September is already very close. And with him – yellow leaves, fog and Mikhail Shufutinsky, who is about to turn over the calendar. Now I would like to make tea, wrap myself in a blanket and write articles on how to make the right rolls. But this is a travel blog, so I’ll share my signature recipe for pumpkin tartlets with you some other time. And today we will talk about travel again and figure out where to go in Belarus in the autumn?
I will tell you about blooming swamps, little-known estates with beautiful parks, and also about autumn festivals, black bread with moonshine and cozy SPA hotels where you can hide from the October downpours.
In general, let’s figure it out. You read the article to the end, and I will try to surprise you with 9 fresh ideas for trips around Belarus.
Idea No.1. Wrapping up in a woolen cardigan on the porch of a country hotel
Escaping from the city is always a good idea. And if you run in the direction of a cozy eco-hotel, then the idea becomes doubly good.
For example, you can go to Nalibokskaya Pushcha – listen to the silence, soak in Japanese fonts and practice yoga among the coniferous forest. You can do this at the Dzen Forest hotel, which offers a rather unusual All-inclusive vacation.
In addition to three meals a day, the price includes meditation, massage, tea ceremonies and even lessons in Chinese calligraphy.
Find all the details on the websitedzenforest.by . For a mental reboot of the Belarusian autumn, the place is just great. But it has one important disadvantage – the price. Therefore, as an alternative, I will offer you two more cheaper options.
Green Wood Chalet is a forest hotel 40 kilometers from Brest. There is a great restaurant, beautiful rooms and a coniferous forest with a lake next door. Back in autumn, the “Full board” tariff often appears here, when breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the room rate. Photos of the rooms and reviews of the hotel can be found on this page.
If you still need to reset the price level, then pay attention take a look at the hotel “Royal Park” (7 km from Mogilev). There are no full-board rates, but otherwise the complex is just great. The cost of accommodation starts from 145 BYN. You can view photos of the rooms here. There is a coniferous forest and a quiet river near the hotel.
Well, if you want to add another pinch of antiquity to the autumn nature, then go to the west of Belarus, to a village called Radziwilki. There, 20 kilometers from Grodno, stands the old Gursky manor (1828), now converted into a retro hotel.
There is a park with a lake next to it, and the complex itself (once owned by a monastic order) is literally imbued with the spirit of history. Just look through his photos ( for example, here ). I am sure they will convey the atmosphere of this place better than me.
Idea #2. To discover something new in Belarus
Recently, several ancient palaces and castle complexes have been opened in our country after restoration. Therefore, if you have already traveled the length and breadth of the World and Nesvizh, devote this autumn to exploring new directions.
Kossovsky castle. Photos from social networks. The author is Denis Mordas.
It could be Kossovsky Castle, located near Brest. Or the picturesque palace in the village of Svyatsk (just near the Gursky estate, which was mentioned above). I saw it about 7 years ago, when it had a tin roof and boarded-up windows. Now he has transformed himself very much. Here’s a look…
Photo by Lizaveta Varano, @lizztoday
I think it’s very beautiful. Now the palace houses a museum, a hotel and a restaurant with a brewery.
On my own behalf, I highly recommend also visiting the palaces in and The Red Coast. They are located close to each other, so they are often combined into a single route. Both palaces are perfectly preserved both inside and outside (and this is almost a unique phenomenon for Belarus).
There are coffered ceilings, gilded columns, and halls in a rare Moorish style. In many publications, Zhilichi is often compared to Versailles (since his project was inspired by French ancestral castles). And the Red Coast is called the Belarusian Notre Dame (because of the gargoyles on the facades). But personally, such comparisons have always seemed superfluous to me. Both of these palaces are beautiful without such references.
Auto photo: Kasia Syramalot, @palasatka. Source — 34travel.me
The cost of excursions to Zhilichi and Krasny Bereg can be viewed here.
Idea #3. Get energized by autumn festivals
Probably, here I could make a joke about the Belarusian Halloween and carving faces on potatoes, but … I am a serious person. So let’s get down to business. Autumn in Belarus is a time of festivals.
September will begin with a large-scale forum “Dark Matters“, which will be held at the Minsk Football Arena for the fourth year in a row. If you love science fiction and computer games, and your collection is decidedly lacking photos with Jinx from Arkane – be sure to check out the site gameexpo.by . There will be all the details and a detailed program of the Belarusian ComicCon.
For those who like classics more, I can advise you to visit the free theater evenings in the Rakovsky courtyard (at Rakovskaya, 25). In September, they will be held every Saturday from 15:00 to 19:00.
