A little about the city
According to legend, one rich merchant, while traveling to the Principality of Lithuania, could not get through, getting stuck in swampy swamps. Fortunately, many birch trees grew all around, from which they managed to make a flooring, along which the merchant and his comrades moved to the cape at the confluence of two rivers, where, in gratitude for his salvation, he erected a temple to the god Veles, and later a settlement, which he named in memory of the birch bark ford.
Currently, Brest is the regional center of the Brest region, home to about 350,000 thousand people. The economy is based on the manufacturing industry: food processing, mechanical engineering and metalworking, and light industry.
It is also an important railway and road transport hub; the airport is located 12 km from the city.
Country "EnotiYa"
For those who love animals, this Country will seem like paradise. Here you can pet and feed cute tame animals, ask in detail about their care, and observe their behavior and habits. This is not just a zoo, but a real hotel for animals. Read review
Zoos and dolphinariums
Contact Zoo "Raccoon Country"
Brest, blvd. Shevchenko, 4 52.094136 23.692651
+375 (33) 6-20-30-40
Mon-Sun: from 10:00 to 21:00
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What to see?
The Mukhavets River divides the city into two parts: to the north are the quarters of the historical center, to the south of the river are mainly new buildings.
The main attractions of Brest are memorial complexes and museums dedicated to the Great Patriotic War, Orthodox churches and churches, in the vicinity there are medieval fortifications - the defensive tower of Kamenets, a baroque estate and Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
You can’t see everything in one day!
Memorial complex “Brest Fortress - Hero”
On June 22, 1941, the Brest Fortress and its defenders were the first to take on an unexpected attack from enemy troops. For more than a month they held the defense of the fortress, being completely surrounded.
After the war, the fortress was not completely restored, and the destruction it suffered became a symbol of the senseless cruelty of the war.
The dilapidated fortress is the basis of the memorial complex; in addition to it, it includes the monument “Courage”, the obelisk “Bayonet”, about 100 m high, the sculpture “Thirst”, three rows of memorial slabs with the burials of the defenders of the fortress, the St. Nicholas Garrison Church and several museums.
The sculptural composition “Thirst” is especially impressive - an exhausted warrior, leaning on the butt of a machine gun, tries to scoop up water with his helmet. The fact is that during the siege, the Germans blocked access to the river for those in the fortress, which is why many soldiers died painfully from thirst, using the last water to cool their machine guns.
Visiting the memorials of the Brest Fortress sometimes leaves a depressing impression, but by coming here, we pay tribute to the memory of those who had the most terrible and difficult time of all at the very beginning of that terrible war; those thanks to whom we now live peacefully and calmly.
In addition, here, on the border of what was once a single huge country - the Soviet Union, you feel unity with the people of Belarus and other peoples who once defended their Motherland side by side.
- Address of the memorial complex: Brest, st. Heroes of the defense of the Brest Fortress, 60.
- Opening hours: 9.30 -18.00, daily, seven days a week.
- Entrance to the complex is free, visiting museums and thematic exhibitions from 1 to 5 bel. rub., excursion service – from 11 bel. rub.
- A detailed price list is on the fortress website.
The exchange rate of the Belarusian ruble as of July 11, 2018 is 31.7 Russian rubles per 1 Belarusian ruble.
Museum of the Defense of the Brest Fortress
Located in the restored former fortress barracks. The museum's exhibition is housed in 10 halls and includes about 4,000 exhibits dedicated not only to defense in the Great Patriotic War, but also to the history of the Brest-Litovsk Fortress itself and the more ancient fortifications that existed in its place.
Here is the symbolic key to the fortress, its model, the foundation board of 1836, fragments of fittings, personal belongings of the first military personnel on the territory of the fortress.
The main place in the exhibition is, of course, occupied by exhibits dedicated to the first days of the war and the courage of the border guards who were the first to meet the enemy.
The museum’s special pride is the authentic letters from the fortress’s defenders to their relatives. Many of them are impossible to read without tears.
