Date :
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
In the small agro-town of Tomashovka, Brest Region, there is a unique place where space feels closer than ever. The Cosmonaut Pyotr Klimuk Museum – the only space museum in Belarus – is dedicated to the exploration of the Universe and to the life of the first Belarusian who traveled into space. Opened on November 4, 1978, it remains a magnet for schoolchildren, tourists, and everyone who dreams of the stars.
The history of the museum
The museum is located in the very school building where Pyotr Ilyich Klimuk once studied – twice Hero of the Soviet Union, pilot-cosmonaut, and participant of three spaceflights. It was here that the journey began for a boy from the nearby village of Komarovka, who overcame Earth’s gravity and became a legend.
The idea of founding the museum appeared after Klimuk’s first flight. In 1978, the exhibition was solemnly opened, and in 2003–2004 it was completely renovated. Since then, it has evolved from a simple collection of artifacts into a modern educational and interactive center where the story of humanity’s conquest of space comes alive.
Today, the museum displays over 200 exhibits, many of which are authentic items donated by Pyotr Klimuk himself – equipment, elements of space suits, personal belongings, and rare documents.
Structure of the exhibition
The museum consists of three halls, each presenting a different chapter of the story.
The first hall: The road to the stars
The historical hall is designed as a corridor resembling the passageway from a spacecraft to an orbital station. The walls are decorated with illuminated constellations and portraits of great pioneers of astronautics: Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, Sergey Korolev, Friedrich Zander, and Yuri Kondratyuk.
Visitors can also see portraits of Belarusian pilots – Heroes of the Soviet Union – and artistic compositions depicting the stages of humanity’s exploration of the Universe and the development of aviation. The atmosphere of the hall creates the feeling of being on the verge of a launch, ready to embark on a journey beyond Earth.
The second hall: Space technology and everyday life
The central hall is devoted to the history of space exploration and to the daily life of astronauts. At its center stands a model of the “Soyuz” launch vehicle – a symbol of humankind’s eternal aspiration for the stars.
Other exhibits include models of the satellites Sputnik-1 and Resurs F1, a thermal protection suit, astronaut training equipment, and samples of space food. The stained-glass panels depict key milestones of space history, such as Alexei Leonov’s first spacewalk.
This hall is especially fascinating for children – they can see how astronauts live and work in weightlessness, what they eat, and how they stay connected with Earth.
The third hall: The life and path of a Belarusian cosmonaut
The biographical hall tells the story of Pyotr Klimuk’s childhood, his early fascination with aviation and the stars, his studies, and his three missions to space. Visitors can see his personal belongings, household items from his family home in Komarovka, his school desk, and even a class journal with his grades.
One of the key sections is dedicated to Klimuk’s spaceflights. Among the highlights are the Kazbek shock-absorbing seat, a hydrosuit, star maps, and photographs from orbit. These exhibits convey a sense of closeness to the great feat of a man whose dream became part of world history.
The symbolism and meaning of the museum
The Pyotr Klimuk Museum in Tomashovka is more than just a collection of exhibits. It is a place of inspiration where science and dreams meet. Here, visitors can feel that the journey to the stars begins with curiosity, persistence, and faith in oneself.
The museum welcomes guests from across Belarus and abroad – including tourists from Poland, Germany, Italy, and Russia. For school groups, guided tours and educational programs are organized to introduce children to the history of space exploration and Belarus’s contribution to it.
How to visit
The museum is located at: Brest Region, Brest District, agro-town Tomashovka, Gagarin Street, 25. It is open on weekdays, and visits can be arranged through the school administration, as the museum is housed within the local school building.
The easiest way to get there is from Brest – the trip takes about an hour. Along the way, travelers can enjoy the picturesque landscapes of Polesia. Tomashovka is also known for other attractions, including the World War I Soldiers’ Cemetery and the nearby border crossing to Poland.
Why you should visit
The Pyotr Klimuk Cosmonaut Museum offers a unique opportunity to discover the history of Belarusian space exploration and to feel pride for a country that gave the world one of its pioneers of space. Every visitor – whether a child or an adult – leaves with a spark of inspiration and a renewed desire to look up at the stars.