2012, SEPTEMBER 10: BELARUS, MINSK - CITY TOUR

Surrounded by Poland, the Baltic States. Russia and Ukraine, the Republic of Belarus is situated in the center of Europe, and has a population of about 10 million.

 



 

 

 

 

 

Minsk is the capital of Belarus. It is also the nation’s biggest city, where about one-fifth of the country's population lives.


Mostly destroyed in WWII, most of it was rebuilt during the Soviet era. Now it is a very modern-looking city with wide avenues, multi-storied buildings, large public squares and parks and other green spaces.
 

 

 

 

 

Believed to have been in existence since 1067, Minsk is older than European cities like Moscow and Stockholm. This year the city is celebrating its 945^th anniversary.
 

 

There were blue and white flags everywhere – blue for peace and white for hope.

 

 

 

 

After breakfast, this morning, we started our tour of important sights of Minsk. We passed by the October Square, which is often used opposition groups stage demonstrations against President Lukashenko.

On this Square stands the multi-columned Trade Union’s Palace of Culture with its classical façade. Currently a night club and the Museum of the Great Patriotic Wars are housed there.
 

 

 Trade Union's Palace of Culture, October Square, Minsk
 

Also the October Square has the austere-looking Palace of the Republic. Large-scale concerts, conferences and political meetings are usually held here.

 

Palace of the Republic, October Square, Mink

Then we proceeded along the Independence Avenue, which led us the Independence Square, one of the Europe’s biggest squares.

 

Independence Square, Minsk

On one of its sides are the red-brick faced Church of the Saints Simon and Elena, and...

 

 

...the Belarusian Government Building with a statue of Lenin.

 

On the opposite side is the Belarusian State University.
 

Belarusian State University, Minsk

In the square’s center are huge skylight glass dome of a multi-level underground shopping center, with several cafes and boutiques, as well as a bowling alley and a cinema.

 

Our next destination was the Victory Square. Dedicated to the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), a prism-shaped 130+-feet high obelisk stands at its center.
 

 

 Victory Square, Minsk

Then we crossed a bridge over the Svislac River and passed by a large public park to the Island of Tears.