Travel to Belarus

TOURING INFORMATION

BELARUS

Discription of country

 

 

Area: 207,600 sq km

Population: 10,200,000 

Situated in central Europe, Belarus is bordered by the Russian federation to the east, Ukraine to the south, Poland and Lithuania to the west and Latvia to the north. The country is a vast hilly plain, one third is covered by forests. There are more than 10,000 lakes and many rivers

Historically, Belarus was linked to Poland and Lithuania until its incorporation into the Russian Empire in 1795. Under the Brest Treaty of 1918, Russia ceded Belarus to Germany but the Bolshevics proclaimed the foundation of the Soviet Socialist Republic in 1919. During the World War II, Belarus was occupied by nazi troops. After the dissolution of the USSR, Belarus proclaimed its independence on 27 July 1990. It became part of the Commonwealth of Independent States in december 1991. The country is divided into 6 regions which in turn are divided into 16 to 22 districs.          

The territory of Belarus consist of 6 region: Minsk, Mogilev, Gomel, Brest, Grodno, Vitebsk. 

           

           The capital of the Republic of Belarus is Minsk, with a population of 1 717 000 inhabitants. Most of the city was rebuilt after the Second World War. It has wide streets and spacious squares with green open spaces. The cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, built in 1613, is worth a visit, as well as the cathedral of the Holy Spirit, built in 1642 and renovated recently. The National Museum of History and Culture retraces the development of Belarus since the Stone Age and the National Arts Museum has a large collection of works by Belarusian, Russian and foreign artists. The Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre, built in the 1930’s, is home to the Belarussian ballet, rated by many as good as the Bolshoi. Opera and ballet performances alternate daily; tickets are very cheap by western standards.

 

            Approximately 100 km south of Minsk, visitors can see Mir castle built as a fortress in the 16^th century, made of red brick and at present being restored with the help of UNESCO.

 

                                             Gomel, in the south-east, has a population of 512 000 inhabitants. In the Lunacharskiy Park, it is possible to visit the Rumayantsev-Paskevichy palace dating from the 18^th-19^th centuries, the Paskevichy tomb, and the cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul. Gomel lies in the centre of the Chernobyl fallout zone but was not seriously contaminated.logos/

 

                    Brest, on the Polish border, has a population of 294 300 inhabitants. Brest Fortress, symbol of the heroic defense of the Red Army  during the Second World War, is one of the most important Soviet war monuments.

 

                   Grodno (304 000 inhabitants) was the residence of the King of Poland in the 16^th century. The cathedral of St. Anthony, dating from the 17^th century, has a rich carved altar and dominates the town. Novy Zamok (New Castle) and Stary  Zamok (Old Castle) are on opposite banks of the Nyeman river. They house the History and Archaeology Museum. In the centre, a cobblestone street lined with cafés and shops has been pedestrianised.

 

                    Vitebsk (359 000 inhabitants) is situated in the north-east. It is the birthplace of the painter Chagall and the house where he lived and worked can be seen. The Church of the Annunciation, the Kazan Church and the Basilian Cloister are worth visiting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Language: the official languages are Belarusian and Russian. English and German is principal foreign languages

Local time: Standard time GMT +2, Summer timeGMT +3 from end March to end October

Climate and temperatures: the climate in Belarus is continental. The average temperatures in Minsk are:

 January:            -6C

 July:                 +18C

Public holidays

 

            1 January                      New Year

            7 January                      Orthodox Christmas

            8 March                         International Women’s Day

            1 May                            Labour Day

            9 May                            Victory Day

            3 July                            Independence Day

            7 November                   Anniversary of the October Revolution

            25 December                 Christmas

 

           Telephone system

 

            International code for Belarus                             375

 

            Code to make international calls

             from Belarus                                                    dial 8, wait for

                                                                                   tone then dial 10,

                                                                                   then dial country code

 

            To call within Belarus                                          dial 8, wait for tone

                                                                                   then dial area code and

                                                                                   number

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Emergency services:

            

                  Roadside Assistance    116

                  Police                                102

                  Ambulance                       103

                  Fire brigade                      101

 

             

Local currency

 

            The national currency is the Belarussian Rouble (BYR).

 

            Notes are available in denominations of: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 BYR.

 

            There are no coins.

 

 

             Motorways

 

                         List of motorways

 

                        The major roads are:

 

                        M1: Brest - Minsk – Krupki – Redki – Russian border

                        M3 : Minsk – Vicebsk

                        M4 : Minsk – Mahiljou

                        M5 : Minsk - Homel

                        M6 : Minsk – Hrodna

                        M7 : Minsk – Mikasevicy

                        M8 : frontière russe - Vicebsk – Homel – Ukrainian border

                        M10 : Brest – Pinsk – Kalinkavicy – Homel – Russian border

 

             Car hire

 

                         Self-drive cars

 

                       

                                                                                   unlimited km, per day

                                                                                   1-3 days           4-7days

 

                                                                                              

                        Toyota Avensis                                        63€                   57€

                                                                      

 

                        Ford Focus                                               65€                   59€                                    

 

                        MB Vito                                                    130€                 117€

 

                        Daewoo Matiz                                           30€                    27€

 

                       

 

 

 

 

Requirements for drivers

 

                        Drivers must be at least 21 years old and have held a driving licence for at least 2 years.