Download presentation
Presentation is loading. Please wait.
1
Inside Belarus
3
Museum of Old Crafts in Dudutki
Belarus is an ancient country with rich history and folklore. The Dudutki complex was created in order to present the oldest forms of culture and daily routine of the medieval people of Belarus to younger generations and foreign visitors of the state. The present and the past co-exist in Dudutki, and the contemporary comfort meets the regular life-style of the nobility here as well. Belarusian Skansen museum of Old Crafts "Dudutki"is located in 45 km away from Minsk on the bank of Ptich river and welcomes lots of tourists not only from Belarus, but from many other countries. The museum was opened in 1993 and takes the area of 160 hectares. For almost a century and a half Dudutki estate belonged to the Polish and Belarusian noble family of Elsky. The museum itself was founded aiming to revive the Belarusian folk crafts. In Dudutki one can an awesome opportunity to feel the atmosphere of rural life of the 19th century, see how the traditional rural everyday life was organized and try to learn some of the folk crafts. Visiting the only one in Belarus old mill, the tourists can discover the history of its construction and the principals of the windmill's work, then try the miller's treat at the tavern; watch the work of a blacksmith at the smithery and get a lucky horseshoe. Also one can know a receipt of rye-bread at the bakery, eat delicious cheese and butter, and drink herbal tea. After the excursion in the zoological garden with various animals - ostriches, wild boars, deer, ponies, peacocks and others - and excursion to the farm buildings (stables, piggeries and aviaries) tourists can ride in a cart or ride a horse.
4
Museum of Old Crafts in Dudutki
5
The Catholic Church of Holy Trinity in Vidzy village (Braslv district of Vitebsk region)
is a truly jewel in the church architecture of Belarus. The church, built in the style of Neo-Gothic, is one of the highest Catholic churches in Belarus - its spires are 59 meters high. Only the church in Gervyaty with spires of 61 meters is higher. The Trinity Church in Vidzy that soars in the skies impresses with splendor, and the red-hot color just makes it even more expressive. The construction of the church in Vidzy village began in 1909 on the donations of the worshippers. The church was consecrated in 1914 right before the beginning of WWI. During the war the building suffered from the gunfire - in 1915 the front line crossed Vidzy. The towers of the church served as the observation post for snipers. After the war the church was restored and in memory of the war events a few shells were built in the walls.
6
Church of Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
also known as Murovanskaya or Malomozheykovskaya Church takes an important position among the sights of Belarus. At the present the 600-year old church is under the state protection and is a candidate to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. This fortified church was built not only as a place of worship, but also as a place where the locals could hide from the enemies. The church was founded in the 16th century. The monument of defensive architecture reminds of a fortified castle with walls of two- meter width that survived a lot through the centuries. The sources tell that in 1656, during the war with Muscovy, a Cossack squad rushed into the church and ransacked it. During the Polish-Russian war Murovanskaya church was severely damaged.
7
Uspensky monastery in Zhirovichy
For already 500 years Uspensky monastery in Zhirovichy has been the bulwark of the Eastern Christianity on the Belarusian land. And all it began with a small icon that nowadays is one of a hundred of the most worshipped shrines of the Orthodox world. As the legend says, the foundation of the Orthodox center in Zhirovichy is connected with a miraculous appearance of wonder-working icon of Virgin Mary there: in 1470 shepherd girls noticed a bright light through branches of wild pear tree. They came closer and found a little icon of Virgin Mary. The girls brought it to their master, boyar Soltan, who put the icon into his coffret. However when the next day Soltan wanted to show the icon his guests, the coffret was empty. The icon was founded again on the same spot near the pear tree. Soltan considered it a sign and ordered to put a church on the place where the icon appeared. But in the church and other buildings burned down. The icon was also considered of the same fate, however soon it was found by children that played near the site of fire. There the Epithany church was built.
8
Holy Assumption Orthodox Church in Sarya
Long time ago, in the beginning of the 16th century, Sarya village was a heritable land of Sapegas magnates, and in the 18th century it passed to Head of Mstislavl Nicholay Lopatinsky, the son of whom, Ignatiy, was destined to eternize memory of his beloved one in a form of an amazingly beautiful church, repeating the romantic deed of the creator of worldly known Taj Mahal. The story began when Ignatiy Lopatinsky fell in love with a young lady - Marysya Shumskaya. She did not come out of a rich family and did not even have any good dowry. But it did not stop the nobleman - being deeply in love with the girl, he married her and was faithful to her for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, their life was not very happy and prosperous: the couple lost their first child, and the wife did not survive through hard third labour. Ignatiy was in a deep grief and decided to erect a church at the wife's grave in Sarya. In this noble and romantic deed Ignatiy got help from famous Prussian architect Gustav Shacht who lived at that time in a neighbor town Osveya. With the beauty of ritzy high-reaching moldings, niches, high vaulted opens, the church in Sarya got its airy lightness and graceful graphics. The construction of this magnificent building was finished in 1857, after which the church was consecrated to Saint Mary.
