MINSK - GRODNO - MINSK
Employees of the Campus left Minsk early on Saturday morning on July 25. Along the way, the guide Yulia told in detail and in an interesting way about all the regional centers of the Grodno region. The first object of the visit was the Holy Borosivo-Glebskaya Church, which is located on the right bank of the Neman. This is a unique architectural monument of the XII century, one of the oldest functioning temples in Belarus. Towering in the center of the city, the Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier or the Farny Church is, without a doubt, its most magnificent decoration. This outstanding baroque monument in Belarus in the 18th century impresses with its splendor and fascinates tourists.Then we took a walk on Sovetskaya Street where we were transported to the provincial towns of Poland or, for example, Hungary. Everywhere not only restaurants and souvenir shops, but also the best hotels in Grodno. But also old two-story cottages with flowers on the windows, and each house has its own story. Then we went to the Church of St. John - a historical and cultural object of neo-Gothic sacral architecture of the early 19th century. It is not for nothing that this Lutheran church is called “singing”, because all services there are held with musical accompaniment by an organ that was brought from Frankfurt am Main in 2014. We were lucky to get to such an organ music concert. Impressions are certainly the most unforgettable. We were fed a delicious lunch at the Tourist Hotel.And our last stop: the park in the agro-tourist complex "Garadzensky maentak "Karobchitsy" is a piece of the real protected forest just 5 km from Grodno. Very cozy place with a small zoo, horse rentals and much more. This is a very cozy, atmospheric place, immersed in flowers and greenery. The tour was wonderful and educational. We learned a lot about different parts of Grodno and the Grodno region. Everyone liked it very much.
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MINSK - POLOTSK - VITEBSK
Экскурсия состоялась 28-29 мая 2022 года. Отправление из Минска было ранним утром. Дорога до Полоцка заняла около 3 часов. Весь путь нас сопровождал приятный голос экскурсовода Юлии Соколовой. Уже по дороге мы многое узнали про славный город Полоцк. О том, что Полоцк – это город, с которого началась история белорусской земли. Мы узнали о его многоликой судьбе: от следов рыцарского средневековья до грандиозных соборов Руси, от городских мифов до знакомых каждому школьнику легенд. Узнали, что необычными внешними чертами церковная архитектура Полоцка обязана виленскому барокко. Понемногу стали различать особенности этого стиля. Узнали, как на полоцкой земле появились викинги, о первом князе Рогволоде, его дочери Рогнеде и Владимире Красное Солнышко. Поговорили о становлении христианства и сосуществовании разных конфессий в местных краях, вспомнили обе Великие Отечественные войны. Смогли представить, какое было образование в XVIII веке. Знакомство с городом началось со Спасо-Ефросиньевского женского монастыря и его звонницы. Первое упоминание о Полоцке относится к 862 году. У входа в монастырь (справа за забором) есть шкафы с юбками и платками, для тех, кто вдруг не знал о правилах посещения монастырей, либо решил заглянуть в монастырь внезапно, можно надеть поверх брюк или голых ног юбку и прикрыть голову. Проходим на территорию и перед нами предстают три храма: Крестовоздвиженский собор, Спасо-Преображенский храм и Евфросиньевская трапезная церковь. Самый старый из них – Спасо-Преображенский храм. Он воздвигнут в 1161 году зодчим Иоанном. А Лазарь Богша по заказу Евфросиньи изготовил для храма напрестольный крест высотой 51,8 см, который известен как «Крест Евфросиньи Полоцкой». Во время второй мировой войны реликвия утеряна и в 1994 году брестский ювелир Николай Кузьмич сделал его копию. Сам храм очень небольшой, к тому же там шли реставрационные работы и стояли строительные леса. Фрески XII века защищены от любопытных рук стеклом и сохранились довольно неплохо.
