About Belarus. Which countries does Belarus border with? What does Belarus border with?
The first settlers began to develop the Belarusian territories already in the Late Paleolithic era, but the foundations of statehood were laid here only in the 9th century AD. In the 11th century, the Belarusian principalities tried to get out from under the influence of Kyiv, which at that time remained the main owner of these lands. But since the “mother of Russian cities” was in no hurry to peacefully part with her own lands, only the Principality of Polotsk managed to achieve independence.
In the 13th century, part of the Belarusian territories became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which, tired of the claims of the Livonian Order, entered into a union with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 16th century. It was thanks to this union that Polish traditions were actively implanted in the country for the next two hundred years. In the 18th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was divided between Russia, Austria and Prussia. Thus, a new stage of development began for Belarus - as part of the Russian Empire.
The 19th century was a time of transformation for the country and the emergence of a national movement. And although Poland still tried to defend its own interests through uprisings, its influence on Belarus gradually faded away. With the outbreak of the First World War, contenders for the Belarusian territories were again found. At first, the north-west of the country was occupied by Germany. After the October Revolution, the Poles tried to return here again. Ultimately, the USSR won, which Belarus joined in 1922.
The most heroic and difficult period awaited the country during the Great Patriotic War. Belarus took the first blow from the German army and turned into an occupation zone for several years. In 1986, local residents had to endure another tragedy. As a result of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, part of the territory was contaminated with radioactive waste and became uninhabitable. Belarusians celebrated their own independence in 1991, and in 1994, the permanent president of the country, A.G. Lukashenko, took the helm of state.
Population and language
About 9.5 million people live in Belarus, of which almost 2 million are Minsk residents. The second largest city in the country after the capital is Gomel: 536 thousand inhabitants. The official languages of the Republic are Belarusian, also known as “Belarusian language,” and Russian. Most often you can hear a conversation in the Great Mighty in Minsk and other large cities, but the further you go into the province, the more conversations there are in Mov and Trasyanka (a hybrid of Russian and Belarusian dialects).
The attitude of Belarusians towards tourists is generally friendly. True, recently more and more residents have been complaining about the unfounded snobbery of travelers from Russia. Accordingly, if you don’t want to reinforce the stereotype of a Russian asshole in the minds of locals, behave correctly and politely. And one more thing: Belarusians really don’t like it when their country is called in the Soviet style – “Belarus”. Keep this in mind and replace the usual word with a more politically correct one - “Belarus”.
Sights of Belarus
Belarus is a country where you will have to constantly be torn between man-made attractions and protected natural areas. Both of them are not inferior to each other in scale and make an equally unforgettable impression on everyone who decides to take a sightseeing tour of the Republic.
Castles, historical monuments, memorial complexes
The castles of Belarus are not elegant, but completely useless from a defensive point of view, Versailles. Local estates are, first of all, military bastions, secondly, food and weapons caches, and only thirdly, the residence of the ruling family and the cultural center of the principality. The most convenient in terms of proximity to the capital is the architectural heritage of the unforgettable Radziwills and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The history of the park and palace complex, frankly speaking, is not poor: from time to time Nesvizh was set on fire, then restored, so as not to leave another stone unturned from the fortification. Another “UNESCO member” is located in the Grodno region. , also known as the Mir Castle and Park Complex, is one of the most mysterious buildings of the 16th century. So if you were unable to “catch at home” the Black Virgin of Nesvizh, whose spirit lives in the castle of the same name, in Mir you can correct this omission and try to meet the White Virgin or, as local guides affectionately call her, Sonechka.
The Krevsky and Golshansky castles, as well as the palace in Ruzhany, were a little less fortunate than Nesvizh and Mir in the sense that for some reason the Belarusian authorities did not have the desire to restore them. Nevertheless, it makes sense to look at these majestic ruins, fortunately, in terms of the number of ancient legends and mystical tales, they are not inferior to their more fortunate brothers. Golshansky Castle, in addition to the “deep legends of antiquity,” can also delight you with an annual festival, as well as powerful energy. Tourists interested in knightly culture and medieval festivals will be interested in settling in the area of the Lida Castle. Well, for the most sophisticated aesthetes, an excursion to Kossovo Castle is suitable. This is certainly not the oldest of buildings, but it has an interesting biography and is in a style that is completely atypical for the country.