9
Belarusian Versallies in Mosar Village
Mosar is located in Gluboksky district. For the first time the village that now in known all over Belarus, was mentioned in the chronicles in For a long time it belonged to various noble families, such as the Zenovichys, Patsys, Mlechkys and others. The greatest mark on the village's history was left by the Bzhestovskys - Anna and Robert Bzhestovsky built in Mosar a magnificent Catholic church. It was the end of the 18th century. Even the kings of the Polish Commonwealth were the guests at the Bzhestovskys' palace. Alas, that architectural monument had not survived till our time, it was destroyed during the Civil War. But the Catholic Church of St Ann is opened today. It is an acting church where all the believers of Belarus are willing to get to honor the church's main relic - hallows of St Justinian. Apart from that, it is pleasant to take a walk in the park around - it is simply gorgeous. However, it was not always was like that. In the Soviet era the territory surrounding the church was swampy, though the church itself still welcomed the believers.
10
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Postavy
The church honors St. Anthony of Padua - Franciscan preacher, miracle worker, one of the most venerated saints of the Catholic Church. To him apply when searching for lost things, St. Anthony helps people find not only material but also spiritual: love, hope, conscience and God. The future preacher was born in the late XII century in Lisbon (Iberian Peninsula). Having become a priest, he went to serve in Morocco, but soon he fell ill and was forced to return home. The ship was caught in a storm and only miraculously survived; he drifted to the shores of Sicily. After that Anthony got a divine vision and began to preach. Word of his sermons found a simple and easy way into the hearts and souls of listeners. The preacher died in his forties. Today the temple is a single-turret five-sided apse of the basilica. The greatness of church tower attached tiered hip. On a red background brick walls plastered and whitewashed distinguished niche and arkaturoy - a number of small blind arches. The side facades are broken up the buttresses and lancet openings. Entrance to the church is represented by three lancet portals.
11
Pinsk Palace: Dandy in a Village
This architectural monument was built on the order of Mateush Butrimovich. He was an outstanding personality of his time, a great financier and figurant of the Polish Commonwealth. He organized the industry on the Polesye, directed the construction of the Oginsky and Royal (Dnepro-Bug) Canals. Moreover, Mateush Butrimovich was the ambassador of Pinsk at the 20th Seim ( ) of the Commonwealth. Such a high rank was emphasized by the fact that the first stone on the basement of the future palace in Pinsk was laid by the last king of the Commonwealth Stanisław August Poniatowski. Another powerful patron of Butrimovich was Michał Kazimierz Ogiński, Hetman of Lithuania. Mateush Butrimovich is famous not only for the construction of such an amazing palace in Pinsk. He also directed the construction of levees, modernization of city roads, it was Butrimovich who suggested to connect the Mukhavets and Pina rivers with an artificial canal. Apart from that Mateush was a grandfather to famous artist, musician and composer Napoleon Orda. The Pinsk palace is remarkable because it was among the first palaces with the mix of Baroque and Classicism features in central and west Belarus. Moreover, it distinguished itself with being included in the urban area, which had not happened before. But these are not all peculiarities of the palace: apart from that, it is built on springs. It was found out not so long ago, when the monument was under reconstruction. To build the palace, the constructors drove into the ground 40 oak posts and laid dry alder logs from the other side. And only after these cautions the brick was laid.
12
The Budslav Catholic Church of Ascension of the Blessed Virgin Mary
is especially honored among the Christians. Over the main entrance there written Basilica minoris that shows its special status. Considering the history and role of the church in the life of the Belarusian Catholics, in 1944 Pope John Paul II gave the Budslav Catholic Church the title of Basilica minoris, which indicates a special class of a church and its great significance for the Christianity on the whole. There are Basilica maior and Basilica minoris. There are only five Basilica maior churches in the world - four of them in Rome and one in Jerusalem. The title of Basilica minoris is given by Vatican to separate churches, which shows its special connection with the Holy See. In Belarus there are only two churched that are honored with the title of Basilica minoris - National Sanctuary of Madonna in Budslav and Sanctuary of Congregational Madonna in Grodno. The "national" sanctuary means, that the icon that is kept in the church is recognized by the Holy See as the celestial patron of Belarus.
13
Augustov Canal: Sight With Double Citizenship
The interest to the canal was revived in Belarus in the beginning of the 90s. In the Augustov Canal was inscribed on the List of Cultural Properties of Belarus. And in Belarus together with Poland appealed to UNESCO about inscribing the Augustov Canal on the World Heritage List. Nowadays the Augustov Canal is a great place in Belarus that attracts tourists not only with the nature and beauty, but also with uniqueness of hydrotechnical buildings. The ordinary program of visiting the Augustov Canal includes the tour over the locks of the canal, country estate and park in Svyatsk and the cathedral in Sapotskin.