Масляную живопись XIX века, снятую с фресок тонким слоем и закрепленную на новой основе, можно увидеть в Полоцкой художественной галерее. Сразу над входом располагаются две кельи. В них жили преподобная Ефросиния (в миру - Предслава) и ее сестра Евдокия. Именно здесь Евфросиния переписывала книги и вела активную просветительскую деятельность. Умерла в Иерусалиме, во время паломничества и погребена в местном монастыре. Спустя долгое время и череду прошений, мощи возвращены в Полоцк и постоянным местом хранения является именно этот храм. Судя по сохранившимся остаткам росписи, храм был украшен фресками не только изнутри, но и снаружи. Традиционно для таких храмов во время реставрации не закрывают часть старой кладки, чтобы можно было ощутить дыхание старины и увидеть сохранившиеся фрагменты росписи. Евфросинья – первая женщина из Беларуси, признанная святой, она одинакова почитаема как католиками, так и провославными. Крестовоздвиженский собор построен в конце XIX века в неовизантийском стиле и типичным его представителем является Софийский собор в Константинополе. Крестообразный в плане и немного приземистый. Центральный шлемовидный купол окружают угловые восьмигранные башни с такими же купольными покрытиями. Описывать можно бесконечно, но лучше это увидеть. Свет внутрь храма проникает через узкие и высокие оконные проёмы. В этом храме сейчас хранятся мощи Евфросинии Полоцкой. Рака в которой они хранятся, изготовлена из серебра всё тем же брестским мастером и является точной копией той, утраченной, которая находилась в Полоцке в начале прошлого века.
We walked a bit around the territory of the monastery, visited the monastery shop and, after tasting Polotsk ice cream, we return to the parking lot. Then we were served delicious lunch at a local cafe.
The next stop is the very center of Polotsk. We were lucky, as May 28 was the day of the city. Celebrations on the main square of the city, performances of dance groups, the city of masters, tasting of Belarusian dishes, kvass and cranberry juice. No one was left without souvenirs!
The next point of our trip and the main attraction of the city is St. Sophia Cathedral. The beauties that open near the cathedral cannot be described in words.
The cathedral itself is reflected in the Western Dvina.This river, even from a height, looks so powerful and majestic that it takes your breath away! Sunny weather changed to windy with rain, but even such weather surprises could not spoil the overall impression of the tour. Our wonderful tour guide Julia told us in a fascinating way that St. Sophia Cathedral is a contemporary of the cathedrals of Kyiv and Novgorod, about the difficult and interesting fate of this majestic building. In the 10th century, Polotsk found itself in the center of a real historical drama. To the twelve-year-old Princess Rogneda of Polotsk, the daughter of Prince Rogvolod, two brothers wooed - Prince Yaropolk of Kyiv and Prince Vladimir of Novgorod. Preference was given to Yaropolk. It is unlikely that any personal wishes of Rogneda were taken into account here, who allegedly said that she did not want to marry a “slave” (and Vladimir was born a concubine of Prince Svyatoslav Igorevich). Who, in fact, in the X century will listen to a woman? Married - and goodbye! So. The point here was, most likely, in politics - Rogvolod wished to see Kyiv as allies, and not Novgorod. Then Vladimir simply captured Polotsk, killed Rogvolod and his sons, forcibly took Rogneda as his wife. By the way, he also killed Yaropolk, Prince of Kyiv. And he himself became the prince of Kyiv. Then Vladimir decided to seek an alliance with Byzantium and ... married a Greek princess, for which he adopted the Christian faith. Rogned's old wife was no longer needed, she was supposed to be settled separately so as not to embarrass her new wife. Rogneda did not like this outcome, and she planned to kill the treacherous husband, but he woke up at the most inopportune moment and praised the weapon raised above him from the hands of his wife. This would have been the end of Rogneda, but five-year-old Izyaslav stood up for his mother. Vladimir took pity on his son and ... exiled, together with his disgusted wife, to the outskirts of his possessions, founding the city of Izyaslavl (modern Zaslavl) there - after the name of his son. And now we return to Polotsk. This city (and the Principality of Polotsk) Vladimir later handed over to the grown-up Izyaslav. No, it was not conscience that tortured me, but support was needed. After all, Rogvolod (and Rogneda, respectively) were Vikings. And the latter had a very strong tradition of transferring property by inheritance. If a person died, the son, grandson (or whoever remained there) entered into inheritance rights. Here you go. Rogvolod's grandson was Izyaslav, which means he was supposed to inherit Polotsk. Vladimir kept the tradition of the Vikings, but whether this brought him the desired dividends, history is silent. But it is known that for several hundred years between the Polotsk and Kyiv princes (who were relatives - all descended from Vladimir) there were endless wars. The Principality of Polotsk wanted complete independence, and the Principality of Kiev, accordingly, considered the rival not as a separate state, but as part of itself ... On the monument called "Polotsk - the cradle of Belarusian statehood", which recently appeared near the St. Sophia Cathedral, by the way, Rogvolod and Rogneda are depicted. But Vladimir is not there ...
