Minsk. Belarus
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| Do you know that Minsk (first mentioned in 1067) is older then such well-known European cities as Moscow (in 1147), Berlin (in 1137), Stockholm (in 1252) and some others?
Once visited the capital of Belarus, you will never forget this cozy and aloha city in the heart of Europe and you may be sure that it will leave a lasting impression forever.
It is impossible to understand and to feel the city unless you know its history. We are not going to describe the long and thorny way the city had to overcome before becoming an amazing, beautiful, up-to-date and fast-developing city responding to every need. So, just relax and fill rents and gaps in your background.
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Minsk is the capital of Belarus. The city lies along the Svisloch River. First mentioned in 1067, it became seat of a principality in 1101. Minsk passed to Lithuania in the 14th century and later to Poland, being regained by Russia in the second partition in 1793. The city has suffered many disasters, including frequent destruction by fire, sacking by the Crimean Tatars in 1505, occupation and damage by French troops in 1812, German occupation in 1918, Polish occupation in 1919-20, and almost total destruction in World War II. After the devastation visited upon Minsk during the Second World War, the city rebuilt itself with an eye to creating industry and retaining Minsk's great cultural traditions. Today the city is the major industrial center of Belarus. The economy is based on machine-building, particularly the manufacture of trucks and tractors and such products as electric motors, bearings, machine tools, radio and television equipment, refrigerators, watches, textiles, and foodstuffs.
Minsk is a unique, mysterious, and extremely interesting city to explore. It is filled with numerous historical, architectural, and cultural places. Any tour of old Minsk has to begin with so-called Troitskoje Suburb. It looks marvelous with its small houses nestling on the edge of the water contrasting greatly with the high-rise buildings of the rest of Minsk. The pastel colors with the green trees and blue water partake somewhat of a fairy tale. It is very pretty. The narrow streets with small squares that are dotted around are a very pleasant place to walk and at once to run in good antique shops and buy presents for your near and dear ones.
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Another reminder of our past is the Upper Town where you can find the old administrative buildings and quite a few churches. Moving toward the town you can see a part of the baroque Bernadine Convent, founded in 1642, now the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Spirit standing high above the city. Not far from Svoboda Square stands the little Catherine Church (completed in 1613), which has sunk into the ground over the centuries. To the south of Svoboda Square is the Jesuit Monastery, built in the 17th century. Other monuments of Old Minsk are more scattered around town: Calvary Cemetery Gates built in 1830, Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church built in honor of the victims of the Russo-Turkish War in 1898, the Church of Saints Helena and Simeon, though not very old, perhaps the best-known church in Minsk built in 1908 of red brick (also known as the Red Church) and etc.
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The best way to approach modern Minsk is to stroll around the tree-lined avenues, dropping into the shops and having a rest in one of cozy parks. There are a large number of theatres, such as Opera and Ballet Theatre, Dramatic Theatre and many others, museums, cozy cafes, numerous restaurants where you can taste Belarusian cuisine as well as cuisine of various peoples. Those who like to "fly with the owl" will discover wonderful night-life, which includes various entertainment centers, nightclubs, bars. In other words, all those attributes that will help you to get acquainted with twilight world of the city.
Minsk is the city that is rightfully considered to be the city of love. It is said here is romance to saturation and that is probably the reason of having a great mind to come back. You can be sure that Minsk will strike a deep chord in your heart.
WELCOME to our city! Come and find something very special just for you.
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