Another interesting trend this autumn is various historical reconstructions. On September 28, a costume ball (with a series of historical quests) will be held at the Bulgakov Palace in Zhilichi («Verasneiskie fest»). And on November 23-24, it will be possible to watch “the battle of Berezena with the troops of the Napoleonic Army on the Brilevsky field.
But my personal favorite is still “Museum of Folk Architecture and Everyday Life” in the village of Ozyortso (3 kilometers from Minsk). Reconstructions of traditional Belarusian rituals are held here almost every weekend.
Against the background of wooden churches, tall mills and village huts with thatched roofs – all this looks insanely organic and as if it takes you back to the last century. In September, you can watch a whole series of events dedicated to the harvest and the day of the autumn equinox. Find the details and the poster on the website etna.by .
Idea No.4. See blooming swamps
Autumn is the most picturesque time in the Yelnya swamp. In these parts, it is the season of cranes, freshly picked cranberries and crimson mosses. Yelnya looks at the world with a hundred lakes and keeps stories that are more than 9 millennia old. If Norway is the birthplace of trolls, fjords and snow–capped mountains; then Belarus is the land of swamps, black storks and kurling cranes, which just chose Yelnya.
Photo yelnyatrip.com
If you want to spend the autumn in their company, go to the city of Miory (Vitebsk region). 12 kilometers away is the village of Konakhi, which is considered the starting point on the route to the marshes. This is where the eco-trail begins, which you can walk along absolutely for free. Well, if you want to get away and spend a couple of days in the swamps, contact experienced guides.
I myself know several companies that organize trips to these parts: walktofolk.by , yelnyatrip.com and others. Each of them has many tours from Minsk. Prices range from 200 to 320 BYN (depending on the duration of the trip and the program of a particular trip). For the first acquaintance with Yelnya, this is a good option.
Idea No.5. Tickle your nerves and go in search of mysticism
Autumn is not only yellow leaves, but also a viscous fog and a slight chill that runs over the skin. When, if not in autumn, to go in search of something mysterious and exciting the blood?
The author of the photo is Kira Litvyakova (@kira13li).
For example, to Nalibokskaya Pushcha, where the ruins of the abandoned Lesnoye sanatorium rise like the skeleton of an ancient monster; or to Uzda, where a mysterious 10-meter stands right in the middle of the city cemeterythe pyramid of the kind of Dependencies.
One place with its mystical flair can be found even in Minsk. This is the Monastyrsky Hotel equipped within the walls of the former Bernardine monastery.
At the moment, this is the only Belarusian hotel with its own ghost. If you are planning a trip to Minsk this autumn, it will be a very unusual option for an overnight stay.
(You can view the current prices here).
I have an interesting piece of advice for those who go to Grodno. More recently, the project “ appeared thereSecrets of the city” is a kind of theatrical quest with a bit of magic and mysticism. Tourists run around the city in black robes, listen to the legends of the Brigitte monastery and follow the advice of the ghost of an unnamed nun.
In order to tickle your nerves (and at the same time immerse yourself in the whirlpool of legends and legends old town) is a great option. All details about the project can be viewed on this page.
Idea No.6. Take a walk around Pinsk
Talking about various mysterious places, I could also write about the village of Pare, located near Pinsk. But lately I’ve been talking about this “vampire village” so often that you’re probably tired of it. Therefore, now there will be a few lines about Pinsk itself. Over the past six months, this city has become the most pleasant discovery for me.
The capital of Polessye is the second city in Belarus in terms of the number of preserved ancient monuments. There is a huge Jesuit college near the shore of the Pina River, and the museum of the Belarusian Polesie houses the works of Shishkin, Aivazovsky and many other famous artists.
It is worth coming to Pinsk for the spires of churches, old walls covered with ivy, and wine evenings at the Bona Sforza restaurant. And also for the sake of boat trips, the play “Pinsk gentry” at the local PDT theater and the marine restaurant “Mayak”, located inside a real submarine.
As a place to spend the night, you can choose this hotel, located inside a former apartment building.
Photos from the website pinskidvorik.by
And if you need something cheaper, pay attention to this apartment. It costs only 45 BYN. And at the moment, this is the most affordable housing option that I managed to find in Pinsk.
In continuation of the topic, I will leave here a link to my big article about the capital of the Belarusian Polesie. Be sure to read it. I think this city is just perfect for autumn walks and quiet evenings.
Idea No.7. Immerse yourself in the world of the Belarusian village
Autumn in the village is a magical time. And I have at least 4 ideas on how to feel it in full.
The easiest way is to go to the ethnographic complex Dudutki – walking among forges and mills, drinking moonshine and tasting half-forgotten dishes (like black bread with honey and pickled cucumber). You can get to the main Belarusian Skansen by car or with an excursion.
