A walking route through Minsk for tourists. Part 2

Если вы решили не посещать музей, а идти по нашему маршруту дальше, то ваш путь будет пролегать через уютный сквер среди плотной городской застройки с памятником Анри Дюнану.

The monument is dedicated to Henry Dunant, the founder of the International Red Cross Movement and the first Nobel Peace Prize laureate. It was unveiled in 2010 and installed next to the Belarusian Red Cross building, emphasizing its symbolic connection to the humanitarian mission.

After passing the square, you'll reach Independence Avenue, Minsk's main thoroughfare. Its history began in the 18th and 19th centuries as part of the Warsaw Highway, and its modern architectural concept developed during the post-war years of Minsk's large-scale reconstruction.

In the 1950s, the avenue was rebuilt in the Stalinist Empire style according to a unified urban development plan. Its ensemble is distinguished by its monumentality, symmetry, and grandeur: sweeping vistas, colonnades, decorative facades, and a unified architectural rhythm create the image of a "parade city."

Today, Independence Avenue remains Minsk's main transportation and cultural axis. Key administrative buildings, universities, theaters, metro stations, and iconic public spaces are located here. A continuous urban fabric is formed along the avenue, from the business center to residential neighborhoods and historic ensembles.

Thanks to its combination of historical layout and post-war architecture, the avenue is perceived as the main symbol of Minsk and its urban identity.

Cross the avenue via the underpass and walk along Lenin Street.

Lenin Street is one of the central and most historically rich streets in Minsk, forming an important part of its old urban core. Its development began in the 19th century, when dense urban development with apartment buildings, administrative buildings, and retail spaces took shape here.

During the Soviet period, the street was named after Lenin and became one of the key thoroughfares in the city's central part. While many of the buildings were rebuilt or adapted for government use, the street retained its historical scale and structure. As a result, today, one can see a blend of several architectural eras here: pre-revolutionary neoclassicism and the eclecticism of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, constructivism of the 1920s and 1930s, and the monumental post-war architecture of the Stalinist Empire style with its characteristic symmetrical facades, decorative elements, and ceremonial volumes.

To your left, at the intersection of Lenin and Internatsionalnaya Streets, lies a small gastronomic history reflecting the different eras of Minsk. Since 2010, the famous Grand Cafe has been located here—one of the city's most renowned cafes, a popular spot for meetings, breakfasts, business conversations, and evening dinners in the city center.

However, the restaurant history of this address begins much earlier. During Soviet times, the Krynitsa restaurant was located here, and even earlier, within the same walls, the Potsdam restaurant operated.

Looking even deeper into history, as early as 1956, the restaurant "Zarya" – one of the post-war establishments in the center of Minsk – was already welcoming guests at 2 Lenin Street.

Thus, the same address has maintained its gastronomic significance for decades, changing names, interiors, and eras, yet remaining a meeting place and a hub for Minsk's restaurant scene.

Cross Internatsionalnaya Street and walk forward. On your left, you'll see the Archcathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary—one of the main Catholic churches in Minsk and a major Baroque architectural landmark, built between 1700 and 1710 as a church for a Jesuit monastery.

The church became part of a large Jesuit complex, which played an important role in the city's education and religious life in the 18th century. Architecturally, the church is designed in the Vilnius Baroque style: its distinctive façade, symmetrical towers, and rich interior decoration emphasized its status as one of the region's main Catholic churches.

The church's history reflects the city's dramatic fate. During the Soviet period, the church was closed and used for other purposes—it housed a sports club and various institutions. Only in 1993 was the building returned to the Catholic Church, after which a large-scale restoration began.

Today, the Archcathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the active cathedral of the Minsk-Mogilev Archdiocese and one of the most important historical landmarks in central Minsk, where religious services and organ concerts are regularly held.

On the other side of Lenin Street, a beautiful view opens up of the Minsk Town Hall—a reminder of the time when Minsk enjoyed Magdeburg Rights, a system of municipal self-government granted in 1499. It was then that the city's first town hall appeared as a place for magistrate meetings, court proceedings, and the storage of city documents.

Over the centuries, the building was repeatedly rebuilt, and in the 18th century, it acquired classical features. However, in 1857, by order of the Russian authorities, the town hall was demolished—a symbol of the former city government.