Софийский собор называют памятником архитектуры XI – XVIII веков. Почему такая большая временная разбежка? Потому что храм не единожды разрушался и перестраивался. Изначально Софийский собор был возведен в византийском стиле – то ли семиглавым, то ли пятиглавым (в разных источниках указаны разные сведения).
Реконструкция внешнего вида Полоцкого Софийского собора XI века:
Был период, когда Софийский собор принадлежал униатской церкви. Во время Северной войны Петр I сильно поссорился со священниками-униатами. Несколько из них было даже убито, а в Софийском соборе разместили пороховой склад, который и взорвался. Храм был сильно разрушен – фактически до основания. Софийский собор в современном виде появился в XVIII веке. Он был перестроен униатами в стиле виленского барокко. 
The cathedral has not survived to our time in its original form, we can say that the original one is similar to the Holy Cross Cathedral. Rebuilt in the 18th century in the Vilna baroque style, St. Sophia Cathedral operates as a museum and concert hall, and only once a year, on June 5, on the day of memory of St. Euphrosyne of Polotsk, an Orthodox service is held here. We visited the museum of architecture of St. Sophia Cathedral and attended a concert of cut music in the reconstructed hall of the cathedral. I think it's not even worth mentioning that the most beautiful photos of our trip were taken near St. Sophia Cathedral.
Further, our group went down the mountain and ended up near the Polotsk Collegium, where we were told the story that, like more than two centuries ago, one of the main curiosities of Polotsk. In the 16th century, King Stefan Batory opened a Jesuit collegium in Polotsk, where he invited teachers from Europe with a progressive outlook on life to teach. One of them was the Austrian Gabriel Gruber, a man endowed with the talents of an architect, mathematician, mechanical engineer, theologian, painter, musician and linguist, fluent in seven languages. One of the main curiosities of Polotsk is the so-called mechanical head, created by an outstanding scientist, General of the Jesuit Order Gabriel Gruber (1740–1805). He was gifted in sciences and arts. He was an excellent specialist in the field of mechanics and hydrodynamics. He understood architecture, mathematics and navigation. He knew Latin, Italian, French, German, Polish, Russian and Belarusian. A significant part of his life is connected with Polotsk: for more than 15 years he taught architecture and physics at the Polotsk Jesuit Collegium. Through his efforts, this educational institution expanded its scientific base and became a major technical center. The machines and mechanisms created by Gruber and under his leadership were used in the educational process and amazed the imagination of the guests of the collegium. Gabriel Gruber created the first mechanical head in Belarus. According to historians, Grubert's head was an old man with moving eyes and lips and long gray hair. The sage communicated only with polite people: to ask him a question, it was necessary to say: "Greetings, let me ask."
Сегодня мудрый старец вновь удивляет теперь уже жителей XXI века: голова воссоздана в Полоцком коллегиуме – учебной площадке Полоцкого государственного университета. Проект реконструкции разработал доцент кафедры архитектуры Полоцкого университета Виктор Лукьяненко, а силиконовую модель выполнил белорусский скульптор Александр Прохоров.
После познавательной экскурсии по Полоцку мы отправились отдыхать в туристическо-оздоровительный комплекс «Лосвидо» расположенный около 35 км от Витебска. Где нас ждал вкусный ужин и полноценный отдых. Рядом с корпусом, где мы разместились большое красивое озеро с пирсом. Желающие ловили рыбу и наслаждались красотой вокруг.
