ALBARUTHENIA: Mir - Brest - Bialowieza Forest - Father Christmas' Residence, 2 days
(conducted in Russian, audio guides in English in the museums)
2 days/1 night
You will see wonderful Bialowieza Forest, picturesque Father Christmas' Residence, the majestic castle in Mir and the world famous monument - Brest Fortress...
The tour price includes:
Hotel accommodation
Meals: 1 buffet breakfast + 2 lunches
Transport service
Excursions (all entrance tickets included):
• Mir Castle walk-around
• Brest Sightseeing Tour
• Audio guides in the museums (if available)
• Visit of the Brest Fortress
• Excursion to Bialowieza Forest
• Visit of the Museum of Nature
• Visit of the Father Frost's Estate
Viapol souvenirs and relevant city maps
TOUR PROGRAMME
DAY 1 - Drive from Minsk to Brest. Arrival in Mir in 2 hours. The majestic MIR CASTLE listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site was built in the XVI century, its bright architectural look, mighty walls and towers, colorful courtyard leave a lasting impression. We will have some time to walk around the castle and then - drive to Brest. Arrival in Brest. Lunch at the restaurant. You will visit THE BREST FORTRESS (built in 1942) which left its mark in history twice: in 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed in the White Palace of the Brest fortress, ending the war between Soviet Russia and Germany; and it is the place where the brave soldiers held the fort during the first days of the Great Patriotic War. The Memorial Complex "Brest Hero-Fortress" includes forts, bastions, barracks and sculptural compositions. You will visit the MUSEUM OF THE FORTRESS (www.brest-fortress.by) located in the Citadel - the old barrack in the centre of the fortress. Hotel check-in. Free time. In the evening you will get a chance to see how a lamplighter dressed in the form of Peter the Great's time lights retro-lamps, you can make a picture with him - for luck. Overnight stay in Brest.
DAY 2 - Buffet breakfast. Hotel check-out. BREST sightseeing tour. Brest is the old city in Belarus at the border with Poland (first it was mentioned in the Primary Chronicle in 1019!). The city has long and rich history: it was Brest to be granted the Magdeburg Law the first of all the Belarusian towns; there the Union of Brest was contracted in 1596, according to which the Roman-Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church were united; a lot of outstanding people lived there. In 1921 Brest was annexed to the Polish Republic, in 1939 it became part of the USSR. You will see the cultural heritage of this city, its old and modern monuments and temples, walk down its main street. LUNCH. On the way to Bialowieza Forest we will make a break in Kamyanyets where the magnificent 30-meter high Tower of Kamyanyets built in 1276 is located. Bialowieza Forest listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site is a National reservation, where rich plant life and amazing landscape are combined. Here grows the highest fir-tree in Europe, here live powerful aurochs and a great number of animal species. A lot of famous people are associated with this place - brothers Tyszkiewicz and Tyzenhaus, Napoleon and Nicholas II… You will visit the MUSEUM OF NATURE with its amazing exhibitions, FATHER FROST'S ESTATE with numerous buildings and surprises… The Estate is located deep in Bialowieza Forest, where the feedboxes for aurochs are settled. Here you will find the mansions of Father Frost and Snow Maiden, the storage of Father Frost's presents "Skarbnitsa" and a mill. You will visit open-air cages with animals and after that you will have free time when you can make some pictures or buy some souvenirs made of wood, clay or straw. Return to Minsk ~10 p.m.
Distance: Minsk-Mir 100 km, Minsk-Brest 350 km, Brest-Bialowiezha Forest 60 km
Starting point: 8.00, Belarus Hotel*** - Minsk, 15 Storozhovskaya str. End of tour: Belarus Hotel***