Polish dominance left on Belarusian soil not only memories of the oppression of the local population, but also a number of priceless architectural monuments. Mostly from the Poles, Belarusians inherited churches, of which the guidebooks unanimously consider the Church of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary in Pinsk, the Church of Francis Xavier in Grodno and the Trinity Church in Volchin to be a must-see. All three buildings were built between the 17th and 18th centuries and are well preserved. The country also has plenty of Catholic churches from later periods, more elaborate in terms of decoration and built mainly in the neo-Gothic style.
Orthodox pilgrims will be interested in visiting the St. Boris-Gleb (Kolozha) Church in Grodno (12th century). Experts say that the temple has no analogues in terms of style. Indeed, the building looks nontrivial and mysterious. The Holy Dormition Zhirovichi Monastery and also can tell exciting chronicle stories.
The constant transfers of Belarusian territories from hand to hand also could not help but leave their mark on local architecture. There are no fewer military fortifications and citadels in the “land of cornflowers” than princely castles. The main must-sees in this niche are the Bobruisk and Brest fortresses. Both were erected in the 19th century, but they experienced the most terrible and heroic moments of their biography during the Great Patriotic War. Another monument dedicated to the victims of the fascist occupation is the Khatyn Memorial Complex. This is a kind of architectural requiem for all Belarusian villages burned by punitive forces along with their inhabitants.
Reserves and national parks
Ecotourism in Belarus is growing and thriving. The most mainstream route is with its relict tree species, bison and registered oaks, which are 5000 years old. By the way, the status of a reserve was granted to local territories 600 years ago by the Lithuanian Prince Jagiello. The good thing about the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve is that its visit can be timed to coincide with an excursion around the capital of Belarus. The park is located just 120 km from Minsk and it takes only an hour and a half to get there.
The Braslav Lakes Nature Reserve is an attraction of a different kind. Here you can catch river fish and take romantic selfies. The floodplain oak forests of the Pripyatsky National Park are often called the “Belarusian Amazon” and, in general, they are not exaggerating at all. The similarities between such distant natural areas are simply amazing. For the Narochansky Nature Reserve, Belarusians should thank the Valdai Glacier, which left 43 pristine lakes as a reminder of its own stay. Along with eco-parks, local forests deserve special mention, the generosity of which can be talked about endlessly. During the season, mushrooms and berries are transported from the pine and spruce wilds by tractor carts. This is confirmed by amateur photographs regularly posted by Belarusian villagers and tourists on social networks.
Museums
There are more than one and a half hundred museums in Belarus. Some of them are open at historical monuments such as the Mir Castle, the Rumyantsev Palace and the Brest Fortress, and some are classic city exhibitions. The largest exhibition halls, naturally, are in the capital - the national art and history museums, the Museum of Books on Independence Avenue.
Life hack for tourists: to save money on visiting Minsk exhibitions, buy or order a Guest Card on the official website, which provides free visits to city museums, and also serves as a pass for public transport.
Note to tourists: all ski centers in Belarus are open year-round. It’s just that with the beginning of spring they change the winter sports program to summer entertainment and hiking options, turning into classic recreation centers.
Belarusian cuisine
The country's national cuisine is everything grown in its native land and forest, generously seasoned with Belarusian and Polish-Lithuanian culinary traditions. Since ancient times, the local peasantry did not live well, so potatoes remain a truly popular vegetable among Belarusians in various variations: from potato pancakes and sorcerers to babka, pyzy and potato sausage.
But in the princely estates they were not keen on vegetarianism, thanks to which in modern cafes you can find such national delicacies as pyachisto (baked meat with potatoes), vereshchaka (sauce soup with ribs), kumpyachok (dry-cured ham), smazhanka (open pie with meat stuffing) and machanka (a variation of meat and vegetable stew stewed in a sauce made from flour and water). By the way, of all types of meat in Belarus they prefer pork. They eat the listed yummy with krambambula (honey tincture) and krupnik (strong alcohol with spices, honey and herbs), snacking on bread, which is baked with yeast-free sourdough and has a pleasant sour taste
For your information: the main “trick” of Belarusian dishes is long simmering in the oven and thorough frying, so it’s better not to ask for any “medium rare” steaks in a cafe serving national cuisine.
