Small and cozy Braslav is located 250 kilometers from Minsk and only 15 kilometers from the Lithuanian border. The sights of the city and its environs are an ancient and full of mysteries settlement, a beautiful church, an old brick mill and, of course, lakes.
History and heraldry
The city of Braslav with a population of ten thousand people is located in the north of the country. From all sides it is surrounded by forests and picturesque lakes, due to which, by the way, Belarus is often called “blue-eyed”. This city is ancient, with its rich history. He had a chance to see and experience a lot in his lifetime.
Already in the 9th century, the first settlement was formed here. The first written mention of Braslav dates back to 1065. In the XIV century, the city became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and in 1500 received the Magdeburg right.
The 17th and 18th centuries were not easy for the city and its inhabitants. As a result of numerous wars, Braslav was repeatedly destroyed. In 1795 the city became part of the Russian Empire, and in 1922 it was again under the rule of Poland. In 1944, Soviet troops ousted the Germans from Braslav and occupied the town.
What interesting things can today's Braslav show to a visiting tourist? The sights of the city are not only historical and architectural objects, but also natural monuments.
In addition, the real highlight of this locality is its coat of arms, which many associate with Masons. On it you can really see the image of the eye in the blue triangle. However, it is a symbol of "divine supervision" and in this case protects the city and its inhabitants from various troubles and misfortunes.
The city in the Vitebsk region today is an important recreational and tourist center of Belarus. The mild climate, clean air and lakes full of fish attract thousands of tourists every year.
What could be interesting about Braslav himself? The places of interest that every tourist should definitely visit are listed below:
- castle hill fort;
- Church of the Nativity;
- Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
- water mill of the beginning of the 20th century;
- building of Narbut hospital;
- local history museum;
- museum of culture and traditions;
- park "Belmont";
- healing spring Okmenitsa;
- old Christian cemetery of the XIX-XX centuries.
Castle Hill - a place of legends and mysteries
An ancient settlement is located on a low 14-meter hill between the lakes Novyata and Drivyaty. Here you can still see the remains of fortifications of the IX-XII centuries. The origin of Braslav himself is connected with this place.
Castle Hill impresses not so much with preserved fragments of earthen ramparts and fortifications, but with stunning views that open from its gentle top. There are small wooden gazebos designed for outdoor recreation.
At the top of the Castle Hill there is a commemorative block, indicating that Braslav began here. Nearby is the grave of the local doctor and philanthropist Stanislav Narbut, marked with a high obelisk. He built and opened the first public hospital in the city with his own money.
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
Right under the Castle Hill you can see other sights of Braslav. Among them is the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God, built in the 1820s.
The sacral building was built in the neo-Romanesque style, using the traditional technique for the Baltic region of alternating red brick and stone boulders in the masonry. A valuable relic is kept inside the temple - the icon of the Mother of God of Braslav, which is shown to visitors exclusively on holidays.
It is known that during the Nazi occupation of the city, the rector of the church Mieczysław Akreits was shot by the Germans. In the 1950s, the church was turned into a grain warehouse, but two years later it was returned to parishioners.
Mill and hospital Narbut
In the historical part of Braslav, several more ancient beautiful buildings have been preserved. One of them is a massive one made of brick and stone. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century and now serves as a museum.
Another interesting building can be seen in the city - this is the Narbut hospital, which has already been discussed above. The talented doctor Stanislav Narbut built a hospital in Braslav that meets all the requirements of European medicine. Within its walls, he performed dozens of complex operations, saving the lives of both adults and children. The red building of the hospital is located directly under the Castle Hill and is distinguished by a discreet, but rather refined brick wall decor. Now this building houses an Orthodox monastery.
Virgin purity and idyll of the Braslav Lakes
In the story about the tourist sites of the Belarusian city, it is impossible not to mention the reservoirs that surround it. Braslav Lakes is a group of reservoirs and a national park with a total area of 130 square kilometers. A great place to relax and observe wildlife. In total, there are 70 reservoirs of different sizes. The largest of them are Drivyaty, Snudy, Tsno, as well as Lake Strusto. On the shore of the latter, by the way, there is a spring Okmenitsa with healing mineral water.
Braslav lakes attract a large number of tourists and vacationers, especially in summer. On their shores there are modern recreation centers, campsites and cottages, camping sites for tents. You can enjoy the picturesque panoramas of the lakes to the fullest by climbing Mount Mayak, where a wooden observation deck is equipped especially for tourists.