- Address: Brest, st. Heroes of the Defense of the Brest Fortress, 60, memorial complex “Brest Fortress - Hero”, Museum of the Defense of the Brest Fortress.
- Opening hours: March-November – from 9.00 to 18.00, seven days a week; December-February - from 9.00 to 17.00, closed on Monday and the last Tuesday of the month.
- Cost of visit: 5 bel. RUR, for schoolchildren and students – 2.5 BYN. rub.
St. Nicholas Garrison Cathedral
A functioning temple on the territory of the Brest Fortress, built in the mid-19th century in the style of Byzantine architecture. It has still not been fully restored after the destruction of the Second World War, but since 2005 full-fledged worship services have been held.
Consecrated by His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Rus', he also performed the first service - a funeral service for all those who died on the territory of the fortress.
The monument is of the Russian-Byzantine style, has the appearance of a three-nave basilica, low and squat due to its original location in a military garrison. The main shrine is an icon with a particle of the relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Address: Brest, st. Heroes of the Defense of the Brest Fortress, 60, St. Nicholas Garrison Cathedral.
Archaeological Museum “Berestye”
On the territory of the Brest Fortress there is also an unusual archaeological museum, the basis of which is the excavation of an ancient Slavic settlement. At a depth of four meters, the craft quarter of the 13th century has almost entirely been preserved: the foundations and walls of 28 wooden buildings, 2 wooden pavements, the remains of adobe ovens and utensils. All this is placed right in the excavation in its original form, and a glass pavilion is built on top, which is a museum.
Archaeological finds from the 11th to 14th centuries are presented in separate exhibitions on both sides of the excavation. – dishes, craft and agricultural tools, jewelry, weapons, household items. There is also a wooden log house - a new building modeled on typical medieval dwellings. You can go inside and get acquainted with the furnishings - two shelves for sleeping, a stove, benches, a table - that's all the decoration.
In the yard there lives a wooden cat - Beresteyka, with a rather violent disposition, judging by her appearance. But, if you scratch him behind the ear and whisper a wish in his ear, it will certainly come true!
- Address: Belarus, 224018, Brest, Hospital Island of the Brest Fortress.
- Opening hours: from 10.00 to 18.00, days off: Monday, Tuesday, seven days a week in summer.
- Ticket price: adults – 2.67 bel. RUB, schoolchildren – 1.28 BYN. rub.
- Excursions from 3.95 bel. rub., full price list on the website.
Museum of Salvaged Values
A unique museum founded by customs officers! Brest is a city on the border with the countries of the European Union; for many years, violators have tried and continue to try to smuggle certain valuables across the border. If they are unlucky and caught red-handed, the confiscated rarities may end up in the Museum of Salvaged Assets.
Works of art and antiques are divided into thematic halls: “Russian icon painting”, “Icons in silver frames”, “Rostov enamel”, “Soviet jewelry art”, “Japanese art”, “Painting”, etc. In essence, this museum is a mosaic or patchwork quilt from the exhibitions of museums in different countries and on a wide variety of topics. Incredibly interesting place!
- Address: Brest, st. Lenina, 39.
- Working hours; from 10.00 to 18.00, every day except Monday.
- Ticket price: adults – 2.67 bel. RUB, schoolchildren – 1.28 BYN. rub. Excursions from 3.95 bel. rub., full price list on the website.
Brest Railway Museum
Another fun museum where you can feel like the driver of a real steam locomotive! 1.2 km of exhibition tracks and 68 samples of railway equipment, most of which are operational. Pre-war steam locomotives from the 1930s, a collection of passenger cars, a snowplow, a trolley, a station clock and a station bell - you name it!
You can go inside many of the locomotives, right into the driver’s cabin, to see the firebox, numerous levers, valves, pressure gauges, etc.
Located very close to the Brest Fortress, 15 min. on foot.
- Address: Brest, Masherov Avenue, 2.