River fish in Belarus is also respected and people know how to work with it, so feel free to order Radziwill-style pike perch and stuffed eel at taverns. In addition, the top list of local must eats should include porcini mushrooms (marinated or fried in cream), kulaga (thick jelly made from wild berries), zhur (oatmeal stew), vantrobryanka (saltison made from offal).
You can taste truly Belarusian dishes in classic city eateries with national cuisine, chain restaurants “Vasilki”, where you can take food to go, as well as in agricultural estates, most of which have their own farmsteads and offer truly environmentally friendly food products.
Where to stay
Five- and four-star hotels in Belarus are located mainly in the capital and large regional centers, and these are both local varieties and representatives of international chains like Hilton and Marriott. The minimum cost of a double room in such places is 130 BYN (approximately 4000 RUB). Typically, rooms with minor defects, such as corner rooms, are rented out with such discounts.
In the provinces, most hotels either have no star rating at all or have a modest 2-3 stars. The most romantic and wealthy tourists can indulge in Radziwill style and book an overnight stay at the Mir Castle (page on booking.com) (200 BYN) or the Palace Hotel, which is located within the walls of the Nesvizh Castle - “only” 490 BYN for a luxury room -class.
If your bank card account only allows you to look at the castle apartments, but you really want atmosphere and national color, agricultural estates will help out. There are more than two thousand of them in Belarus. Usually these are nice rural houses, the owners of which, in addition to accommodation and meals, also offer a cultural and entertainment program: fishing, hiking in mushroom and berry fields, getting acquainted with rural life and folklore.
The option familiar to all Russians – renting an apartment from one of the locals (from 55 BYN per day) does not lose its relevance. You can apply for a place in a hostel in the “land of storks and bison” if you are traveling within the capital. There is only one hostel in Grodno, Gomel, Rogachev and Nesvizh, so it is not always possible to find free places in them. In other cities, there are no ultra-economical housing options at all, so in case of urgent financial need, it is better to find accommodation for the night on a couchsurfing site in advance.
Cellular communications and Internet
If you don’t want to connect roaming options to your own SIM card, you can choose any of the three local ones - MTS, Velcom or Life :). Mobile Internet services in Belarus are provided by all three telecom operators, but 4G speeds are available only in the capital and regional centers. In provincial cities you will have to be content with the 3G standard.
Connecting to Wi-Fi is easy in most city cafes, as well as hotels. If you need the Internet outside the walls of these establishments, Beltelecom prepaid Wi-Fi cards will help out. They operate in most cities of the Republic. The main thing is to find an accessible hotspot, which can be any “byfly WIFI” and “Beltelecom” point. Standard card denomination: 60 minutes (1.1 BYN), 180 minutes (1.65 BYN), 600 minutes (2.25 BYN), 1 day (2.55 BYN), 3 days (3.4 BYN), 5 days (4.75 BYN).
Good to know: to call outside the Republic of Belarus, you need to dial 8 - 10 - the code of the called country and only then enter the subscriber’s number.
Shopping
The vast majority of the assortment of stores in Belarus is locally produced (the call “Belarusian Buyer!” is in action). Usually, upon arrival in the country, Russians stock up on products made from natural flax, grown and harvested on Belarusian collective farms, and homemade knitwear, known since Soviet times from the Svitanok factory, as well as its local competitors - the brands Mark-Formel, Alesya, "Kupalinka". You can also take a closer look at the work of Belarusian couturiers. Clothes from designer brands Ivan Aiplatov, Sisters Parfenovich, Natasha Tsu Ran look no worse than the creations of emerging European fashion designers.
Fans of inexpensive perfumes will also be able to have a blast: the products of the Belarusian company Dilis-Cosmetic exactly copy the iconic aromas of perfume houses in France and Italy. If finances allow, you can look for some jewelry: jewelry from the Gomel factory “Kristall” and the Minsk brand Zorka are waiting for you. A good gift for yourself or someone close to you would be the “Luch” watch – yes, the same ones from the USSR, but in an updated design and with Swiss movements.
Please note: the tax free system in Belarus is valid for all foreigners, except residents of the EAEU. It's a shame, but these are the rules.