The current town hall building is a reconstruction completed in 2003–2004 on the historic site, using archival drawings and images. Today, it hosts city exhibitions, intimate events, and official ceremonies.

Cross the road and head toward the Town Hall—you'll find yourself at Freedom Square, the historic heart of Minsk and the beginning of the Upper Town, the oldest surviving part of the city center. Since the 16th century, this has been the administrative, commercial, and religious center of the city, where the main streets intersected and fairs, town hall meetings, and important city events took place.

The square received its current name in the 20th century, but has changed names several times throughout its history. At various times, it was called the Upper Market, as it was the city's main trading area.

On the other side of Freedom Square stands the Holy Spirit Cathedral, the main Orthodox church in Minsk and one of the most important spiritual symbols of Belarus.

The building's history begins in the 17th century, when a monastery of the Catholic Bernardine Order stood on this site. The stone church was built in the Vilnius Baroque style, with distinctive towers and flowing façade lines. After the monastery's closure in the 19th century, the building was transferred to the Orthodox Church and gradually became one of the city's main religious centers.

The cathedral's special significance stems from the fact that it houses one of the country's most important Orthodox relics—the Minsk Icon of the Mother of God, which, according to legend, was brought to Kyiv by Prince Vladimir and later found its way to Minsk.

Today, the Holy Spirit Cathedral remains a functioning church, holding daily services, and its bell towers and light-colored façade are an important part of the historic skyline of the Upper Town.

A particularly impressive view of Minsk opens from the observation deck next to the Holy Spirit Cathedral. Walk to the left of the cathedral. From here, you can clearly see the panorama of the Nemiga River, the Svisloch embankment, Trinity Suburb, and the city's modern neighborhoods. The contrast between old Minsk, the churches of the Upper Town, and the dynamic modern center makes this spot one of the most beautiful vantage points in the city, especially at sunset and in the evening illumination.

Nemiga Street is one of the oldest streets in Minsk, whose history is closely linked to the city's founding. It was in the Nemiga area that the famous battle between the princes of Polotsk and Kyiv took place in 1067, marking the first mention of Minsk in chronicles. The street takes its name from the Nemiga River, which once flowed here but was diverted into an underground sewer in the 20th century.

Continue right along Herzen Street, which soon turns left and descends. On the right, you'll see a beautiful wooden house with white carved shutters.

The building at 6 Herzen Street, known as the Rappoport House, is one of the surviving historic buildings in the Upper Town and a landmark of 19th-century urban development. The building is part of the ensemble of the old Herzen Street, which still retains the atmosphere of pre-revolutionary Minsk.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the building belonged to the Austrian citizen K. Rappoport, whose name became associated with the building. An interesting detail: during those years, a small bakery and bread shop operated here, selling fresh bread—a rare reminder of the everyday life of old Minsk, when the ground floors of buildings were often occupied by craft workshops and small shops.

Continue down to Zybitskaya Street. Its history dates back to the 16th and 17th centuries, when it was a trading street with shops, artisan houses, and wooden buildings.

The name "Zybitskaya" refers to the marshy, unstable soil of this coastal area. In the 19th century, the street was known as Torgovaya, reflecting its market function. However, by the mid-20th century, the historic buildings had largely disappeared, and the street remained an underutilized urban space for a long time.

Zybitskaya Street's new life began in the 2010s, when it was reimagined as a pedestrian area with bars, cafes, and restaurants. Today, it is one of the city's main evening and nightlife streets, home to Minsk's culinary and entertainment scene.

Walk straight to the bridge over the Svisloch River and climb it. From the bridge's elevated position, you'll enjoy a view of the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus—the country's premier musical theater and one of Minsk's key architectural and cultural landmarks. Opened in 1933, it has become the most important center for opera and ballet in Belarus.

The theater building is constructed in the Soviet constructivist style with elements of monumental classicism, typical of public buildings of the 1930s. Its architecture is distinguished by its expressive volume, colonnades, and amphitheater-like shape, while a green park has been created around the theater, emphasizing its significance in the urban space.

During the Great Patriotic War, the building was damaged and subsequently underwent extensive reconstruction. In the post-war years, the theater became not only a cultural but also a symbolic center for the restoration of Minsk.