- Opening hours: 9.00 – 17.00 (from May to September – until 21.00).
- Monday is a day off.
- Ticket price: 2.5 bel. rub., students – 2 bel. rub., schoolchildren – 1.5 bel. rub.
Alley of forged lanterns
A very young attraction - about 30 fancy lanterns located throughout the pedestrian part of the street. Gogol, appeared in the city in 2013.
Lantern - clock, lantern-angel, lantern - loom, lantern - clown, treble clef, snakes, wings, Gogol characters, horses, ships and much more.
With such lanterns you get unusual and funny photos that will be remembered for a long time.
Address: Brest, st. Gogol
Winter Garden
A beautiful glass greenhouse near the building of Brest State University. Pushkin is an educational and methodological complex of the interfaculty center of ecology, but is also open to everyone.
Here you can see huge ferns and blooming orchids, pomegranates and lemons with fruits, agaves, yuccas, huge ceiling-mounted palm trees and cacti of all shapes and sizes. And also funny figures of plump cats and bunnies hiding in the thickets. There is definitely something to see for lovers of indoor plants and landscape design.
- Address: st. Mitskevich, 28/1.
- Opening hours: Wed. – Sun., from 11.00 to 18.00.
- Entrance ticket: 2 bel. rub., children under 7 years old – free.
Belovezhskaya Pushcha
Very close, in the vicinity of Brest, just 65 km from the city, is the most famous national park of Belarus and Poland - Belovezhskaya Pushcha. This is one of the largest tracts of forest in Europe, remaining untouched for centuries. Its area is more than 150,000 hectares, the state border divides it into two parts - Polish and Belarusian.
The park has 4 functional areas:
- protected area (40% of the territory) - with a strict protection regime and restrictions on any types of economic activity.
- regulated (25% of the territory) – certain, gentle types of economic activity are allowed
- economic (30%) – economic activity is permitted that does not pose a threat to protected natural complexes
- recreational (5% of the territory) – a recreation and tourism area.
Despite the fact that the recreation area occupies only 5% of the park’s territory, this is enough to walk around it all day or even several days. Four types of walking routes and several cycling routes will lead to protected corners of Belovezhskaya Pushcha, for example, to the drained Dokudovo swamp , where in the early morning hours you can see roe deer, deer and even bison grazing.
The ecological trail “Lake Ring” between pine and alder forests and abandoned gardens will lead to the artificial lake Plyanta-1 with a sandy beach, where you can swim in summer.
And in winter in Pushcha you can meet the Belarusian Father Frost, who has his own residence - a two-story wooden house with intricate carvings.
If you fail to meet animals in the wild, you can always see them in spacious enclosures not far from the entrance to the park: European fallow deer, red deer, wolves, lynx and, of course, the symbol of the park and the whole of Belarus - bison.
- Address: 225063, Republic of Belarus, Brest region, Kamenets district, Kamenyuki
- Opening hours: Mon.-Fri. 8:00–17:00, closed: Sat., Sun.
- Entrance fee: 3.5 bel. rub, 2.5 bel. rub. - children's.
Nemtsevich Estate
The historical and memorial museum “Nemtsevich Estate” is located in the village of Skoki, Brest region.
From Brest, from Lenin Square, minibus No. 20t goes there. Travel time is about 40 minutes.
This manor and park ensemble in the Baroque style was built in 1777 and belonged to Yu. U. Nemtsevich, a publicist and statesman, one of the authors of the first constitution in Europe. The park is very beautiful, moderately overgrown and wild, with linden alleys, small meadows, gazebos and half-abandoned flowerbeds.
A very romantic place, especially since wedding photo sessions and even marriage registration itself are often held in the interiors of the estate itself.
Inside the manor there is a museum where you can see some of the premises of the 18th century manor, including the state rooms and the secular salon. Separate exhibitions include an exhibition of paintings by local artists and an exhibition “All Quiet on the Western Front”, dedicated to the era of the First World War.
