Date :
Sunday, August 22, 2021
Baranovichi is a small, cozy town in Brest region, which is located 150 kilometers southwest of the capital. If you have not been there yet, this article will give you some interesting ideas how to brighten up your day or weekend with an interesting trip. 2 hours by train or car — and here you are. Learn where to start exploring the city, what hot spots to visit, and what to taste.
Train stations
There are two train stations in the city: the Baranovichi of Polesie Station and the Central Station. The first one is interesting because of the building itself. Inside it is picturesque and even poetic: columns, arches, balustrades — kind of “the XXth century presents”. This is where the history of the city began: it emerged as a major rail hub, thanks to the laying of railways in the 1870s. The first train, which passed through the city, followed the route Smolensk-Brest in 1871. This date is considered to be the year of the establishment of Baranovichi.
The Baranovichi Railway Museum is located next to the Central Station. You can walk around on your own, look at the steam locomotives of a respectable age, look inside the cars, which breathe history, ride on the handmade train. If you take care of the visit in advance, you can call the museum and arrange a tour to learn about the life of railway workers and understand where and how trains began in Belarus.
Lenin, the Sparrow, and the Fish
No, this is not a title of a fable, these are the sculptures that decorate the center of the city. The center is, according to the classic Belarusian names, Lenin Square. It is easy to find and hard to miss: you can walk along the main street (Sovetskaya, as it is not difficult to guess), one of the characteristic features is the monument of Lenin himself. There are more colorful attractions nearby. For example, a monument to a sparrow. It appeared back in 2003, when the house sparrow was declared the bird of the year.
The bird of the year is chosen to draw attention to the problem of reducing species diversity. In addition to the social, the sculpture has a practical meaning: the sparrow is not just sitting there, it covers a technical pipe with its bronze body. The fish is depicted in one of the bas-reliefs of the composition, dedicated to the works of Francysk Skaryna. Peculiar covers-hatches depict characters from the preface to the book “Judith”, which was created by the first printer. The inscription under the monument recalls familiar, sacred lines: “Fish swimming in the sea and rivers sense their whirlpools”. A good contrast to the ubiquitous Lenins and Soviets.
Gastronomic tourism
This is the most “tasty” part of the article. Residents of Baranovichi have been appreciating local fast food since the 1990s — “boat” sandwiches, which were invented by Iryna Lapchenko, the owner of the place. The classic "boat" is an elongated crispy waffle with sausage and sauce ( other toppings are available). The prices are really friendly — you can buy a “boat” for less than 2 rubles. The snackbar is located on Stockerau Boulevard (the street owes its name to the Austrian twin town of Baranovichi).
The second point is more sweet than nourishing — “Octopus” milk bar. There you'll find desserts made of fresh dairy products from our own production. All this is surrounded by pleasant nautical decor.
Museums
We offer to visit the classics of the museum genre - the local history museum (you can pre-order a tour). Address: 88 Sovetskaya. From dinosaurs to the present day from Baranovichi’s perspective — it is a proven way to learn more about how this land began.
Another option is the pharmacy museum. Since the 1920s, the house belonged to the pharmacist, who lived on the second floor, above the pharmacy. This is original immersion in the life of the last century with a pharmaceutical flavor. Address: 15 Telman St. Arrangements for a tour should be made with the manager.
We have listed the main attractions of Baranovichi, but it is important to remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Each traveler finds something different for their heart. Come to Baranovichi and find your own charm of this city!