Наутро мы отправились в Витебск – город, который возник на пути «из варяг в греки», второй древнейший город Беларуси после Полоцка, город музыкантов, поэтов и, конечно художников. Мы познакомились с историей, архитектурой и великолепными пейзажами, но в фокусе нашего внимания были старинные легенды, загадочные места и памятники исполняющие желания. Лично мне город над Западной Двиной показался невероятно притягательным и таинственным. Началась экскурсия у самых истоков города - на набережной древней реки Витьбы.
В исторической части города увидели величественные храмы, познакомились с застройкой XVIII-XIX веков. Затем посетили один из древнейших храмов Беларуси - Благовещенскую церковь.
Узнали, почему Ратуша с часами стала символом вольного города. На месте Верхнего замка нас ждали малые архитектурные формы: скульптуры Пушкина и сказочного старика Хоттабыча.
Узнали о витебском великане Федоре Махнове – самом высоком человеке, из когда-либо живших на земле.
Кроме того, рассмотрели дворец Губернатора, в котором останавливался Наполеон на 16 дней. Гуляли по главной пешеходной улице города по «местному Арбату». Также посетили музей истории Витебского народного художественного училища и Арт-центр Марком Шагалом. И конечно перед самым отъездом посетили Летний амфитеатр, где более 25 лет проводится фестиваль «Славянский базар в Витебске».
Это была замечательная экскурсия, знающий и любящий свою работу гид, прекрасный рассказчик обладающий глубокими знаниями о родной Беларуси и мировой истории, никаких сухих фактов. Два дня пролетели незаметно, все зарядились энергией родной земли и духовно обогатились. В завершении своего обзора хотим сказать, что если бы в Беларуси было «Золотое кольцо», то Полоцк и Витебск стали бы его украшением!
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МИНСК - ГЛУБОКОЕ - УДЕЛО - МОСАР
11 июня 2022 года ППО работников БИТУ организовал экскурсионную поездку для работников СФиО и АХС по маршруту Минск-Глубокое-Удело-Мосар-Минск. Тур включал в себя посещение самого озерного региона нашей страны. Мы побывали в вишневой столице Беларуси - городе Глубокое, познакомились с архитектурными памятниками города - Собором Рождества Богородицы 17 в. и костелом Св. Троицы 18 в. Затем посетили д. Удело с осмотром и посещением францисканского монастыря. Завершили знакомство с озерным краем посещением д. Мосар - белорусской «Столицы трезвости», на территории католического прихода Св. Анны располагается уникальный религиозно-природный комплекс с множеством цветов, уютных тропинок, скульптур и этнографическим музеем быта. Мы получили массу положительных эмоций, узнали много нового и интересного.
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МИНСК- оз. СВИТЯЗЬ - НОВОГРУДОК - МИР
On May 15, the friendly team of the BNTU MGASK BRANCH, headed by the director, went on an excursion along the route "MINSK - lake SVITYAZ - NOVOGRUDOK - MIR - MINSK, as part of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the educational institution. The first stop on the route was the wonderful lake Svityaz. When you see this beauty - you know - that's the source of Adam Mickiewicz's inspiration.
And then there was Novogrudok. Literary museum and old park, picturesque castle ruins and ancient temples. The tour guide's story was also interesting. We received not only vivid emotions, but also new knowledge.
The next stop on our journey is the World. Here we had a delicious lunch and the opportunity to survey the expanses and surroundings. Rested and happy, we returned home. The tour was a success!
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MINSK - ICC "STALIN LINE"
On April 16, 2022, a tourist trip took place along the route Minsk-IKK "Stalin Line"-Minsk as part of the Year of Historical Memory for members of the PPO of BNTU workers. "Stalin Line" is an open-air military history museum, which is located on the site of a former fortification. The exposition of the complex contains various types of weapons: tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, aviation, special military equipment.