One of these can be ordered here.
Well, if your heart asks for more, then go to the tourist village “Zabrodye”. Here you can spend the night in an old manor house, take a steam bath, which is more than 200 years old, wander through the museum of rural life, look at the exhibition of retro cars and even swim on a real raft.
Another unusual feature of this complex is the opportunity to spend the night in the hayloft. Find details and prices on the websitezabrodje.com . In the meantime, I’ll go ahead and tell you about another popular tourist village.
It is called “White Meadows”. You can’t count on straw in your underpants here, but instead there are All-inclusive tariffs (for 350-380 BYN per day).
Photo from the website luga.by .
The price includes accommodation, sauna, boating and three meals a day from traditional village dishes. In my opinion, this is a good option where to go in Belarus in the autumn.
At the very end, I also want to recommend this small farm near the shore of Lake Naroch. In the second half of September, prices here smoothly move down. Therefore, you can rent a house for 180-200 BYN per day.
Everything is very beautiful inside and out. The place enchants with silence, coniferous aromas and trills of the forest. And also nearby is Lake Naroch.The price/quality ratio is the best option that I have been able to find.
Idea #8. Bask in the SPA
The same 180-200 BYN can be spent in another way – hiding from the autumn rains in some good sauna gallery. There are quite a lot of such places in Minsk. But the prices there are terrible, like Pennywise the clown from the town of Derry. Therefore, I recommend that you turn your attention to Mogilev – namely this hotel in the city center.
Take a walk along the Dnieper River, see the Mogilev town hall and St. Stanislaus Church, have breakfast in a cozy (albeit small) cafe “Owl” – and then for the whole day fall into the warm embrace of the local SPA complex “NEBO Lounge” (already included in the room rate). How do you like the plan? It seems to me a good option for an autumn trip.
Idea No.9. Go to nature
It would probably be easiest to write something about Belovezhskaya Pushcha here. But you already know everything about her without me. So let me tell you a little bit about another place – about Deepriz Park near Baranovichi. At the moment it is the best nature park in the country.
Photo from the social networks of the park “Deepriz”; the author of the picture is @mariya_delikatnaya.
Here you can feed roe deer directly from your hands, hug a llama, smoke with a lemur and kiss the nose of a goat you like. In total, more than a hundred different animals and birds live in the park. Find all the details on the websiteanimal-park.by or on social media at the same address.
If you have a car, then you can build a whole route around Baranovichi. Not far from the city is:
- One of the most picturesque “abandoned buildings” of our country is Kotlubaev manor in the village of Yastrembel;
- The oldest wooden temple in Belarus – in the village Polonechka;
- And also the generic Reitan Palace in Grushevka – with a beautiful mansion and a Gothic tomb.
The tomb of the Reitans in the village of Grushevka. Photo — travel project “Volan de Moor” (@volan_de_myyr).
All these places add up perfectly to a single route. Therefore, you can simply drive from one point to another, “collecting” interesting places like beads on a string.
Well, as a place to stay for the night, you can choose the park hotel “Bright”. There are nice rooms, a coniferous forest and an excellent SPA complex (with salt caves, phyto barrels, a swimming pool and other joys of life).
You can view photos of rooms and current prices on this page. Well, I’ll go on for now.
Bonus. Go to the manor park and rustle yellow leaves there
There are several places near Minsk (and in the city itself) where you can implement this plan. In the south of the capital is Loshitsky Park – with a beautiful lake, alleys and an 18th-century manor house.
And in the village of Priluki (8 kilometers from Minsk) there is the Chapsky palace complex – with a park, a lake and an old stone brewery. You can get there by commuter buses (311 and 379), as well as by minibus No. 1545 (from Petrovshchyna metro station).
photo from the website planetabelarus.by .
A slightly less original option is to wave in Nesvizh. It seems to me that the most beautiful palace park in Belarus is located there. But I won’t write too much about him today. You probably know about this place without my advice.
Another thing is Pruzhany, a small town 80 kilometers from Brest. Right here in the city park stands the Shvykovsky manor, built in the 19th century by the Italian architect Francisco Lanzi. Next to the estate there is a stone outbuilding, a park and a pond with canals. For the residents of Brest, it is an excellent destination for a trip.
At the end, I will post some more photos of the palace park in Gomel. Just like that – without your comments. It seems to me that the article about the Belarusian autumn could not get around without him.
Perhaps this September I will be there – I will eat eclairs at the Le Cler coffee shop and wash them down with craft beer from the small Sozhski brewery. But that’s a completely different story. Goodbye, country! Thank you for reading my multi-kilometer texts to the end.