The operating hours of Belarusian shopping centers are from 9:00-10:00 to 21:00-22:00. Only food stalls and a variety of mini-markets are open 24 hours a day. By the way, about products: if you miss the disgraced jamon, prosciutto and parmesan, they are always on sale in Belarus. It is better for discount hunters to organize a shopping tour for the New Year holidays or on the eve of Black Friday, in which most large stores take part.
What to bring from Belarus
- Souvenir products: dolls and hats made of straw, baskets and dishes made of wicker, local ceramics.
- Confectionery products from the factories “Krasny Pishevik”, “Kommunarka”, “Spartak”. Must-buy: marshmallows, marshmallows and candies filled with wild berries.
- Bed linen set made of natural linen.
- Local vodka (garelka), as well as balms and herbal tinctures.
- Belarusian cosmetics - you are unlikely to find such low prices for creams, mascaras and lipsticks anywhere else.
Transport
Intercity transport in Belarus is represented by trains and buses. Both types are equally popular, but traveling by rail is always cheaper: take this into account if you are traveling long distances. Along with classic trains, business class trains run between Minsk and other major cities, offering passengers an increased level of comfort and tickets with a 25% premium.
Street in MinskYou can and should rent a car in Belarus, especially if you are planning a tour of the country with a stop at provincial places. It is better to look for rental offices in Minsk, as well as regional centers. The choice of companies is decent: there are both international companies (Avis Budget Europcar) and local offices. The set of documents for registering a rental is standard: a passport and an international license, provided that you already have a couple of years of driving experience.
The average cost of daily rent of an economy class car is about 100 BYN (about 3000 RUB). Rental companies accept both credit cards and cash. Paid parking and traffic jams are phenomena characteristic mainly of Minsk. In other cities of Belarus there are no difficulties with traffic flow; parking spaces are mostly free.
Money
Shops and shopping centers in the country only accept Belarusian rubles (BYN). 1 BYN is 30.69 RUB. It is better to change money upon arrival: the country is full of exchange offices and bank branches where Russian rubles, dollars and euros can be easily “translated” into local currency. Banks are open 6 days a week, except Sunday, from 9:00 to 18:00. As for exchange points, they are usually located at airports, railway and bus stations, in hotels and on central city streets.
You can pay with Visa and MasterCard in any shopping center and supermarket in Belarus. At the same time, when going to the market or to the rural hinterland, it is better to keep a supply of cash with you. If at the end of the trip you still haven’t managed to spend the local currency completely, it is better to hand it over to the bank. They will not take an exchange fee from the tourist, but they will most likely require a passport.
Safety
Belarus has repeatedly been included in the top ten safest countries in the world, so you can go here with confidence. Well, in particularly difficult situations, local law enforcement officers will always come to the rescue, who can be called by calling 102. There are no specific rules of behavior for travelers in the country. The main thing is to avoid smoking in public places or look for specially designated areas for this.
The fixed idea of the local authorities is to fight private individuals who trade in currency exchange. So, for your own safety, “convert” Russian rubles into Belarusian rubles at banks and official exchange offices. Also, be careful with photographic equipment: it’s better not to “click” police stations, administrative buildings, metro stations, so that they don’t suspect you of being a saboteur. And remember: fines for violating traffic rules in the Republic are impressive, and local inspectors do not like to “negotiate on the spot.” Moreover, if you offer a bribe to a Belarusian policeman, be prepared to pay a second fine or, in the worst case, go to jail.
Customs and visa information
There is a visa-free regime for Russians in Belarus: when crossing the border, an ordinary general passport is sufficient. Each guest can carry duty-free up to 50 kg of hand luggage with a total value of up to 1,500 EUR and an unlimited amount of foreign currency (amounts from 10,000 USD must be declared). If the weight of luggage exceeds the permitted 50 kg, you will have to pay extra for the excess at the rate of: 30% of the cost of additional luggage (at least 4 EUR). The following are not subject to duty: alcohol (up to 3 liters), cigarettes (up to 200 pcs), tobacco (no more than 250 g).
It is prohibited to import or export from Belarus without special permission:
- narcotic substances;
- any firearm;
- military equipment;
- poisonous, radioactive and explosive substances.
It is permissible to transport animals and plants across the Russian-Belarusian border, but only after undergoing phytosanitary and veterinary control.