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DEDICATED TO THE YEAR OF HISTORICAL MEMORY (Zhirovichi-Slonim-Synkovichi)
Our excursion was to the Holy Assumption Zhirovichi Monastery, which is located in the agricultural town of Zhirovichi, Grodno region. Along the way, you can admire the local scenery. The famous ZUBR is the visiting card of the country, standing on the border of Minsk and Brest regions. We were given a young seminarian as a guide. He took us around the monastery, showed us the temples, showed us where the monks live and work, took us through the cemetery, where the most prominent figures of the monastery, who made their spiritual contribution to its development, are buried. He spoke about the life and pressing problems of the monastery. This ancient monastery appeared here in the distant XVI century. The monastery was built on the very spot where, in the 15th century, local shepherd children found the Zhirovitskaya Icon of the Mother of God on a pear tree. A place where you need to visit and touch the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Zhirovichi. This is the only miraculous icon in the world. Two kilometers from the Zhirovichi Monastery is the Holy Spring. The two baths, male and female, are very well equipped, so there will be no problems with dipping. The water is oh-oh-very cold, running, from a spring. Near the chapel of St. Olga. In the village of Synkovichi we visited the church - the fortress of St. Michael in 1407. This is the oldest defense-type temple in Belarus, where you can find frescoes from 1213 inside. And here we are in Slonim. Slonim is also called "Polesye Athens" or "Estate of the Muses".Our path lies past the monument to Lenin. Ilyich, as always, with his raised hand points somewhere to lost souls, suggests the right path of development. Points the leader of the world proletariat: to the Transfiguration Cathedral. The city has narrow streets, miniature beautiful houses. Slonim has its own theater. Its building is located on a place associated with theatrical traditions, where the famous Oginsky Theater used to be.
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Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve
Recently BNTU workers - members of the trade union, visited the Berezinsky Reserve with an excursion - a wonderful place to get acquainted with nature. The Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve is a unique natural complex that includes an exceptional variety of different types of forests, meadows and swamps, a unique floodplain complex of the Berezina River, many large and small rivers, unique lakes.We were warmly welcomed by the Ecological Museum with a permanent exposition of the animal world. Animal exhibits are housed in three halls of the museum, two of which are exhibits with the participation of mammals, the third is dedicated to birds and fish. Some of the expositions are backed by colorful wall murals based on photographs of the reserve's landscapes. The expositions demonstrate the richness of the fauna that live in the wild nature of Belarus. In total, about 170 species of birds and 20 species of mammals are represented, each of which lives in the Berezinsky Reserve. The guide accompanied the tour, talking about the life and habitats of animals, their habits and customs. The reserve offers hiking trails that can be explored by the whole family. Hiking, horse riding, kayaking,There is a forest zoo on the territory of the reserve. Most of the animals there are in rehabilitation and live in spacious enclosures, preserving their natural habitat. The zoo presents the big European five: bison, elk, bear, wolf and lynx. Everyone noted that people communicate with animals with care and great love. What is the cost of feeding the bear Vasilisa with carrots and chocolate! The finale of this trip was the Maslenitsa animation program with games, fun and delicious treats.
February, 2022
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Gervyaty-Ostrovets-Soly-Smorgon-Zalesye
The trade union committee and employees of the BNTU are tireless people, eager for discoveries, broadening their horizons, inspiration under any weather conditions. So, on a November morning, under heavy rain turning into sleet, enthusiasts set off towards the Grodno region. Then everything is in order: Gervyaty-Ostrovets-Soly-Smorgon-Zalesye.The Belarusian Notre Dame is the Trinity Church in the village of Gervyaty. One of the highest churches in the country. An architectural masterpiece in the neo-Gothic style resembles the main temple of Paris. We learned that the family of Ignatius Domeiko put a lot of effort into the construction of this temple. Crossing the threshold, one gets the impression that you are on a huge ship. We were especially impressed by the ancient frescoes on the walls. Inside is a 100-year-old organ, which, unfortunately, we did not have a chance to hear. They say the acoustics are amazing. Outside the small windows of the church, the first snow was falling, decorating the already well-groomed park.
