Arrival in Minsk. Check-in at hotel
We warmly welcome you in Minsk – the capital of the Republic of Belarus, its political and cultural centre. It was first mentioned in the chronicles of the XIth century. Today, it is a dynamic city with expansive boulevards, modern and historical buildings, endless parks and well-developed infrastructure. Being an impressive example of the Soviet planning on a grand scale, Minsk however has a number of outstanding historical sights, proving city’s rich history.
Overnight in Minsk.
Minsk city tour. National Art museum. Museum of Culture and History
Sightseeing tour of Minsk includes the main avenues (Independence Avenue , Victory Square ) and the architectural monuments of the XVIIth - XXth centuries (Upper Town with the City Hall , Holy Spirit Church and the Cathedral of Blessed Virgin Mary , old streets of the Trinity Suburb ). The Victory Monument and the National Library (included into the list of the most outstanding buildings of the world) are waiting to be explored.
Visit to the National Art museum, which presents the richest collection of Belarusian and foreign fine art in the country. The next stop will be at the National Museum of Culture and History of Belarus that tells us about the history of the country, from 40,000BC to the contemporary times. Axe-heads, swords, portraits of nobility, an old printing press and arms collection are among the interesting items.
Overnight in Minsk.
Minsk – Mir – Novogrudok – Lida – Grodno
Transfer to Mir, which is a small town 90 km to the south-west from Minsk. It is most famous for the fairy-taleMir Castle , still known today as the “medieval flower”. Castle is an impressive architectural monument, included into the list of World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. It was erected at the end of the XVth century and today it is a combination of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture that makes Mir Castle so unique. This red brick castle is also a historical monument, which used to belong to several aristocratic families, who have left their mark in the history of the town and of the country in general.
Transfer to Novogrudok, where Mindaug was crowned Grand Duke of All Lithuania in 1253, making the town the great duchy’s capital. Today the town is dominated by a hill on which the ruins of a XIVth century castle stand. The main sights of Novogrudok include Farny Transfiguration of the Lord Church and St Boris and St Gleb Church. There is also a museum devoted to the history of the region, with excellent and moving exhibits relating to the fate of the Jewish community and the activities of the partisans during the Great Patriotic War.
Transfer to Lida, which is famous for its castle, built by the Grand Duke Gedimin in the XIVth century. For many centuries it used to be an inaccessible citadel over the western lands of Belarus. Today along with the Exultation of the Holy Cross Church these are the main sights of the town.
Transfer to Grodno. Overnight in Grodno.
Grodno city tour
Grodno city tour. The name of the city is tightly connected with the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Indeed, under the rule of Grand Duke Vitautis the town acquired equal status with Vilnius as a second state capital. It also used to be the main residence of the Polish King Stefan Batory in the XVIth century. His influence can be widely seen today in much of the city’s architecture. The most interesting sights of Grodno include Jesuit Farny Cathedral , Kolozhskaya Church of St Boris and St Hleb , Old Castle and New Castle , Great Choral Synagogue , Sovetskaya Street and others.
Free time for exploring Grodno. Overnight in Grodno.
Grodno – Kossovo – Ruzhany – Nesvizh
Transfer to Kossovo to have a look at XIXth century Kossovo Palace , performing Romanticism in architecture, and visit to Ruzhany - to see the remains of Sapega family palace and to listen to the story of this once powerful noble family.
Transfer to Nesvizh – a delightful historic town, one of the oldest in the country. You will visit the magnificent Nesvizh Palace – former residence of the aristocratic Radzivili family, which also includes beautiful park and Farny Roman-Catholic Church of the XVIth century. The complex once numbered around 170 rooms, with a series of underground passages connecting it to the town’s monasteries. Today the exposition of the Palace includes more than 30 exhibition halls, including Prince's apartments, Golden and Star halls, Hunter’s hall and others.
Overnight in Nesvizh (at Palace’s hotel if requested).
Nesvizh – Minsk. Departure
Transfer to the airport. Departure.