Finally
Braslav is a small town in the northwestern part of Belarus, which is surrounded on all sides by coniferous forests and lakes with crystal clear water. Thanks to these natural resources, it has become a popular resort center.
In the city itself, you should definitely visit several interesting places and attractions. Among them are the Castle Hill with the remains of ancient ramparts, the neo-Romanesque church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, the water mill and Stansislav Narbut's hospital, and the local history museum. After examining all these objects, you can have a wonderful rest on the shores of one of the Braslav lakes.
Braslav from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Braslav.
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History paragraph
Braslav, located in the north-west of Belarus, on the shores of the picturesque Lake Drivyaty, was born a very long time ago. According to experts, already in the 9th century, a Balto-Slavic settlement was located on the site of the modern city. In documentary sources, it is mentioned under the name Bryachislavl, apparently, on behalf of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav Izyaslavich, who built the first fortifications on the castle hill. Like other Belarusian lands, in the 13th century Bryachislavl became part of the growing power of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and became the hereditary possession of the Grand Duke Gediminas, and then his son Yavnut. At the very beginning of the 16th century, the city received the Magdeburg Right from Grand Duke Alexander Jagiellonchik - a rarity and honor at that time.
The history of Braslav is full of terrible pages - the city was repeatedly captured, burned, rebuilt and re-occupied. Especially went to the center of the Braslav Lakes during the Nazi occupation.
The 17th and 18th centuries were difficult for Braslav. Like a significant part of the Commonwealth, the city became the scene of fierce battles between Poland, Russia, Sweden and other states. During this period, Braslav was completely destroyed several times. After 1793, when the third partition of Poland took place, it became part of the Russian Empire. During the Patriotic War, it was occupied by French troops under the command of the legendary Marshal Ney. Later, due to the Bolshevik coup and the conclusion of the shameful Brest Peace, it was occupied by German troops, after some time it was annexed to Poland, and in 1939 it was again captured, but by the Soviet army. During the years of German occupation, about 2 thousand Jews were shot here. Today Braslav is one of the most popular tourist centers in Belarus.
How to get there
Braslav can be reached by train. The nearest major stations are "Polotsk", "Druya", "Sharkovschina" (hereinafter - by taxi or regular bus). There are also frequent buses from Minsk.
By car, you can take the M1 highway, after Smolensk, turn onto the P-120 to Rudnya and move to Vitebsk along the P-20. Further to Polotsk and Miory. The distance from Moscow is about 700 km.
Entertainment and attractions of Braslav
The most ancient place of Braslav is the settlement on the Castle Hill. As mentioned above, it was here that the prince of Polotsk Bryachislav founded a fortress on the border of his possessions. The mountain offers a beautiful view of the cozy town and the wide expanse of Lake Drivyaty. Here you can see wooden statues of ancient inhabitants, as well as schemes of the ancient settlement.
In addition, there are many beautiful churches in Braslav, and, due to the historical features of Belarus, both Orthodox and Catholic. It is definitely worth visiting the Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, built in 1897 in the then popular pseudo-Russian style. Not to mention the Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. It was built back in 1824, but later rebuilt in neo-Romanesque style due to the fact that it could no longer accommodate all believers.
The history of the church is connected with the tragic events of World War II. The rector of the temple Mieczysław Akreits was executed by the Nazi administration of the city for helping the Jews. The temple was closed in the 50th year, but was soon given back to the faithful.
In the church there is an icon of the Mother of God, called the "Queen of the Lakes", and is considered the patroness of the city.
There are also interesting monuments of civil architecture of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in the city. For example, the building of the former zemstvo hospital, the railway station and the water mill. Of course, one of the main attractions of the Braslav region is the unique Braslav Lakes National Park. This place is the land of amazingly beautiful landscapes, centuries-old forests full of animals, and most importantly, wonderful peace and quiet. You can enjoy which you can in one of the sanatoriums or recreation centers - they are here, fortunately, for every color and taste.
Braslav is the center of the Braslav Lakes National Park (and these are 60 lakes, ancient forests and hundreds of rare species of animals and plants). This is the land of picturesque sunsets, beautiful legends, reflections by the water surface or tear-off rest in a cheerful company. People know more about the beauty of the famous lakes than about the city itself, which has turned from a border fortress into a tourist center - and there is also something to see in it. We tell you all the details.