In the Grodno region, they visited the Ostrovets Church of Saints Cosmas and Demyan. Once upon a time, two brothers healed people completely free of charge - they did not take payment either in pennies or in food. Since then, they are considered the patrons of the family. This church is one of the few where divine services were held during the years of Soviet rule. The interior of the temple contains valuable sacred images, the interior itself looks modest. Further, our path lay in Soly. This place temporarily belonged to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Commonwealth, after which it became part of the Russian Empire. We looked inside the elegant church of the Virgin Mary Ruzhantsova. It is he who combines Faith, Hope and Love. Unusual fresco scenes did not leave us indifferent: the defense of the Yasnogorsk Monastery in Czestochowa in 1655 during the invasion of the Swedes into the territory of the Commonwealth, ancient icons in gilded salaries, the image of the Virgin Mary was written off, according to legend, from Barbara Radziwill. There is also a self-tight organ.
Our attention was drawn to an outstanding building, similar to a defensive fortification - the Smorgon Church of St. Michael the Archangel. For 400 years of its existence, the building has managed to serve Calvinists and Catholics, Orthodox and atheists. Everyone found shelter and comfort there. A simple and monolithic monument of architecture of the 16th century in the form of an octahedron with the tomb of princes in the dungeon.
Once upon a time, the Radziwill princes opened the Bear Academy in this place, where they taught obedience to little bear cubs. We saw a memorial stone and a sculptural composition. Despite the rain, we walked around the neighborhood - there is a whole complex of buildings and a park area.
On the way back, we were hospitably greeted by the estate of Michal Kleofas Ogiński in Zalesie. Like several centuries ago, balls are held in the house twice a year, musicians and aspiring poets perform in the main hall. Within these walls in the 19th century, a statesman, aristocrat, patriot, warrior, historian Michal Oginsky worked for almost 20 years. Polonaise No. 13 in A minor was written here. Who has forgotten, this is the well-known "Farewell to the Motherland". Our fellow countryman found eternal rest in Italy, in a tomb next to Michelangelo Buonarroti. This house-museum makes you want to stay longer and feel its comfort and care.
Upon arrival in the city, the wind and rain told everyone to wrap up and stay for some time in the atmosphere of romance of the 16th-19th centuries, and not to forget about the time that changes history.
Photo gallery
November, 2021
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Minsk-Kossovo-Ruzhany
On October 1 , 6, 2021, the trade union organized an excursion along the route Minsk-Kossovo-Ruzhany-Minsk for members of the shop trade union organization of workers of the SFiO. During the trip, we visited the estate of the Sapieha gentry in Ruzhany, examined fragments of their family estate, visited the residence of the Puslovsky gentry - the famous "Kossovsky Castle" , in the town of Merechevshchina - the birthplace of the national hero of Belarus Tadeusz Kosciuszka. The tour was very entertaining and informative, we had a great time!
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Minsk-Dolginovo-Novogrudok-Uselyub
On October 10, employees of the Scientific Library and employees of the FES made a trip to the Grodno region. The first stop was the Ratov snail farm in the village of Dolginovo. An interesting story and a tour for us was conducted by the owner Dmitry. And of course, there was a tasting. We had a great chance to treat ourselves to delicacies and appreciate their taste. Then, we arrived in the village of Shchorsy, Novogrudok district, where the estate of Chancellor I. L. Khriptovich was located. Unfortunately, the palace and park complex of the second half of the 18th century has not been preserved. We could only see the dilapidated building of the library and imagine that Adam Mickiewicz wrote the poem "Grazyna" in this place. The next stop was the village of Lubcha, and the opportunity to see the 400-year-old Radzivilov-Kishek castle. This is the only such building in Belarus, which is being restored by volunteers exclusively with the money of a charitable foundation. Then we found ourselves in a fairy tale, visited the only fantasy estate in Belarus near Novogrudok , in the village of Litovka. Everything around seemed a little unreal, strange and alien. This is the most unusual place where you get the best photos. The last stop was a visit to the church of St. Casimir in the agricultural town Vselyub. This is the oldest surviving Catholic church in Belarus. The temple contains unique sculptures of saints who help those who pray. And a pleasant end to the tour was a tea party with homemade, delicious pastries. This is where our trip ended, but left a lot of positive impressions.
