Wooden people, ruins of the palace and collected pearls

The outdoor workshop “Event tourism in Belarus” started with a landmark event in the tourism industry. The grand opening of the tourist route “Pearls of Pruzhany Land” took place with the participation of the Deputy Minister of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus Oleg Andreichik.

Pearls of Pruzhany Land

Unique architectural monuments, native places of famous Belarusians, untouched corners of nature - Pruzhany land has such a rich heritage. The new tourist route “Pearls of Pruzhany Land” introduces a lot of treasures on this area. It united about a dozen towns, villages and many significant facilities, including the Peter and Paul Church and the Trinity Church in Ruzhany, the majestic ruins of the Holy Trinity Church in Lyskovo, the Church of St. Nicholas and the Church of the Holy Trinity in Shereshevo, the complex of the former Trembitskie estate in Internatsionalnoye. And Ruzhany palace complex of the Sapega family, where the opening ceremony took place.

Ruzhany is famous for the majestic Sapega residence. It was founded at the beginning of the 17th century as a defensive castle and later was rebuilt into a palace ensemble. The building in the style of late classicism with baroque and rococo elements amazes with scale and originality. Ruzhany palace has reached this day in a deplorable state, but since 2008 the monument has been transformed. After restoration, guests are greeted by the restored entrance gate, eastern and western wings, as well as the eastern building. Museum halls are opened for travelers, where they can learn about the history of the Sapega’s family, their residence and the past of the small town. Valuable items including a 17th-century seal with the family coat of arms and an original armorial cartouche from the late 18th century. The owners of the Sapega complex were among the most powerful magnates of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. They largely influenced the social, political, cultural and religious life of our lands for about three centuries.

Health resort "Ruzhansky": comfort in the depths of a coniferous forest

The workshop “Event tourism in Belarus” continued at health resort “Ruzhansky”. Located near Lake Papernya in the depths of a coniferous forest near Ruzhany settlement. Vacationers are offered six areas of treatment with an individual choice of medical procedures. Those interested can purchase both full-fledged tours with a long stay and weekend tours. The health resort also has its own SPA complex. Fans of active recreation can enjoy a water park with slides and a jacuzzi, swimming pools, sports grounds, a shooting range and billiards, and pony rides. Cultural events and excursions are also offered. Roomers will touch history during trips to Zhirovichi Monastery and the Sapega Palace in Ruzhany, Pruzhany Small Palace Museum and other attractions.

Attention: a green route

And in Beryozovka village, Pruzhany district, a new eco-trail was opened. Its length is more than one and a half kilometers. Travelers can walk through different types of forest, see the most common tree species, listen to birdsong, and even encounter wild animals.

The road passes through black alder plantations and a pine forest, a windbreak, a feeding area and a hunting weapons shooting place. The route also passes through untouched corners of nature. And the starting point is the Museum of Nature and History of Pruzhany Forestry.

Two thousand facilities and an unusual presentation

One of the key events of the outdoor workshop “Event tourism in Belarus” was the discussion “The role of historical and cultural heritage in the development of tourism on the example of Pruzhany region”

In his welcoming speech, Deputy Minister of Sports and Tourism Oleg Andreychik thanked the host party for their hospitality and noted the achievements of Pruzhany region in the development of tourism. The workshop participants joined in a meaningful dialogue and discussed not only theoretical issues, but also practical aspects of tourism.

Representatives of Brest region told the guests in detail about the historical and cultural values of the region. There are about two thousand heritage facilities in the region. The infrastructure of Brest region makes it possible to receive a large number of foreign and Belarusian tourists. At the end of last year our region became a leader in receiving organized tourists. More than one million people visited this region. The development of historical and cultural tourism is under close attention.

The workshop participants were also presented with the book “Pruzhany Cooking,” which includes recipes for traditional dishes of Pruzhany district, recorded by employees of the culture department of Pruzhany district executive committee, club institutions of Pruzhany district, centralized club system and Pruzhany city Palace of Culture during ethnographic expeditions.

The only Roman Catholic church and Orthodox church in a free interpretation

Do you know what is remarkable about Shereshevo urban village in Pruzhany district? In this village, there is the Church of the Holy Trinity, included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Treasures of the Republic of Belarus. The shrine was built in 1848 from brick. By the way, this is the only Roman Catholic church in Pruzhany district built at that time. After the end of World War II, the temple was closed and turned into a warehouse. Services resumed only at the end of the last century.

Among the interesting facilities is the Church of St. Nicholas which was built in 1873 and it is an architectural monument of the Old Russian style or rather this is an example of a free interpretation of Russian architecture, since in those days there was a fashion for “national romanticism.” Construction was carried out with the participation of Grodno architect Yakub Fardon. In 1968, a large-scale reconstruction of the temple was carried out. The place is surprising in that during its entire existence, no major destruction or significant historical events occurred in this church.

“Memories of the Fatherland” and “wooden people”

The participants of the workshop were also told about the talented natives of Pruzhany land. Bandmaster and folklorist Grigory Shirma, artist Stanislav Zhukovsky, opera singer Mikhail Zabeyda-Sumitsky spent their childhood here.

Nikolai Tarasyuk - a native sculptor from Stoily village is no less famous. This is not just the one of the most original craftsmen of Brest region, who lived in Stoily village all his life and in recent years was its only resident. He was famous for his peasant philosophy, which he managed to create more than 30,000 wooden sculptures.

His compositions reflected the scenes of the life of a Belarusian peasant in the middle of the 20th century and raised social issues. Some of them are now in Belarusian and Polish museums and for the rest he built a unique house on his estate with the symbolic name "Memories of the Fatherland". Nikolai Vasilievich was laureate of the All-Union Festival of Folk Art, laureate of the Special Prize of the President of the Republic of Belarus "For Spiritual Revival" in the nomination "Folk Art".

His work is included in the State List of Elements of Intangible Historical and Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Belarus in Brest Region. Nikolai Tarasyuk passed away on January 14, 2015, but his family unites efforts, energy, labor and finances to preserve the creative legacy of the master.