And it is easy to get there: Orsha is a big railway junction, and there are frequent trains going there from different places. It takes just over 2 hours to get from Minsk to Orsha and an hour from Mogilev and Vitebsk. A mere trifle in pursuit of new experiences

Jesuit College (6 Lenin St.)

The older parts of the buildings date back to the early XIX century, but the history of the college began much earlier: back in the XVII century the first educational institution in the Vitebsk outskirts began to exist in a wooden building.

Jesuit College (6 Lenin St.)

The college survived a lot of restorations and reconstructions, hosting Napoleon, Stendhal, a hospital in 1812 and later a prison. Today it houses the Vladimir Korotkevich Library, an art gallery and the House of Crafts. We recommend to take part in a colorful game - Orsha version of the famous mafia - with a host, masks and local heroes.

Vladimir Korotkevich Museum (26 Lenin St.)

Мой чароўны беларускі край,

Бацькаўшчына светлая мая!

You should get acquainted with the genius writer’s works and sources of inspiration in his homeland. We recommend to use the services of a guide — the story is interesting, sincere and is told in the Belarusian language. You will hear the stories from your childhood, funny incidents, as well as the extracts from his works, woven organically into the story. A special bonus is some poetry and prose performed by Korotkevich himself, which were recorded on audio tape during his lifetime! The museum contains many personal belongings of the writer, his sketches and manuscripts. The clocks that belonged to him still seem to be counting down the hours and minutes of the middle of the XX century... This spot will occupy a place in the heart of lovers of the Belarusian culture and language.

Museum of Konstantin Zaslonov (9 Molokov St.)

During the Great Patriotic War Orsha was a partisan land. More than 80 partisan detachments operated in the outskirts of the town, about 50 of which were families. Konstantin Zaslonov was the commander of the partisan detachment, the memory of which is still alive today. In the museum there are exhibits that tell about the life of the Belarusian partisans — weapons, equipment for the underground printing press, samples of combat leaflets and partisan newspapers, everyday items.

Museum of Konstantin Zaslonov (9 Molokov St.)

You can see the structure of dugouts and read the real letters of the doomed young heroes. The exhibition makes you feel the imprint that the war left on the lives of thousands of Belarusians. A visit to such a museum will be useful and educational, not entertaining. However, it will not leave you indifferent.

Museum of Wood Sculpture of S.S. Shavrov (26 Krasin St.)

In the town, there is the “Fairyland” holiday park with rides and cute figures of fairy tale characters. It is worth visiting, although, trust us, the real fairyland is here. The material in the hands of the sculptor comes to life, in the case of Shavrov it is more appropriate to say the opposite.

orsha

The figures are so dynamic that it seems as if the characters were just moving and talking and suddenly froze, turning into wood. Make sure to test our impressions — you will not be disappointed.

Trinitarian Monastery (21 Komsomolskaya St.)

So you do not think that Orsha is rich only in museums, look at the monastery built in 1717. The main church has not survived, but the building where the monks lived still stands and even serves as a marriage registry. Locals say that if you sit on the throne in the courtyard right after a bride, you will soon find your love. We suggest you try it out!

These are only 5 interesting places; visit Orsha and find more: churches, monasteries, ancient settlement and monuments are located close to the center, the risk of missing them is very small. Have a nice trip!