I won’t lie, at other times I’d rather travel around Chelsea than Loshitsa. But it’s 2024. Everything is difficult with visas. And I don’t have any special options. That is why I took up this text about unusual sights of Minsk.
In this article, I will tell you about places that a good half of Minsk residents do not know about. There will be mystical manors, old cemeteries, a church, on the basis of which King Jagiello was also present, as well as hidden courtyards, manors, monuments and many more interesting things. So what? Do you feel goosebumps running down your skin from anticipation? Then go ahead — let’s not waste time!
Aristocratic manors and estates
There are at least 5 aristocratic estates with a long history and destiny in Minsk (and very close to it).
The Vankovich House and the Przezdetsky manor stand in the very center, so you probably passed them while walking around the city. But with the remaining three complexes, things are more interesting. All of them were once located outside the city, but Minsk grew, and former villages turned into residential areas and urban suburbs. Therefore, today, to see all these places, it is enough for you to have only a subway token and a bus pass at hand.
The fastest way to get to is the Bolshaya Slepyanka estate, which is located just a couple of kilometers from the Vostok metro station.
At the beginning of the 19th century, when the village of the same name did not even think of becoming part of Minsk, luxurious balls and receptions were held here. The interiors of the palace were decorated with oak and exquisite stucco. And around the complex there was a luxurious park with marble sculptures.
The former luxury disappeared during the Soviet era. In the 20s, the complex was nationalized, and later transferred to the NKVD school. Since the late 40s, the administration of the greenhouse and greenhouse complex has been located here. Therefore, almost nothing remains of the original interiors.
However, the complex itself has survived to the present day. Now you can see it on Filimonov Street, near the Greenhouse-Greenhouse Plant stop.
Other aristocratic estates in Minsk have a similar story. The estate of the Adadurovs on Kazinets Street managed to visit a kindergarten, a research institute of soil science, and a folklore center. And in the Chapsky Palace in Priluki there is still the “Institute of Plant Protection”.
The fate of is even more interestingLoshitskaya manor. She saw everything from the headquarters of the German troops to the office of the agricultural Institute.
In 1988, the Loshitsa received the status of a natural, historical and architectural monument. However, large-scale changes began here in the early 2000s. Since that moment, constant work has been carried out on this territory to restore the estate and the park. In 2015, the Loshitsa Estate was officially opened after restoration and turned into a historical museum.
Today you can see the ruins of the chapel, a restored wing with a museum inside, the main building of the palace and many more smaller outbuildings.
Haunted hotel
It is located within the walls of the former Bernardine monastery, which in the 17th century occupied as much as an entire block in the center of Minsk. In fact, it was a kind of city within a city – with its own brewery, hospital, school, stable and many other outbuildings. It is known for certain that under the monastery there were secret rooms and complex systems of underground passages encircling the old quarters of Minsk. Many of them were found in the late 2000s, when restoration work began in the monastery.
At the same time, urban legends appeared about the ghost of a monk who allegedly roams the local dungeons. Various paranormal researchers came to the hotel. And information about the ghost appeared even on the official website of the hotel.
Whether to believe it or not is an open question. But the hotel itself is really very colorful. The interior retains old frescoes, vaulted ceilings and other elements of the past. You can view his photos (and room rates) here at this link.
A church among high-rise buildings
Can you find an old 19th century church near Victory Square? In my social networks, the answers to this question were divided approximately equally. If you also don’t know what it’s about, then get up from the subway and walk towards the Palace of Arts (on Kozlov Street). Right behind it stands one of the oldest Catholic churches in the capital – St. Roch’s Church.
The first parish on this site was founded in the 14th century by King Jagiello. But then the temple was wooden, and therefore the building itself often suffered from fires. It acquired its present appearance in 1864, when the residents of Minsk decided to erect a stone church in honor of St. Roch in this place. It was believed that this saint saved the city from cholera, and therefore people of various faiths brought money for the construction.
During the Soviet years, the church was closed. In the 50s, the temple was converted into a book depository. And in the 80s, a chamber music hall was built here. It was only in 1991 that divine services began again in the Church of St. Roch. Today, the temple is actually hidden behind the residential development of Independence Avenue. On the site of the cemetery, which once surrounded the church, there are ordinary courtyard areas. But the temple itself has been preserved, has undergone a restoration procedure and today makes a rather pleasant impression.
The apartment of the Kennedy assassin
If you walk down the avenue, very soon you will see this beautiful Soviet house, next to the Svisloch embankment.
It was here that Lee Harvey Oswald, one of the most mysterious people of the 20th century and the alleged murderer of John F. Kennedy, lived from 1960 to 1962.
He lived in an ordinary one-room apartment No. 24, on the 4th floor, and often wrote about how he liked that the windows of the house overlooked the river. Many photographs of Oswald on Victory Square and at the embankment of Svisloch have survived to this day.
Subsequently, the Warren Commission, which investigated the Kennedy assassination case, repeatedly put forward versions that Lee Harvey Oswald was recruited by Soviet intelligence. But these hypotheses have not been officially confirmed.
There is a good mini-series about the events of those days “11.22.63“, based on the book by Stephen King. Take a look if you haven’t seen it.
The city of hidden stories
In general, Minsk is full of the most interesting stories. For example, on this tour, you can find out how the city is permeated by the theme of sex. Where did brothels used to be located, and what taxes did girls of easy virtue pay? Who invented the first bra, and how has the attitude of the authorities towards corrupt love changed over the years?