Despite the growing popularity, getting to Braslav is not so easy. Distance from - 240 km, from - 230 km.
Fans of railway transport have only one (and not the easiest) option: take the night train 625B from Minsk to Druya, and after 1 hour and 20 minutes by a suburban bus, get to their destination. Thus, this route will take 11 hours and 42 minutes, and this is only one way! A train ticket costs BYN 8 (€4).
A much easier option is to get to Braslav by intercity bus. From Minsk to Braslav there are 5 buses daily (plus an additional bus on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays), on average the trip lasts 4 hours. Ticket prices vary between BYN 14-16 (€ 7-8). Check the schedule.
The fastest and most comfortable transport to Braslav is minibus. On the way, it takes only 3 hours, and costs BYN 10 (€ 5).
Braslav, as a very practical resort town, is well prepared to welcome tourists. You have a wide choice of accommodation, from a room rented for the night to hotels and farmsteads.
A hotel awaits you near the bus station "Zezny yard" (Gagarin St., 8) . This hotel is a popular destination due to its location, so bookings must be made in advance. Residents can use free wi-fi, lie on the city beach nearby, go to the museum. There is also a place for lunch - a restaurant "Lake". Room prices - BYN 14-34 (€ 7-18).
A very modern and comfortable option, although not the most budgetary possible, is hotel complex Drivyaty (Rybkhoznaya st., 12) . Here you will find the whole set for recreation: barbecue facilities, private beach, hot tub, restaurant, bar, wi-fi. The cost of a room per day is BYN 63 (€ 33).
The easiest way to spend the night in Braslav with minimal financial losses is to rent a room. Look for options and. For such housing you will pay BYN 10-14 (€ 5-7) per day, but in summer, with a large flow of tourists, the price may increase.
Another convenient accommodation option for tourists is recreation centers. In addition to a place to live, you will get a lot of ready-made tours and excursions: when you get tired of lying on the beach and want to be active, you can always rush on an excursion or climb a rope town. You can take a look at the turret "Braslav lakes" (Rybkhoznaya st., 15) - convenient and inexpensive option. You can live in traditional double, triple or quadruple rooms or - a little extreme - in a tent city.
You can look for other hotels. And for tired city dwellers, we will recommend farmsteads: you will live in a house on the lake, meet the locals, fish on a boat and relax in a bathhouse. Choose, just remember that this option is suitable for motorists - most of the estates are located outside the city. However, if you plan to see all the sights of these places, you still have to travel around the surroundings.
Places with history
The historical birthplace of Braslav is Zamkovaya Gora - an ancient settlement in the very center of the city. A legend about the founding of Braslav is associated with this place - a story about Prince Dvin, his wife Druya and their daughter Dryva (you can find echoes of these names in local names). Now the heroes of this legend can be recognized in wooden idols on Castle Hill. A legend is a legend, but here's a historical fact for you: Prince Bryachislav of Polotsk founded a border fortress on Castle Hill. The city was first mentioned in 1065. Now the mountain offers an excellent view of the city: from here you can see 2 lakes, a church, a church and numerous houses of Braslav residents.
Doctor Stanislav Narbut was buried on Castle Hill, a monument was erected in his honor with a lantern on top of a ten-meter stele - a symbol of the doctor's concern for his patients. Stanislav Narbut founded a hospital in Braslav, which worked for 90 years, after which a convent was located there.
Not far from the castle is the Church of the Nativity of Mary of God. Previously, there was a wooden church on this site, founded by the Vilna voivode Manivid. However, during a great fire in the 15th century, it burned down, and it was rebuilt only in the 19th century. There are also churches in the nearby settlements of Miory, Slobodka and Ikazn, and there is an interesting connection between these four buildings. From the top of each of them you can see the tops of the other three. If trouble happened, the inhabitants of the city or village could light a fire on top of the building and thus signal the neighboring settlements - and from three sides they were already in a hurry to help. By the way, in the Braslav Church you can buy souvenirs related to the city: postcards, magnets and even T-shirts are among them. In addition to the church, there is also Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, built in 1897.
Belmont Park- a place with a rich history. Whoever has been here! In 1812, the headquarters of Barclay de Tolly was located here, later Alexander I, the Neapolitan king Murat dropped in here, the Decembrists A.V. Poggio and M.S. Lunin met here, so it's time for you to go here! Now in the park you can see the ruins of the palace, the ancient chapel and hundred-year-old trees - enjoy a leisurely walk.
