new! excursion program Minsk – Mound of Glory – Khatyn – Stalin Line – Minsk – State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War

05.07.2010

Day 1

-    Pickup at the railway station (at the airport)

                  -    Breakfast.

 

City tour of MinskMinsk – the capital of Belarus”.

During the tour you will find out a lot about the rich history of Minsk, you will walk along quiet, secluded small streets of the old city, which unexpectedly will lead you out to the wide modern avenues. You will find out why the city with a thousand-year history is called a young city. You will plunge into the coziness of public gardens and parks. You will also find out what price Minsk has paid during the Great Patriotic War. You will visit the historical centre of the city: Independence Avenue, Independence Square where the House of Government and St. Simon and Helen Church (also known as the Red Church) is situated, Victory Square, Y. Kupala Park, the Isle of Tears, Troitskoye Predmestye (Trinity Suburb), Cathedral of Holy Spirit, City Hall, the Upper Town. The route covers main streets and squares of the capital.

-          Check in.

-          Lunch

Khatyn – Mound of Glory.

This excursion across Belarus familiarize you with the architectural and sculptural complex “Khatyn” – the memorial to the victims of fascism on the territory of Belarus during World War II. It is a tragedy of a Belarusian village, which was burnt to ashes together with all its dwellers in spring of 1943. Mound of Glory is a monument to the courage and heroism of the soldiers of the Soviet Army, who have liberated Belarus from the German-fascist invaders in 1944. The overall height of the monument reaches 70 m. On the top of the Mound there are four closed 35-meter height obelisks in the form of bayonets which symbolize the battle brotherhood of warriors of four fronts, who have liberated the Belarusian land.

-     Transfer to hotel.

Day 2

-     Breakfast at the hotel

-     Check out.

In Belarus there are many medieval castles and fortresses from the frontier fortress zone of the Russian Empire. There are also concrete fortifications of World War I, fortifications on the border of 1939, so-called Molotov Line. But the most imposing fortification ensemble is the reinforcement areas of the famous Stalin Line, which crossed the whole territory of the former USSR from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. Four reinforcement areas of the former Stalin Line are located on the territory of Belarus.

Excursion to the historical and cultural complex “Stalin Line”

The memorial complex is dedicated to heroic defense of Belarusian territory against German-fascist invaders. On the area of nearly 40 hectares the places of fire battles were restored: artillery batteries were equipped and dummies of the armed fighters in the form of Red Army men of 30-40th years were installed in pillboxes. The front-line crossing and military hardware museum are recreated. The Military Historical museum has the most complete exposition of all military equipment in Belarus, adopted in various years, since wartime - defense technology, artillery, tanks, aircraft and small arms. The museum has a unique exposition of Russian, Polish and German armor domes, remained since World War I.

For an additional fee (on preliminary application) those who wish (in groups of 10 people), can go for a ride on the “armor” to feel the power of the military machine. Also, you can shoot from real guns of the Great Patriotic War: submachine gun PPSh, MP-40/41, assault rifles MP-44, Mosin’s rifle, machinegun Maxim, etc.

-          Lunch

Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War

Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War was opened to the public on the 22nd of October 1944, only three months after the liberation from the German-fascist invaders. Born in the flames of war, among the ruins, it became the first museum of the history of the last war and today it is the largest repository of military relics in Belarus and one of the main centers of the patriotic education of young citizens of our country. 

Now its fund totals more than 140,000 objects and documents. A unique collection of the museum – handwritten journals and self-made weapons of Belarusian partisans - was granted the status of historical and cultural value of the category "1" by The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus on the 19 August 2009.

-Departure to the railway station.