Minsk, Belarus, the capital of Belarus

Belarus: Minsk, the capital

Minsk, Belarus, by Tatiana Vetrova

Minsk is the capital of Belarus. Situated on the Svislach and Nyamiha rivers, Minsk is a wonderful place to visit. Numerous sights, museums, concerts halls, sports centres and plenty of other attractions await you there.

Minsk was founded in 1067. Actually, the first historical references date back to the eleventh century. Minsk was mentioned as a small town included into Polotsk’s principality, an important administrative centre. 

Minsk faced a lot of historical events

Belarus, Minsk

The capital of Belarus has always remained an important cultural, economic and political centre. Throughout the centuries the city of Minsk was under the rule of different states like the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth or the Russian Empire. In spite of that the city continued to develop and prosper. Unfortunately, Minsk was bombed on the first day of the WW2. Further military actions led to a nearly complete destruction of Minsk. More than 80% of the city was in ruins. After the war the question arose: whether to rebuild the city or leave the previous place and build a new Minsk in the vicinity. However, the old Minsk was rebuilt. It was not reconstructed. The inhuman war did not leave a tiny chance for that.

The present day Minsk

Minsk, by Tatiana Vetrova

Today Minsk is the biggest city in Belarus with the popularity about 2 million people. It has got a metro which was the ninth underground system in the former USSR in 1984. Minsk is a beautiful city from the architectural point of view. New projects bring the Old Minsk back to life. Walk along the Old Town at Nemiha. Enjoy the squares, replicas of old buildings, monuments and churches. Feel the will of the city which managed to rise from ashes of the WW2 just like mythical Phoenix.