Belarus
Travel Guide > Europe > Belarus
In this Article
- Introduction
- Brief History
- Geography
- Regions
- Cities
- Sights and Activities
- Events and Festivals
- Weather
- Getting There
- Getting Around
- Red Tape
- Money
- Work
- Study
- Language
- Eat
- Sleep
- Drink
- Health
- Safety
- Keep Connected
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Introduction
One of the eastern European nations to emerge from the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early nineties, Belarus is a fascinating excursion into 20th century history. A Soviet state, it was invaded by the Nazis in 1941, treated brutally by Germany in the subsequent occupation, and eventually returned to Soviet control in 1944. But the damage had been done; a quarter of the country's population was dead by the time the Red Army took over.
Sixty years later, Belarus enters a new phase of its life, as it seeks to join the club of capitalism. But the remnants of WWII and the Soviet occupation remind visitors and Belarusians alike of the country's torturous past.
Brief History
Geography
Belarus shares international borders with Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Sights and Activities
Mirsky Castle Complex
Mirsky Castle Complex (Мірскі замак) is an amazing sight located just outside of Mir or a day trip from Minsk]. Construction of the castle was begun in the 15th century with a Gothic architecture style. Around 1568 the castle got a new Lithuanian Duke as owner who decided to finish the castle in a renaissance style. It was abandoned for about a century then it was restored in the 19th century. When the Nazi's took it over they turned the castle into a Jewish Ghetto. Today it is a very popular tourist sight and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Niasviž Castle
Niasviž Castle was the estate of several very wealthy families from 1533 to 1939 outside of Niasviž. In 1939 the Soviets expelled the Radvila family and turned it into a sanatorium and stopped maintaining the grounds. Today the castle is undergoing extensive repairs, although sadly in 2002 the upper story of the palace was destroyed by a fire. The Niasviž Castle castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Forests and Lakes
For the nature lover that does not like to climb mountains, Belarus is the ideal country. 34% of the country is covered by forests that are the habitats to several different wild animals and plants. Also there is over 11,000 lakes to explore and swim in. Remember to be careful in the wilderness in the south eastern part of the country because 70% radiation from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine settled in Belarus.
Bialowieza
The Bialowieza Forest, which is shared with Poland is one of Belarus' natural highlights. It is one of the last remaining true wilderness areas anywhere in Europe and consists of an immense forest range with evergreens and broad-leaved trees. On top of that, it is also home to some rare and endangered animal including mammals like the wolf, the lynx and the otter. But the creature that is really special is the European Bison, of which there are several hundreds reintroduced into the park. Therefore, the park is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Other Sights and Activities
Events and Festivals
Weather
Belarus has a continental climate with generally warm sunny summers and cold winters with regular snowfall. Daytime temperatures in summer (June to September) are around 25 degrees Celsius (with a record of around 35), in winter (December to February) around -3 degrees Celsius. Nights are 15 and -10 degrees respectively but can drop below -25 degrees sometimes. Precipitation is fairly even during the year, although July and August are somewhat wetter. Winters have snowfall.
Getting There
By Plane
Minsk International Airport (MSQ) is Belarus' main international airport, servicing flights to and from airports throughout Europe, as well as to Tel Aviv. It is the main hub of Belavia, the national airline.
There is a second, smaller airport in Minsk (Minsk-1 Airport) and another international airport at Gomel.
By Train
Belarus is well connected by train and most trains originate and terminate in the capital Minsk. Popular lines include the main line between Berlin and Moscow, via Warsaw, Brest and Minsk. Another line connects Vienna with Warsaw, Brest and Minsk. Other destinations include Riga, Vilnius, Kaliningrad, Kiev and Odessa.
- # There are currently no trains running between Minsk and Riga, to continue on by train to Riga a connection bust be made in Vilnius. (June 2009)
By Car
Getting to Belarus by car is not impossible, but it requires patience at borders and also arranging the paper work before you intend to go to Belarus. International driving licence is required, as is sufficient insurance, with Belarussian extra insurance bought at the borders. Be sure to have your visa in order as well, as it is not unheard of for people to be refused entry, especially by car. You need to register with the first hotel you intend to go to before entering the country for example.
By Bus
Buses connect Minsk and some other main cities with several European cities, mainly the capital of surrouding countries, including regular services to Warsaw, Riga, Vilnius, Kiev and Moscow. Trains are generally a better option though, as roads are not in a particularly good shape.
Getting Around
By Plane
Belavia theoretically flies to and from Minsk, Brest, Homel, Hrodna, Mahileu, Mazyr and Vitsebsk.
By Train
Belarus Railways operates an extensive rail network with frequent departures to and from Minsk from most major cities and towns, as well as smaller regional places.
By Car
The quality of roads in Belarus is very average and renting a car by yourself is not recommended, although a few companies have cars at the international airports and a few other places. Also, the unreliable supply of fuel is a problem and police controls can get irritating. You need an international driving permit and thrid party insurance or you will get a fine.
By Bus
There are plenty of buses to all places in the country, but services are slow and buses are not comfortable, neither are most roads. Better to take the train if possible.
By Boat
There are no passenger services on ferries in Belarus.
Red Tape
The following nationals do not need a visa for Belarus:
The following countries do not need a visa.
Armenia, Cuba, Georgia, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Poland, Russia,, Serbia Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
All other people need to apply for a visa in advance. More information on the Governmental website. Only if there is no Belarussian embassy in your home, you can get a visa upon arrival, but only at the international airport in Minsk. You still need an invitation and all other requirements like mentioned in the first link.
Money
See also: Money Matters
The official currency of Belarus is the Belarusian Rouble (BYR) (plural: rublei). Banknotes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10 000, 20 000, 50 000, 100 000 rublei. As of 2008, there are no coins being minted by the country.
Work
Study
Language
Eat
Sleep
Drink
Keep Connected
Internet
Phone
See also: International Telephone Calls
The country calling code to Belarus is: 375
To make an international call from Belarus, the code is: 8~10
Post
References
- 1 End-2007 Estimate. Source: Ministry of Statistics and Analysis of the Republic of Belarus
This is version 27. Last edited at 23:28 on Sep 24, 09 by Hien (-2). 23 articles link to this page.
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