14
Palace of Ruzhany The palace of the magnate family of Sapegas in Ruzhany is one of the main attractions not only of Brest region, but Belarus in the whole. This palace complex is without any doubt the landmark of the Belarusian architecture of the 18th century. However, unlike the castle in Mir or palace in Nesvizh, the Sapegas’ residency is covered with dust of centuries, both literally and figuratively. One of the most impressive and visited monuments of architecture in Brest region, “Belarusian Versailles” could delight the sight of the locals and numerous tourists. But the history was rich for wars, and revolutions, and natural disasters that made it impossible to preserve the architectural masterpiece. Only ruins are left from the amazing monument, but even they cannot conceal the bygone grandeur.
15
Castle in Kossovo The castle (though it is more a palace, while it was not intended for defensive aims) was built in the Pseudo Gothic style. Its architectural details such as corner towers with battlements, lancet windows and loopholes were worked out by architect František Yashcholda that came from Warsaw, and the interior design is the credit of Polish architect of Italian origin Marconi, the graduate from the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. At those times there were more than 132 rooms and halls in the castle. In the Black Hall they played cards, in the White Hall there were a reception room. Hundreds of exotic fishes were swimming under the double floor in the stateroom. There was also a menagerie where the owners kept a real lion and, as they say, in the nights set it free to guard their sleep. Each of 12 towers symbolizes a month of a year, 4 central towers mean the grain months - May, June, July, August. The palace was originally constructed in such way that annually the sun lit two and a half days one of its rooms. A unique system of internal corridors and windows allow the sunlight to penetrate into every corner of Kossovo Castle. According to the local legend, the landlords Puslovskie celebrated a «room day»: they specially decorated a room, when it was filled with the sunlight. Near the castle Kazimir laid a marvelous park, that reminded of the Renaissance Italian gardens, with artificial lakes, decorative terraces and overseas trees.
16
Gothic Fortified Church in Synkovichy
Synkovichy church, also called the Church of St. Michael, was built in the early 16th century. The locals says that it was founded by the Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytautas as a way of saying thanks for that he escaped Jogaila in the local woods. However the historians think that this is just a beautiful legend. The last idea of the contemporary arts critics, historians and architects is that the church was founded by Konstantin Ostrozhsky, the grand hetman of Lithuania, in the beginning of the 16th century. Churches like that were also built in Vilnius - the Trinity Church and the Cathedral of the Theotokos.
17
Mysterious Castle of Golshany
The castle of Golshany is called and open-air museum in Grodno region, Oshmyany district. Once a majestic masterpiece of architecture, now only the ruins can let us to touch the history and imagine these walls still standing high and the decendents of a powerful noble clan of the Sapegas walking along the halls. The first mentioning about Golshany dates back to the 13th century. The village was named after the first owners, the Golshansky dukes, the descendants of a famous and influential clan of the Duchy of Lithuania. There is where the castle - then it was wooden- was laid. It happened approximately in 1280. Up to 1525 the castle belonged the Golshansky clan, but the clan's males all died out and the last heir, Elena, married one of the Sapegas. So the castle changed the owner.
18
Lida Castle Lida Castle was built in the times when the press of the Crusaders on Belarusian and Lithuanian land was at the peak. To defend the borders the Grand Duke of Lithuania Gediminas ordered to lay down in Lida a stone castle in 1323 that was under the construction for 5 years. The castle was built on the model of medieval castles of Northern Europe and Baltics of XII - XIV centuries: high stone walls in a shape of a rectangular box, under the protection of which the garrison covered. The architects made use of the relief and chose for the construction a marshy place where the Kamenka river runs into Lideya river. The fortress was built on an artificial island of sand and gravel. The construction promised a good protection not only for the residents of Lida, but also of neighboring villages.
19
Mir Castle is undoubtedly known to everyone who has heard about Belarus at least once. Belarusian pride, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mir Castle is a unique monument of Belarusian architecture that impresses with its strength and solidity and with all that, gracefulness and finality, and sophisticated external decoration.
20
The Tower of Kamenets What makes the Tower of Kamanets so special for tourism in Belarus is that this tower is the only one which survived numerous wars and savagery. To be particular, it has survived the attacks of the Teutons in centuries, acts of assault carried out by Polish and Lithuanian dukes, the wars fought by Sweden, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Muscovia. Unfortunately, the Tower had been abandoned by 19 century since it had lost its defensive value. Thus, in 1882 there were several attempts made to dismantle the building in order to get red bricks, that cost much in those times. Nevertheless, people found out that it was impossible: the bricks turned into rough stone, reluctant to dismantling.
21
The Trinity Church in Gervyaty: a Notre Dame of Belarus
More than 61 m in height, this Church with its complex framework structure is a really breath-taking sight to see in the first instance. Restorated not that long ago, the Church and the surroundings impress a lot, so does the luxuriously decorated interior. Many people call Gervyaty "a small Switzerland" due to its beauty and the style dating back to the old European ages. The figures of disciples, own tree nursery, colorful flowers and convoluted paths will not leave anyone indifferent.
Similar presentations
© 2025 SlidePlayer.com Inc.
All rights reserved.