- Address: 225039, Brest region, Brest district, Skoki village, st. Mira, 48b.
- Opening hours – from 10.00 to 19.00, Mon. - day off.
- Ticket price: 2.5 bel. rub. – adults, schoolchildren, students, pensioners discounts.
Museum "5th Fort"
The 5th Fort Museum is unusual and mysterious. Those who dare to wander through the dark tunnels will surely be left with indelible impressions of the battle sites. You can also see military equipment there. Read review
Museums
Museum "5th Fort"
Brest, Brest Fortress 52.047484 23.673499
+375 (branch manager) +375 (order excursions)
Tue – Sun: from 09:00 to 18:00
Mon: closed
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Where to go with your child?
If the child is very small, it is hardly worth going with him to the memorials of the Brest Fortress dedicated to the Great Patriotic War - the impressive monuments and solemn atmosphere can frighten him. But with a schoolchild it is not only possible, but also necessary to visit this memorial complex.
Children of all ages will love the Berestye Museum , where you can look at real archaeological excavations and go inside a wooden house where the home environment of our distant ancestors is reproduced.
It’s good to take a walk with your children along the alley of forged lanterns , look at the fancy figures and take pictures with Gogol’s characters.
Children, especially boys, will almost certainly enjoy the railway museum , where you can climb inside working steam locomotives.
And, of course, if you have time, be sure to go to Belovezhskaya Pushcha to see bison, ride a bike and swim in the lake, or visit Santa Claus in winter.
Brest Fortress
www.belarus.by
The first thing that comes to mind when mentioning Brest is the legendary Brest Fortress, which took the first blow on June 22, 1941, when the Great Patriotic War began... And if you enter the fortress through the main entrance (as the locals say , “through the Star”), then you will hear the metronome counting, and the alarming rumble of enemy aircraft, and that very voice of Levitan, reporting the attack of Nazi Germany...
The citadel is full of reminders of the war - these are ruins, and casemates made of red brick, and tanks with guns, and the graves of defenders, whose names can be read on the slabs, and the unquenchable Eternal Flame, burning day and night in memory of all those who died... But at the same time At the same time, the Brest Fortress amazes with a sense of peace, tranquility, and boundless space. Here roses bloom and the ringing of church bells can be heard, here restless boys climb on reclaimed tanks and guns from morning to evening, there is a lot of air, trees and silence. Here you can have a snack in a cafe and go to the museum, or just walk along the endless paths under the shade of old willows, remembering the war and rejoicing in peace... Read the review
Museums
Memorial complex "Brest Hero Fortress"
Brest 52.083187 23.658909
+375
brest-fortress.by
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Reviews from tourists
- Agarkov family, Arkhangelsk
We stayed with distant relatives in Brest, just for a short time. Clean, beautiful city. There are surprisingly many attractions besides the Brest Fortress. And in two days we didn’t have time to see everything! I especially liked the alley of forged lanterns and the Winter Garden.
- Maria. Minsk
Cleanliness, order, respect and love of residents for their city.
- Katerina, Astrakhan
It’s nice and cozy, there’s a lot to see, a very nice Sovetskaya Street – Brestsky Arbat.
- Viktor Borisovich, Moscow
Such a mixture of Poland, or, I don’t know, Croatia, and a Soviet city of the 80-90s, but clean and well-groomed.
If you are in Brest for at least one day, take the time to at least walk around its center - you won’t regret it!
A careful study of the Brest Fortress and other museums and a trip to Belovezhskaya Pushcha will require several days, but they are worth spending, because these are some of the most impressive human and natural monuments in the CIS.
City Park
In the warm season, an excellent place for relaxation and leisure is the May Day Park, a traditional recreation spot for Brest residents. Maslenitsa and City Day are celebrated here, knightly tournaments and concerts are held, and wedding photo sessions are held on the Lovers' Bridge.
