Monuments to visit Belarus

This huge covered market is the main food market in Minsk and the largest in the country. Orderly and rational, this market is a triumph of colours, smells and tastes! In front of the market are the bronze statues of sculptor Vladimir Žbanov, Le Cheval and Le Photographer and the Lady with the dog. 

The magnificent residence of the Magnat magnat, Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, was built in 1779 on the plans of Italian architect Giuseppe Sacco. It is located on a small hill and consists of three parts: a central building and two side pavilions. Surrounded by a park with small artificial lakes, it is a fine example of baroque style, even though the influence of classicism is already seen. In the Soviet era, it was transformed into a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. Since 2005, she has been abandoned.

The remains of the old town of Grodno form a complex of 13 forts built between 1880 and 1915. During the Second World War, 3 000 people were killed here. The "Bereaved Mother" monument commemorates them.

Surrounded by a picturesque natural area, the new library building has existed since 2006. It is a brilliant form, which symbolizes the value of knowledge. The main entry is the form of an open book. The building is quite impressive, especially in the evening when it lights up a thousand lights! The houses in front of the library are decorated by mosaics dating back to 1978, dedicated to Minsk, its history, its successes in the spheres of culture, art and science. 

Situated at the entrance to the city, Mir Castle appears on the lake, surrounded by a pretty park. Its elegant, majestic silhouette dominates the town, which is separated by a watercourse. The construction of the castle began between 1522 and 1527, when Mir belonged to Prince Yuri Ilyinich. In 1568, he returned to the Radziwill family and finished construction with an Italian park. The exterior of the castle has four impressive towers 25 metres high. The fifth tower is the main entrance to the castle. It was built in front of the old road leading to Vilnius, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The upper part of the ramparts and towers is made of bricks, planted according to a Gothic decorative motif. It is possible to climb on the south-west tower, which is also the best preserved. At its summit, there is a breathtaking panorama of the town and the countryside around it. On the north side and east of the castle stretches the palace, Renaissance style. After the war of 1812, the castle underwent a long phase of decadence, linked to the death of the last Prince of Mir, Dominique Radziwill. In 1891, the castle was bought by Prince Nikolaj Svjatopolk-Mirski, who began the restoration work and built a small chapel and a family cave. After 1939 the castle was completely abandoned. During the Second World War, it even welcomed the ghetto of the city. In the early 1980 s, restoration works were initiated, they will last until 2013. Mir Castle is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.