Dudutki

It is a popular destination for both Belarusians, who come here to relax and have a good time, and for foreign visitors, who are interested in getting to know the traditional culture of Belarus.

The Dudutki open-air museum, located on the banks of the Ptich River, was opened in 1992. The initiative and organization of the opening were taken by local writer and entrepreneur Yevgeny Budinas. The location for the museum was chosen deliberately – the Dudutki settlement is first mentioned in the 11th century in "The Tale of Igor's Campaign". Scholars suggest that a road to Polotsk ran through it, which Prince Vseslav the Sorcerer once took on his way to Minsk, besieged by the Kiev princes. Over time, Dudutki changed its name to Dudichi. For several centuries, Dudichi belonged to various representatives of the Belarusian nobility. The settlement thrived on trade and folk crafts.

Initially, Yevgeny Budinas, who had bought the local lands for agricultural needs, did not plan to open a museum, but decided to simply restore a 19th-century noble manor. The manor attracted a lot of interest from tourists, so over time it had to be expanded and transformed into a museum complex dedicated to folk crafts and traditional technologies.

What to See in Dudutki?

Dudutki is an interactive museum. Here, visitors can fully immerse themselves in the life of an old noble town of the 19th century – forge a horseshoe, fire a clay pot, weave a traditional protective charm from straw.

Located within the territory of the museum complex are:

• A windmill from the early 20th century, brought from the Gomel region. During the tour, visitors can explore the inside of the mill. Nearby is the carter’s house – a place for peasants to stay overnight when bringing grain to the mill.
• A wooden Orthodox church with an iconostasis adorned with straw weaving.
• Workshops of folk crafts: pottery, blacksmithing, weaving, woodworking, straw and wicker weaving. Here, you can learn about the peculiarities of traditional crafts, try your hand at blacksmithing, making straw, wooden, and pottery items, and purchase memorable souvenirs.
• An exhibition hall of retro cars.
• A zoo, home to ostriches, peacocks, goats, sheep, wild boars, and pheasants.
• A brewhouse where guests of Dudutki can view an exhibition of homemade moonshine apparatus and taste local wheat moonshine.
• A bakery and a cheese factory, where visitors are offered to try freshly baked bread and traditional cheeses.
• A stable with with thoroughbred horses. Museum guests can ride in a horse-drawn carriage or ride on horseback.
• Cafes, serving traditional Belarusian dishes.
• The “Shynok” bar, where visitors are treated to drinks prepared according to ancient Slavic recipes.

Visitors can explore the museum complex on their own or with the help of a professional tour guide. Tours are conducted in Russian, Belarusian, and English.

On the territory of Dudutki, concerts, historical and folklore festivals, and celebrations tied to the Belarusian folk calendar – such as Kupalle (Midsummer), Maslenitsa (Butter Week), and Apple Savior – are often organized.

The open-air museum complex is located in the Pukhavichy district of the Minsk region, near the village of Ptich. There are scheduled buses running from the “Central” bus station in the capital to this location. To reach the museum complex by car, you need to follow the R23 highway towards Slutsk, then turn, following the signs to Dudutki. Nearby the museum, there are guest houses, a hotel, and a large parking lot.