Welcome to Belarus

Welcome to Belarus

Day 1st

• Arrival to Minsk by air  

After clearing immigration and customs, meeting with a guide at the airport. Transfer to the hotel (accommodation at 3-4 * hotels upon your choice)

• Check in at the hotel
• Lunch
• CITY TOUR OF MINSK (10.00–13.00). The capital city of Belarus was first settled over 900 years ago, in 1067. Much of old Minsk was razed to the ground during World War II. Among the sights that you will see are: Independence Square with the House of Government and "Red" Krasny Roman-Catholic Church, Victory Square with its tall grey obelisk and eternal flame honoring the heroes of World War II, Troitskoye Predmestye (Trinity Suburb) – restored buildings of the 19th century, Holy Trinity Cathedral and St.Catherin's Church – architectural monuments of the 17th cent.         
•  After dinner a visit of Minsk circus or Big Opera Theatre (optional)

 

Day 2nd

After breakfast at the hotel departure for half-day TOUR TO DUDUTKI (40 km from Minsk). The first and at the moment the only private museum of material culture where the past and present are brought together, a museum of handicrafts where a piece of clay, steel or wood are brought to life before your eyes. Founded in 1993, covers the territory of 160 hectares. On the picturesque banks of the river Ptich (once it was one of the waterways «from the Vikings to the Greeks») you will find this unique DUDUTKI museum where activities and entertainment combine in harmony with nature and history.

Tourists are taken

• to the old and the only working windmill in Belarus, where they can see how grain was turned into flower and find a “surprise” 
• to the pottery shop, where one can see traditional work of a skilled potter and join the artisan in creative process
• to the ancient smithy, where one can watch a blacksmith at work and receive a lucky horse shoe as a gift
• to the village bakery with tasting fresh village rye bread made before your eyes, farmer’s butter, cheese and milk

Lunch at Dudutki

Day 3d

After breakfast a start of the visit of Mir castle (15-16thcent. monument) (120 km away from Minsk) It staggers imagination by its beauty grandeur and  artistic elegance. The red brick casle is currently being restored, but one tower and the courtyard are open to visitors. The tower open as a museum features ceramics found during excavations as well as numerous photos. Mir castle was built as a fortress in 1568 and it’s an outstanding example of the rare Belarusian Gothic architectural style.

Lunch in Mir

 

Day 4th

After breakfast at the hotel`s restaurant you will start Stalin Line tour In the thirties of the 20th cent. on the Western border of the former USSR a network of defense military fortifications was built. These fortifications stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. All in all 23 fortified zones were constructed including 4 on the territory of Belarus.

In those days the Western border in Belarus was within 35-40 km from Minsk, the capital of Belarus.

All this network of defense installations is also known in the world as “Stalin Line” (we are sure you still remember the name…).But the memory of those days will always be cherished in Belarus. During 1941 – 1945 Great Patriotic War the life of 1 in every 3 inhabitants of Belarus was lost.

On June, 30, 2005, there took place the ceremonial opening of “Stalin Line”, historical and cultural complex reconstructed in strict conformity with what it used to be in prewar years near the town of Zaslavl (35 km from Minsk). The management of the complex are of the opinion that it is one of the largest in the world. Separate fortifications were restored in Finland, Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, but the complete complex is only in Belarus (total area is 40 hectares) and in France (“Maginot Line”)…

When on the territory of the complex you can do everything – get into 2 or 3-embrasure pillbox and to become “a machine-gunner”, sit down on a chair of a gun-layer and become an artillery man, stroll along trenches or climb up the tank, one of the museum of military equipment exhibits, just to feel yourself in combat situation on the front line of defense… and thank God, this is not a reality but only a touch to the history the memory of which will be preserved in souvenirs bought from there and photos taken.

Lunch at the Stalin Line`s cafe

 

Day 5TH

After breakfast departure home

	10+1	20+1	30+1	40+1
Accomodation 3*	390 euro	340 euro	325 euro	310 euro
Accomodation 4*	425 euro	370 euro	355 euro	345 euro

The price includes:

• accomodation at the hotels upon your choice in shared twin rooms (hotel 3*) or hotel Minsk 4*
• transportation by a mini van or by a big coach 40 seats depending on the group size
• entrance tickets into the included museums
• English speaking guide
• lunches according to the programme 

The price doesn`t include:

• obligatory medical insuarance
• flight costs
• dinners
• optional tours