A walking route for a stroll around Minsk

How do you get to know the city you've visited? Can you sense it while driving through your car's windshield or through the window of an office where a conference is taking place? And even if you've seen the city before, are you sure it hasn't changed? Every place has many faces: an evening street is different from a morning one, a winter city and a summer city are like two different worlds, and on important local holidays, the main avenues and squares are transformed, creating vibrant decorations with a special atmosphere.

For guests of the Willing Hotel, we've prepared a fascinating walking tour of Minsk. We

hope that the City of the Sun will leave warm memories in your hearts and that you'll return to the capital of Belarus again and again. Enjoy your walk!

We begin our route at the intersection of the Willing Hotel, Lenin Street and Oktyabrskaya Street.

Oktyabrskaya Street ran through the historic Lyakhovsky Suburb. The village of Lyakhovaya Luka, located on the outskirts of Minsk, was mentioned in the 16th century. Later, in the 18th century, the Lyakhovka settlement was located in this area. Since 1804,

the street was called Nizhne-Lyakhovskaya. The river and the railroad adjoined here, leading to the development of an industrial district in the late 19th century:

tanneries, a yeast and molasses factory, and a distillery were built, followed by a metalworking plant in the early 20th century. After the October Revolution, the street was renamed Voroshilov Street, and in 1961 it received its current name.

The street has partially retained the industrial buildings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Today, Oktyabrskaya Street is a shining example of successful gentrification (the redevelopment of abandoned factories and other industrial

structures). The road, which runs alongside the old tram tracks, is home to numerous cafes. Don't hesitate to explore the courtyards and backstreets; they offer plenty of interesting options. You can easily find cuisine to suit any taste on Oktyabrskaya Street, but on Friday and Saturday nights, it's best to reserve a table in advance.

Expressive, vibrant murals on the walls of buildings remain from the long-running Belarusian-Brazilian urban art festival Vulica Brazil. The warm brick of the factory walls, charming nooks and courtyards for gatherings and photo shoots, and a vibrant nightlife create a creative atmosphere on the street, attracting both Minsk residents and visitors.

Now we head down Oktyabrskaya Street toward the Dinamo Stadium, crossing the bridge over the Svisloch River. One hundred years ago, this area was a working-class suburb of Minsk, home to factories, workers' barracks, and dilapidated wooden houses.

Dinamo Stadium was officially opened on June 12, 1934, reconstructed in 1939, and, unfortunately, destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. The new stadium was built between 1947 and 1954.

In 1980, the Olympic Games were held here, and in preparation for them, the stadium underwent significant renovation. The stadium grounds were expanded and enclosed with a new fence featuring the 1980 Olympic symbols. A modern central stand was built, along with large new lighting masts, a new football scoreboard, and a torch cauldron for the Olympic flame. On July 20, 1980, a grand event took place at Dynamo Stadium: the lighting of the Olympic flame. The final part of the ceremony was performed by the outstanding freestyle wrestler, three-time Olympic champion, and seven-time world champion Alexander Vasilyevich Medved. In the second half of July 1980, the stadium hosted seven matches of the Olympic football tournament, including one quarterfinal.

In the late 1980s, Dynamo underwent changes: the sports arena increasingly began to serve as a concert venue. The bands "Laskoviy May," "Kino," "DDT," and other famous musicians performed there. The stadium's transformation didn't end there: in the 1990s, "Dynamo" became the capital's main clothing market. Here you could buy practically everything, from expensive electronics and luxurious fur coats to an abundance of consumer goods. There was a period when an entrance fee was charged. This didn't stop the flow of shoppers, as it was at "Dynamo" that you could find brand-name items.

Dynamo is the main sports arena of the Republic of Belarus and the home stadium of the Belarusian national football team. Its capacity is 22,246.

We continue along Ulyanovskaya Street toward Minsk's Railway Station Square on Bobruiskaya Street.

The station square began to take shape in the 1870s, when wooden pavilions for the Landvarovo-Romenskaya Railway passenger station were built. One

of them housed the station, the other the station office, a clinic, a vocational school, and other facilities. During World War I, the station building was burned down. Restoration work was carried out between 1920 and 1925. Passenger traffic gradually increased. In 1940, the station building was reconstructed according to a design by I. Rechanik. During the Great Patriotic War, the station building was destroyed during the retreat of Nazi troops. Between 1944 and 1949, the station was completely restored and remained in this form until 1991.

In 1991, the old station building was demolished, and construction began on the modern station complex. On December 30, 2002, the first phase of the Minsk-Passazhirsky railway station was opened. Its total area

was over 35,500 square meters. The project's designers, architects V. V. Kramarenko and M. K. Vinogradov, were awarded the Grand Prix at the National Architecture Festival in 2001 and a silver medal at the World Architecture Triennial in Sofia in 2003.

