Discover the secret of the dungeon

“Hotel Monastyrski” is the winner of the XXI Republican Tourism Competition “Discover Belarus” - 2023 in the category “Accommodation Facility of the Year” (sub-category: “Accommodation facilities of medium and low price category and/or category 3* up to 100 rooms”).

Guests of Belarusian capital have repeatedly wondered: which hotel to stay in Minsk? Popular requests include: good location, attractions and shops within walking distance, museums, theaters, parks, embankment... The Monastyrski Hotel fits perfectly into this tourist pattern. However, for good reason. The hotel manager, Irina Mikhailova, told us about this.

Hotel in the historical center

The hotel is located in a unique building of the former Bernardine monastery. This is a secluded and at the same time mysterious place in the very heart of the capital, where the monastery and the comfort of a modern hotel in Minsk are so harmoniously combined.

The historical building was erected in 1624. It was originally made of wood and burned down during the great Minsk fire in 1644. The new stone building, in which the hotel is located today, on one of the oldest streets of the Upper City - Cyril and Methodius, 6, was made 8 years later.

This is the reason for one of the features of the Monastyrski Hotel - one and a half meter thick walls. And if this is a clear advantage for sound insulation, then certain difficulties arise for the implementation of modern technologies: it is very difficult to provide stable Internet through such walls. Therefore, for maximum comfort of guests, a router is installed in each room.

“We are located in a unique building - and this is our advantage, since now many are interested in history. We have even formed a base of regular customers who are loyal to us. Why? Because they know: they are welcome here, they will be polite, courteous and will provide everything they need for a comfortable stay at the hotel,” emphasized Irina Mikhailova.

The monastery was closed in the 19th century after the participation of the Bernardines in the uprising. Subsequently, at various times, this building housed military personnel, firefighters, a prison, a military prosecutor's office and a commandant's office. This continued until 2009.

“At the same time, the building has been so prayed for over the 240 years of the monastery’s existence that you can still smell incense and burnt candles in the rooms,” Irina Mikhailova drew attention to an interesting fact.

The restoration, carried out in 2009-2014, made it possible to preserve all the architectural elements of the 19th century building. It houses a hotel, the “highlight” of the interiors of which are the restored vaulted ceilings of the residential building of the monastery and windows with shutters. There are fragments of authentic walls from which layers of paint and plaster have been removed. Authentic flooring was restored in the halls and corridors of the hotel, and unique chandeliers were made using the preserved elements of openwork lamps.

The fresco painting discovered in some places was partially restored. Fragments that were not touched by specialists were left next to it, and they are placed under special glass. They can be seen in the hotel corridors.

Monk's cell

Each historical building has its own legend. The Monastyrski Hotel is no exception. During the restoration, a room was discovered that was not on the old plans. Today it is called the "Monk's room". If you are looking for hotels in Minsk with an amazing legend, you should take a closer look at this hotel.

Irina Mikhailova told us the legend about the old Monk:

“During communications, the wall fell down. They began to clear the rubble and found a room that was not on any of the plans of the monastery. But it was from there, as it turned out, that the underground passages under the Upper City originated. During a search in the archives, a legend was found about a monk who traveled a lot and studied various sciences. He had the power to heal people not only physically, but also spiritually.”

The ascetic interior of the rooms with natural oak furniture, massive shutters and fancy fittings maintains the monastic spirit and creates an unusual atmosphere of the hotel.

The rooms are simple and cozy at the same time. The historical interiors of the monastic cells are complemented by modern equipment: air conditioning, mini-safe, telephone connection, interactive television. In total, the hotel has 48 rooms of six categories.

The hotel is perfect as a hotel in Minsk for 24h. The cost of living varies depending on demand and occupancy. In January - February, when people travel least, the discount reaches 40 percent. Now the discount is 20 percent, then for the whole month it will not be higher than 5%. The rate includes buffet breakfast with a wide selection of dishes. If you are looking for an inexpensive place to stay, the Monastyrski Hotel is the best value for money.

Additional service

The hotel has a Bernardia conference room with a capacity of up to 100 people for various events. For negotiations, rooms are available for up to 20 and 30 people with all the necessary equipment.

On the territory of the complex, there is a restaurant “Stary Dom Restaurant”, where you can try traditional dishes of Belarusian and European cuisine, and arrange an event of any format.

And the list of services of the Monastyrski Hotel includes SPA treatments, a spacious sauna with an aqua zone. Highly qualified specialists work here, at their disposal the latest technologies and luxury cosmetics.