Date :
Thursday, July 15, 2021
Vitebsk is the northern capital of Belarus. If you haven’t been there yet, you have a wonderful opportunity to travel around such a rich in sights land for the first time. Allocate a couple of days (you can spend a weekend) and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Belarusian north — ancient architecture, temples, manor houses filled with legends, picturesque lakes and authentic places. This area contains places that explain what inspired Chagall, Repin, Korotkevich, Lew Sapieha, Euphrosyne of Polotsk and other great Belarusians.
Top 3 cities of Vitebsk region
Vitebsk
For lovers of old buildings and historical architecture, it will be fun to stroll around Revolutionary Street. Here you will find pre-revolutionary houses, the walls of which bear the marks of World War II bullets. There are also the ruins of the Great Lubavitch Synagogue, which was attended by Shagal’s father. People live in these houses, just as they did 100 years ago. It is a special aesthetic pleasure to look into the blind narrow entrances, to wander through the old yards with the laundry hung on ropes — this reminds of the old Odessa.
Stroll along the Dvina embankment and admire the Holy Dormition Cathedral, walk along the old Suvorovsky pedestrian street and see the town hall — the symbol of the city.
If time permits, we suggest looking at graffiti on transformer substations in yards scattered around the city. Street art is a unique feature of Vitebsk; by walking past the most famous art objects (images of Belarusian artists, poets, writers, famous world performers and actors), you can explore the whole city!
Polotsk
The pearl of Vitebsk region, the cradle of the birth of Belarus. St. Sophia Cathedral, the Epiphany Cathedral, the first institution of higher education in Belarus — the surviving Jesuit collegium, the geographical center of Europe, the children’s museum with antique toys, as well as a place for making wishes — the ancient Boris stone — this is how you can see Polotsk. And do not miss the chance to listen to the heart of this city: it is worth listening to the organ concert in St. Sophia Cathedral, as well as to the bell ringing in the Temple of Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God.
Glubokoe
The place famous for delicious condensed milk and impressive cherry orchards. In May, Glubokoe can compete with the Japanese festival of blossoms: the city is covered with white clouds of blooming trees, and the streets are filled with fragrance. They even dedicated an entire festival to cherry orchards — “Cherry Festival”! The attractions are gathered in the center: start with the cathedrals at September 17th Square. The Church of the Holy Trinity was laid by Joseph Korsak, the founder of Glubokoe. It was rebuilt in the 1780s, and you can see it both inside and outside. The Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin stands opposite, with its bell tower offering a lovely view of the city. At the old cemetery, “Koptevka”, you will find a chapel of the 18th century and a memorial column in honor of the Constitution of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth of 1791. There is also a monument to Munchausen. A citizen with that surname is buried in the cemetery — it is certainly not a fairy tale baron, but the residents have as much fun as they can. You can easily get by car to another attraction — the only Belarusian solutional cave located near Glubokoe, on the shore of Lake Ginkovo.
This article highlights curious places that are enough for a weekend. However, if you have plenty of time, then pay attention to the unique nature of Vitebsk region and, by the way, visit one of the largest festivals in Belarus, Slavyansky Bazaar. This land is home to some of top-of-the-line places in Belarus: the largest rock, the deepest lake, the largest moss bog, the most majestic 200-year-old pine, a real natural waterfall and an island with a lake. Visit the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve, which amazes with the scale of untouched bog flora and fauna. If you want to rest and relax, then come to Braslav Lakes for swimming, hiking, boating, or peaceful observation of picturesque sunsets by the water. Let’s go north for adventures!