Today, the Opera and Ballet Theater is the country's leading stage, hosting classical and contemporary productions, international festivals, and touring companies from around the world.

To the left, you'll see another bridge on Maksim Bogdanovich Street—one of the important transport crossings over the Svisloch River in central Minsk. It connects the Nemiga and Upper Town districts with the Trinity Suburb and the northern part of the city, continuing the route of one of the city's oldest thoroughfares.

This is what the bridge looked like in 1915.

Then, descend from the bridge back onto the bike path and turn left. Walk along the river; you'll see a row of cafes and bars on your right. When you reach Yanka Kupala Street, turn right and cross the street to the park.

Yanka Kupala Park was created in the post-war years on the site of a former urban development and gradually developed into an important green space in the center of the capital.

The park bears the name of the classic Belarusian writer, Yanka Kupala, and includes memorial elements associated with his work and memory. The park's focal point is a monument to the writer, surrounded by alleys and walking areas.

The park's architecture combines a regular layout with the natural landscape of the river: it features alleys, bridges, shaded areas, and open views of the Svisloch River and the city center. This makes it a popular spot for walks, recreation, and cultural events.

In the park, head to the central section to see the Vyanok (Wreath) fountain.

The fountain's composition is based on the image of a wreath as a symbol of nature, summer, and folk culture. The water and the graceful shapes create a soft, decorative rhythm that blends seamlessly with the park's green space and emphasizes its tranquil, pedestrian-friendly character.

Next, walk down the central alley to the Svisloch River embankment.

On the other side of the river there is Kommunisticheskaya Street.

The embankment's current design emerged during several phases of city center reconstruction in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The main idea behind the redevelopment was to create a continuous pedestrian zone along the river, connecting parks, historic neighborhoods, and new public spaces.

Simple and functional elements are used here: walking paths, steps leading down to the water, benches, and landscaping that soften the dense urban fabric. Stone and concrete surfaces are combined with greenery, creating a tranquil rhythm along the urban embankment.

This is what the embankment looked like in the 70s.

If you wish, you can take a ride on catamarans.

Continue along the river toward the Ferris wheel.

After passing under the bridge, you'll see a memorial to the first Minsk power plant.

It was here in 1895 that the city's first power station, Elvod, was built. It became one of the first pieces of Minsk's electrical infrastructure, providing lighting for the city's central streets. It played a vital role in the modernization of the urban environment in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The building stood for over a hundred years, but was demolished in 2011 during renovations. Today, the site is occupied by modern buildings, along with a memorial plaque in the form of a fragment of the historic façade, recalling the station's original appearance.

Across the river, you'll see a monument to Maxim Gorky, one of the greatest Russian and Soviet writers. The monument was erected in the 1980s. The sculpture is in the tradition of Soviet monumental sculpture. Nowadays, children love to climb on the monument, either for photos or just for fun.

Walk straight along the river and, when you see the bridge over it, turn left. You'll find yourself in the Maxim Gorky Central Children's Park. It was established in the 19th century as a city garden and acquired its current appearance during post-war improvements.

If you're strolling with the whole family, the kids will love the rides.

The park operates as a classic urban recreation space with attractions, walkways, and promenades. The grounds are open daily and generally around the clock, while the attractions operate according to separate seasonal hours—typically from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekdays and until 10:00 PM on weekends and holidays during the warm season.

The main part of the park is the amusement park, home to the most popular attractions:

a Ferris wheel offering views of the city center; a racetrack, one of the most popular rides; classic carousels (Waltz, chain carousels, and children's mini-rides); "Boats" and other traditional mechanical rides that have preserved the atmosphere of the old park.

Payment for rides is made at the park ticket office. You can also purchase a visitor card, which can be topped up with any amount in cash or by credit card and used to activate the turnstiles at the rides.

After such an eventful walk, you're probably exhausted. The Ploshchad Pobedy metro station is located near the park, providing easy access to the Pervomayskaya metro station, near which the Willing Hotel is located.

The Willing Hotel is located in the heart of Minsk, making it easy to plan various walking routes for exploring the city. The metro is nearby, making it easy to explore even the most distant parts of Minsk.

Book a room here and explore Minsk at your convenience.