There are excursions in Minsk based on the theme of mysticism. Here, for example, is one of these. During it, you will learn about the Minsk prophets and mermaids living in Svisloch.
Well, if the classics are closer to you, then take a look at the social networks of the shopping center @galleriaminsk. Throughout the summer of 2024, they conduct free tours of Minsk with professional guides. All you need is to pre–register.
Minsk courtyards
If you are looking for unusual places for photo shoots in Minsk, take note of the following two addresses:
- Musical Lane, ½
- and Revolutionary Street 7.
In my opinion, it is here that two of the most beautiful and cozy courtyards of the capital are located. «The Red Courtyard” is very easy to find on Revolutionary Street. To do this, you just need to dive into this inconspicuous arch (on the right side of the picture).
But with Musical Lane things are a little more complicated. First you need to come to the Minsk city Hall, and then, walking past the Church of St. Joseph, dive into the arch under the yellow sign of the cafe Brut. Here it is in the very center of the picture…
I remember a long time ago the Czech Embassy was located here, and for the first time I came to this place precisely because of it. Subsequently, various restaurants were located here, and Belarusian directors shot clips here when they wanted to shoot cheap “like Europe”.
In general… the place is very colorful. Take a look here if you find yourself in the vicinity.
Art objects on the site of former industrial zones
In recent years, a kind of renaissance has covered not only old manors and churches, but also former industrial facilities.
The complex of buildings of the furniture factory (on Kalvariyskaya Street) has now been converted into a cultural and business quarter. Windows and doors were once made here (including for the office of Pyotr Masherov). And today they are making coffee, frying burgers and developing software for mobile applications. The site is called K21 and is located right next to the Molodezhnaya metro station (opposite the Korona shopping center).
There are photo zones in the center of the block. On the walls you can see the remains of old bricks with seals from the time of tsarist Russia. In general, everything is very stylish and modern. A kind of piece of Polish Lodz near the center of Minsk.
If you want something more fun, go to various Street food sites that appeared on the site of Soviet industrial zones. These are:
- Sandbox on the territory of the Horizont plant;
- Lidbeer Dvor behind the complex of industrial buildings on Yakub Kolas Square;
- and The best street on the basis of the watch factory “Luch”.
They usually work only in summer – before the onset of cold weather. But their poster is always very pleasant. There are free film screenings, dance workshops, and various performances for children.
Just yesterday I was watching on the Best Streetthe quarterfinals of the European Championship. It seems to me that such places have long become such informal sights of Minsk.
Oktyabrskaya Street and the largest graffiti in the world
In an ideological sense, this is a continuation of the previous paragraph, but still, I wanted to tell you about the “heart of Minsk street art” separately. Oktyabrskaya Street was once an industrial suburb of Minsk with distilleries, a yeast factory and tanneries. But in the early 10s, its appearance and internal content began to change rapidly. Photo studios, design workshops, yoga schools, bars and other establishments of various stripes have appeared on the site of the former workshops. In 2014, a large-scale Vulica Brasil festival was held here, during which Oktyabrskaya was painted with bright graffiti from head to toe. And two years later, the Minsk murals even got into the Guinness Book of Records. Then, in 2016, the work of Brazilian artist Ramon Martins (3,452 square meters in size) was recognized as the largest graffiti in the world created by one author.
Today Oktyabrskaya Street is one of the centers of cultural life in Minsk. The following people work in former industrial premises:
- Art space “Vershy” with free exhibitions, jazz evenings and cool art lectures;
- Skateboarding Museum;
- Many excellent establishments (“ENZO”, “Laika”, “Let it be”, etc.).
And almost every local courtyard is a separate object of street art.
For tourists, the first hotel was opened here a few years ago – Willing Hotel – (brand new, but conceptually stylized as a factory building). It is inexpensive, but cozy and beautiful. If you want to experience the factory-hipster atmosphere of Minsk, it will be a good option for the duration of the trip. Photos of rooms and prices can be viewed here.
Belaz plant, Alivaria brewery and others
Let’s move from former industrial enterprises to current enterprises. Now a lot of them have started to arrange various activities for tourists. In the Museum of Alivaria, you will be immersed in the world of the oldest brewing company in Belarus. And at the MTZ plant you can see how the legendary tractors are assembled.
You can sign up for a tour here. Some time ago, I was completely delighted with her.
If your heart asks for more, send it to the BelAZ Zhodinsky plant (yes, it’s not Minsk anymore, but it’s very easy to get here). There, a giant enterprise makes giant cars, which have already been included in the Guinness Book of Records several times.
Look at the wheels twice as tall as a man. And you will ride a car weighing 450 tons. You can sign up for a tour on this page. It seems to me that now the BelAZ plant is one of the most unusual sights in Belarus.
Photos from social networks. The author of the picture is @julia_astromac.
Lake, forest and countless ducks
As a final chord, I will tell you about Lake Side Park – my place of power and one of the most cozy parks in Minsk. It is difficult to get here (you can only get there by car or bike). But you will be rewarded with panoramas of the water surface, a well-groomed beach with a food court and a park with playgrounds and art installations.
From time to time, they arrange free holidays here, play movies in the open air or show football on the big screen. The event poster appears on social networks @northwaterfront.
There is only one disadvantage in all this – you can not swim in the local lake (because of some unrealistic number of ducks). There are places for swimming on the opposite side of the lake (on beach No. 4, about a kilometer from Miroshnichenko Street). But it takes about 20 minutes to walk here from Lake Side Park.