The dominant feature of the architectural ensemble of Privokzalnaya Square is the "Gate of Minsk," or twin towers, built in 1953 according to the designs of Leningrad architect Boris Rubanenko. They inherited their historical significance from the traditional wooden towers of the ancient Minsk Castle, which also once served as entrance gates. The twin towers are 11 stories high and are located at the corners of

five-story residential buildings. One tower features a clock, and the other features a cast-iron coat of arms of the BSSR. The "City Gate" is the first thing visitors to the capital see upon exiting the train station, and has become a symbol of Minsk.

Notice Karl Marx Street. Its previous names were Sverdlova and Podgornaya. The latter, incidentally, was used deliberately, as it actually goes downhill when coming from the Svisloch River. It was named after the German philosopher, economist, writer, and sociologist in the 1920s. You'll see many interesting things here.

In the 19th century, Karl Marx Street was lined with high-rise buildings and planted with poplars. Even then, it was a popular spot for locals who enjoyed leisurely evening strolls. True, the roads left much to be desired. But a "lucky" accident changed everything. One day, a sewage tank overturned in the roadway, spilling its contents onto the pavement. The authorities were forced to repair the road and pave the street.

When the street was called Podgornaya, it was actively developed. At that time, it housed a tobacconist, a fruit shop, a haberdashery, a grocery store, a tinsmith's shop, and the Bristol Hotel. The Bristol Hotel was considered the most expensive at the time. It accommodated 14 people and offered an all-inclusive service.

Several buildings remain to this day. Today, on Karl Marx Street, you can see a building that once housed a laboratory and a chemical-bacteriological office, where the water quality from the rivers flowing through Minsk and the local pipeline was analyzed (Karla Marx 18).

At the intersection with Lenin Street, the building that once housed the police still stands (Karla Marx 5, on the corner with Voladarsky Street 20). Mikhail Frunze was its commander. A little further on, there's a building that once housed a polytechnic, then an art gallery. It now houses a modern international automatic telephone exchange. However, it was originally intended for a girls' gymnasium. The building of the former State Bank also remains. The National Museum of History and Culture is located there.

Independence Avenue is considered Minsk's main thoroughfare, crossing it from the city center in a northeasterly direction. Its length is 15 km.

The history of this street began in 1801. That's when Zakharyevskaya Street appeared, which later became Independence Avenue. Initially, it was planned to be a bypass highway that would at least somewhat relieve congestion in central Minsk. The street has changed its name several times. During the German occupation, it was Haupstrasse, from early 1919, Sovetskaya, during the Polish occupation, Adam Mickiewicz, and then again Sovetskaya. Subsequently, it was named Stalin Avenue, Leninsky Avenue, Francysk Skaryna Avenue, and finally, in 2005, Independence Avenue was created.

There are several squares along the avenue: Kalinina, Yakub Kolas, Pobedy, Oktiabrskaya, and Nezavisimosti. Incidentally, it begins on Nezavisimosti. The Stolitsa shopping center, the Belarusian State Pedagogical University, and the buildings of the Belarusian State University are also located here.

The Church of Saints Simeon and Helena, located on Nezavisimosti Square, is also worth mentioning. Its history is closely linked to the Voinilovich family. They suffered great grief: first, their son Simon died, then their daughter Elena. The church was built in their memory. It was consecrated in 1910.

A little further on stands the main post office, which opened in 1953. It has many interesting features. For example, in the center of the building is the so-called "kilometer zero," which indicates the distance to other Belarusian and European cities. Above the entrance is a world clock, showing the time in different parts of the world. The interior, consisting of 15 stained-glass windows depicting Belarusian architectural monuments, is also particularly noteworthy.

On the same side of the street as the hotel is the Central Cinema, which is still operating today. Interestingly, the building is listed as a historical and cultural heritage site. It is currently the only cinema built into a residential building. It has been digital since 2010, and since 2012, it has been selling tickets online.

As we conclude our stroll along Independence Avenue, we can't help but mention the National Art Museum of Belarus, which makes a wonderful final stop on our route. This museum is a true treasure trove of art and culture, where you can explore the rich heritage of Belarusian masters and see world-class works.

Its history began in 1939, with the founding of the State Art Gallery of the Byelorussian SSR. However, due to World War II, the museum was only able to fully open in 1957.

Initially, the museum's collection consisted of works of art donated by the Hermitage, the Russian Museum, and the Tretyakov Gallery. Over time, the museum's holdings have expanded significantly and now include over 30,000 works of painting, graphic art, sculpture, and decorative and applied art. The collection features works by Belarusian artists as well as European and Russian masters.

The museum building, designed in the Soviet neoclassical style, is an architectural landmark in its own right. In 2006, construction of a new building was completed, significantly expanding the exhibition space.

A visit to the museum is a fitting end to a day of admiring the magnificent paintings, sculptures, and exhibitions. This cultural center not only preserves art but also inspires new discoveries, offering each guest the unique opportunity to feel part of a great artistic tradition.