How to get there
The border between Russia and Belarus is a blurred concept, so getting to the “partisan region” in a personal car is as easy as shelling pears. The only thing is that you will have to buy a “Green Card” in advance, which is an international alternative to the usual MTPL insurance policy. The cost of insurance for 15 days of stay is 840 RUB. It is more convenient to get to Belarus through the border Smolensk and Bryansk regions (the cities of Roslavl, Rudnya, Surazh, Novozybkov).
You can get to Belarus by direct bus from neighboring Russian regions (Bryansk, Smolensk, Oryol), as well as from Moscow Minsk. The flight usually takes just under one and a half hours.
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The country is located in the central part of Eastern Europe, in the west of the East European Plain. Administratively, Belarus consists of 6 regions, including 112 districts and 12 cities of regional subordination.
Largest cities– Gomel, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Grodno and Brest.
Capital of Belarus- Minsk city.
Borders and area of Belarus
Common border with Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, Poland.
The republic covers an area of 207,600 square kilometers.
Map of Belarus
Timezone
Population
9,468,000 people.
Language
The official languages are Belarusian and Russian.
Religion
82.5% of the believing population are Orthodox, 12% are Catholics, 4% are Muslims.
Finance
The official currency is the Belarusian ruble.
Medical care and insurance
The level of medical care in medical institutions leaves much to be desired. This is due to the lack of highly qualified personnel. Medical care, even in Minsk, is not always high, but nevertheless of sufficient quality. The first visit to the doctor is free, further treatment is provided according to insurance. Medical insurance is recommended for all citizens visiting the republic. Traditional medicine is also popular. Ticks are active in forest areas in spring and summer.
Mains voltage
220 volt. Often there are old-style sockets without a grounding contact.
International dialing code of Belarus
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Map of Russia and Belarus online
On this map you can see the border between the two countries and the road routes connecting Russia and Belarus.
Other interesting maps of Russia can be found in our articles:
Russia and Belarus, in fact, are the same ancient Rus', which also included Little Russia. Russia is essentially Novgorod Rus', a descendant of the Novgorod Republic. Belarus grew out of the Pskov Republic, and Little Russia now stubbornly calls itself Ukraine - which means Outskirts of Rus'. However, this article is only about Russia and Belarus. Now they are diligently driving wedges between these ancient countries. Well, yes, Europe can be understood - the Germans and the British have always been afraid of the unification of the Slavs, which occurs on a completely different principle than the unification of the Germans. There, religion itself creates individuals who will grab each other’s throats, hiding behind Darwin, according to the principle that whoever has money and power is right. In Russia and Belarus (now cabinet officials are trying to obscure the common root and pronounce it like Belarus) the principle is different - friendly. When the whole world decides, as the Novgorod and Pskov veche did in ancient times. The people came out and made decisions, but the princes were only experienced and skillful warriors who were called upon to command if any attack occurred. This is still preserved in chronicles, which are carefully interpreted incorrectly by all sorts of specialized historians trained according to European methods.
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The Republic of Belarus borders on five states: with Russia in the east, Ukraine in the south, Poland in the west, Lithuania and Latvia in the northwest. Belarus is the northernmost landlocked state.
Regarding the length of borders, the website of the Municipal Border Committee and the website of the President of the Republic of Belarus provide significantly different data.
Municipal data
Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus
Official data
website of the President of the Republic of Belarus
Russian Federation1
more than 1283 km
Latvian republic
Republic of Lithuania
Republic of Poland
more than 3614 km
1 According to the Federal Agency for the Development of the State Border of the Russian Federation, the length of the border of the Russian Federation with Belarus is 1239 km.
2 According to the State Border Service of Ukraine, the length of the border between Ukraine and Belarus is 1084.2 km.
When compared with data from neighboring countries on the length of common borders with Belarus, the data from the Municipal Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus deserve more confidence.
Primary sources:
Additionally on the site:
Which countries does Belarus border with?
The Republic of Belarus borders on five countries: Russia in the east, Ukraine in the south, Poland in the west, Lithuania and Latvia in the northwest. Belarus is the northernmost landlocked state. Regarding the length of borders, the website of the Municipal Border Committee and the website of the President of the Republic of Belarus provide significantly different data. Country Data from the Municipal Border Committee of the Republic of Belarus...