wait about an hour for the opening, this greatly spoiled our experience. Before the excursion, we ordered breakfast: an ostrich egg omelet and ostrich sausages (there are always fresh eggs and fresh meat on sale for everyone's taste) meat. The excursion was sluggish, as was the guide, I wanted to go further faster. 
Because the path was not yet close, then we refreshed ourselves with an ostrich and rushed on. The roads in Belarus deserve special attention, they are ideal. In some places there are signs that there will be irregularities on the road, but in fact you don't even notice them. No global repairs, no holes, no patching. There is cleanliness along the roads, staff walk and mow the grass, this attitude to the roads in the country commands respect.
Passing 300 km. we got to Nesvizh, the city where the Nesvizh castle is located. I will make a reservation right away that due to the long journey in the day, we did not have time to get inside, so we examined the castle only from the outside. He is beautiful. 
There are several hotels in Nesvizh, but the most interesting thing is that you can rent a room in the castle) niasvizh.by/ru/
Mir, Mir Castle. As in Nesvizh with the Mir Castle, you can also rent a room, but we already could not afford it, so we stayed at a hotel, rooms and prices are reasonable (hotel "mir"). I was tired of the journey, so I preferred to sit outside the castle in the fresh air, while my husband went to the castle. 
Day 10, May 12, Vitebsk (about 380 km) 
Vitebsk is our last travel point in Belarus. This city only strengthened my already positive attitude towards this country. 
Holy Assumption Cathedral 
Kirovsky bridge 
City hall 
Holy Resurrection Church 
Slavic Marketplace) 
Day 11, May 13, road home (900 km) 
We are going to the border and here ... 
At the border, they checked their passports and wished you a good journey)