18 km from Braslav is located agricultural town of Opsa. Here is preserved estate Platerov built in 1904. During its existence, the estate managed to be the main residence of the Platers, a boarding school and star in the film "Calm" based on Turgenev's novel. Now the building is under reconstruction - they plan to turn it into an elite hotel.
A couple of years ago in Braslav restored "Wish Fulfillment Road": to make your wish come true, you need to walk along the paving stones under the metal arch, decorated with the coat of arms of the city.
If you pass near the city of Miory, be sure to turn to the village of Prudniki and try to find a waterfall (55.760301, 27.616554) on the river Vyata. Previously, there were water mills that generated electricity. Later they were destroyed, and travelers got another place for photo shoots, admiring and relaxing. Getting there is not so easy: ask the locals for directions.
Lakes and their legends
As a rule, in all the legends about Lake Braslav, a beautiful girl is sure to drown. Whatever lake you come to, ask the locals how it was formed - and instead of a scientific explanation about the melting of the glacier, you will hear how someone drowned there.
legend about Gulf of Saint Teresa Lake Nedrovo is no exception. It says that a beautiful and smart girl named Teresa lived in the Braslav region, who treated all people with conspiracies and herbs, which is why she was called a saint. Her death did not seem to the residents as a mere coincidence, and people explained this event by the fact that "God takes bright people early."
Another interesting legend is connected with education. Lake Strusto and islands on it. This story is about the beautiful Strusto and her lover Shovo, who went to war and did not return. The girl did not survive the collapse of her beloved, she cried a whole lake, and then she drowned herself in it.
And here is the story about the name of the lakes South Volos has physical evidence, and not just a beautiful legend in the memory of residents. Now many scientists believe that the name of these lakes is associated with the ancient pagan god Veles - the owner of the kingdom of the dead, the patron of animal husbandry, poetry and wealth. This opinion appeared after the “Veles Stone” was found on the shore of one of the lakes - the altar of a pagan deity.
Braslav is a small town in the Vitebsk region of Belarus, the administrative center of the Braslav region. The main architectural landmark of the city of Braslav is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, built here in 1824. Later, in 1897, the church in the town of Braslav was expanded, very significantly rebuilt in neo-Romanesque style, and became the way it can be seen today. It was the new building of this church that was consecrated in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. In 1950, the church was closed by the Soviet authorities and converted into a granary, but already in 1953, believers were able to return the church to the parish. However, services in the temple resumed only in 1967, after a thorough repair and restoration of the Braslav Church. Since then, the temple has never been closed again and has gone through several more stages of restoration work. As a result, today the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the city of Braslav is a functioning church, which is in excellent condition.
The church in the city of Braslav is built of natural stone and unplastered brick. An interesting architectural feature of the temple is that the space between large stones is filled not just with lime mortar, but is lined with small fragments of stones that form various patterns. Outwardly, the result resembles a mosaic. This element of the decor of the church in our time is called: "Braslav Mosaic". Moreover, this technique was implemented differently on those parts of the temple walls that were erected in 1824 and in 1897. Therefore, in our time, the border between the old and new parts of the church in the city of Braslav is clearly visible.
In the church in the city of Braslav there is a functioning organ, which is considered one of the best in the entire region. This organ was created at the beginning of the 20th century in Krakow. The sound of the organ and the acoustics of the temple itself leave an unforgettable impression, and the locals are justly proud of this musical instrument. However, the main feature of the church in Braslav is that it houses the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Braslav, widely revered by Christians of various denominations.
The Mother of God of Braslav is also considered the patroness of the famous Braslav Lakes and the entire Braslav region, and for this reason the miraculous image is also known as the “Icon of the Mother of God the Queen of Lakes”. Another name for this icon, which is the least common, is “Monastic Icon of the Mother of God”. This name is connected with the fact that until the beginning of the 19th century, this icon was kept in a Uniate male monastery located on an island formed on one of the local lakes. However, in 1832 a fire broke out in the monastery. All the monastery buildings were completely burned down, only the icon survived. After that, the icon of the Mother of God was transferred to the church in the city of Braslav. In our time, the icon is in a central place in the main wooden altar of the temple. By the way, this altar was created in 1974.
The church and the icon in Braslav have been attracting many travelers and pilgrims to these places for several centuries. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, on the basis of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the city of Braslav, a regional sanctuary was additionally formed. In addition, in 2009 the icon of the Mother of God of Braslav was crowned with papal crowns. The Braslav icon became the first crowned icon in the Vitebsk region and the seventh in Belarus. These events emphasized the special status of the church and the icon for Belarusian Catholics and provoked an additional flow of tourists and pilgrims from different countries to the city of Braslav. Thus, the church in the city of Braslav is undoubtedly a valuable architectural, historical and cultural monument of the 19th century, as well as an important landmark of Belarus. Well, the icon of the Mother of God the Queen of Lakes is an important historical and cultural value and a religious relic.
There are many other attractions in the city of Braslav. First of all, we note the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This temple was built in 1897 and is an architectural monument of the retrospective-Russian style of the late 19th century. The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in the city of Braslav was not closed during the Soviet era. At the moment, the church continues to function and is in good condition. The church houses several unique icons from the 18th and 19th centuries. Presumably, they were painted by local masters, and these icons were transferred to the Braslav Church from a church in the village of Druya that was closed in Soviet times. Another decoration of the church in the city of Braslav is a wooden carved three-tiered iconostasis, created in the 1980s.
The church in Braslav is located very close to the church. The small square between these temples was once the central (market) square of the whole city. There is now parking at this site. Together, the Braslav churches form a very interesting, beautiful, and most importantly typical for Belarus (but unique for other regions) architectural ensemble of the historical center of a small town. Of course, the church in the city of Braslav is a historical and cultural value and an interesting landmark of Belarus.
The next attraction worthy of the attention of tourists, travelers and pilgrims is the St. Panteleimon Convent, which was founded in the city of Braslav in 2006 as a structural subdivision of the Polotsk Savior Euphrosyne Convent. This monastery is located in the building of the former zemstvo hospital, which was built in 1906.
In the city of Braslav there are also quite a few other buildings that can be attributed to the historical urban development. Most of these buildings date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these buildings are made in the so-called Zakopane style, which makes them unique and valuable. All these small attractions perfectly complement the very good tourist atmosphere of the city of Braslav, you can spend a lot of time here with pleasure.
Another very important cultural, historical and archaeological monument of the city of Braslav is the Castle Hill, or, in other words, the settlement. This settlement belongs to the 9th century. Castle Hill is located in the historical center of the city of Braslav, directly opposite the church and the church, which in turn are located at the foot of this mountain. The settlement "Castle Hill" in Braslav is a flat hill of impressive size with steep slopes, and is one of the largest castles in Belarus.
It is the Castle Hill, towering over the entire settlement, and two temples, which also stand out against the background of the low-rise buildings of the city, and form the panorama of the entire Braslav. The last fragments of any historical buildings previously located on Castle Hill were completely lost during the fire of 1859, then the settlement acquired a close to modern look. Nowadays, several modern monuments, thematic sculptures and pavilions have been installed on the mountain. Nevertheless, a visit to the Castle Hill is included in the mandatory tourist program of all travelers arriving in the city of Braslav, because it is from here that the best views of the stunning surrounding landscapes, overflowing with blue lakes, open up.
The city of Braslav is very popular with tourists. But it should be noted that he owes this not at all to architectural sights, but to the nature surrounding him. The fact is that there are a lot of lakes near the city of Braslav, and some of them are very large. We are talking about the famous Braslav lakes. There are so many of these lakes, and they are located so densely, that sometimes one gets the impression that the city of Braslav itself is located almost on an island, although in reality this is not so. Among the lakes near Braslav there are the most diverse ones.
For example, the largest local lake, along the shore of which the city of Braslav is located, is called Drivyaty and has very, very gentle shores and warms up well in summer. This lake also has several sandy beaches, so Lake Drivyaty is popular among tourists as a place for a beach holiday. By the way, the proper infrastructure has been created on this lake, there are cafes and bars, rental of boats and catamarans, and much more. Also, this and other lakes near the city of Braslav give tourists and travelers the opportunity to go fishing very well. In the city of Braslav itself, of course, there is all the necessary tourist infrastructure, for example: shops, banks, hotels, farmsteads and much more. It is thanks to the opportunity to have a good swim, great fishing and just have a great rest among the beautiful landscapes of the lake region that most tourists come to the city of Braslav.