In the park you can ride carousels, cars and other attractions, sit at a table in a cozy cafe, enjoying the view of the lake, eat ice cream or cotton candy, jump on a trampoline, meet a squirrel or a hedgehog, see rare trees: hornbeam, elm, plane tree, wander around quiet paths in the shade of trees, enjoy relaxation and silence.
Parks and Attractions
Park of Culture and Recreation named after the First of May
Brest, st. Lenina, 3 52.092164 23.674422
+375 +375 +375
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Embankment of the Mukhavets River
gorod-brest.livejournal.com
Another traditional walking place for Brest residents is the embankment of the Mukhavets River. This green area in the city center attracts everyone: for mothers with strollers there are comfortable paths, for kids there is a sandbox and plenty of space to run around and play, for young people there are romantic corners under the shade of weeping willows, where you can be alone, admiring the fast flow and flowering trees. water lilies.
In the summer, the pleasure boat “Grodno” runs along the river, on which every resident of Brest has probably ridden at least once. The embankment is also a habitat for many birds, so when going for a walk, don’t forget to grab a loaf or bread: pigeons, swans, ducks and seagulls will thank you very much! Currently, reconstruction on the embankment is being completed: in the spring, comfortable benches, new lanterns and a beautiful fountain will await citizens and guests of the city.
A trip on the ship "Grodno"
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Church of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God
The temple was built in 1999 and is still officially considered a temporary prayer room. People started coming here when the church was not yet completed, only the walls stood. Even the Christmas frosts did not stop the parishioners.
The temple contains several relics: the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God (copy) and pieces of the relics of Orthodox saints.
The church is popular for weddings of young couples. It is believed that this promotes peace, tranquility and well-being of the family. The church has a children's Sunday school and an Orthodox sisterhood.
Kamenets Tower
It is also called the White Vezha. This attraction is located not in Brest itself, but in its regional city of Kamenets. The structure is the tallest and best-preserved defensive tower of the Volyn type. It was built in the 13th century. The basis is the Romanesque style, there are elements of early Gothic. There are no architectural decorations.
The height of the structure is 31 m. It is round in plan, the diameter is 13.6 m, and the thickness of the walls reaches 2.5 m. The tower has a powerful foundation, its diameter is 16 m, and its height is 2.3 m. For the construction of the tower they used dark red and yellowish paving bricks. There are 5 tiers of floors inside, connected by stairs.
Kamenets Tower - memorial. For almost 70 years it has been occupied by a branch of the Brest Regional Museum.
Gogol Street and Lantern Alley
I would say that this is a real boulevard. And the boulevard is original. It has lanterns made of wrought iron. Genre lanterns, each with meaning.
The first to greet us is the monument to N.V. Gogol. The monument is very modest. On a granite pedestal there is a bronze bust of a literary classic.
Monument to N.V. Gogol.
Behind the monument there is an alley of genre sculptures-lanterns based on the works of N.V. Gogol.
The first one depicts Khoma Brut from Viy. He sits inside a circle outlined by himself and reads prayers. And all sorts of evil spirits are circling above him.
The title of the 2nd is poetic - “What Russian doesn’t like driving fast...” The bird troika from “Dead Souls” is depicted here.
Lantern “What Russian doesn’t like driving fast…”
The next lantern depicts the writer burning the 2nd volume of Dead Souls. Flames shoot out of the oven door and devour sheets of brilliant lines.
Next is a lantern called “Stroller”. There is a cart next to the lamp post. Gentlemen used to wear these. You can sit in the stroller and take a photo.
We recognize another literary hero - the Nose. The lamppost is a nose in a uniform with aiguillettes and a cocked hat.
Lantern "Nose".
There is also the prankster from Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka. The lantern depicts a devil stealing the month.
There are many other genre sculptures on the Lantern Alley. Some of them depict professions. Among them:
- dealer;
- shoe shiner;
- tailor;
- street cleaner;
- waiter;
- blacksmith.
Other items include:
- sewing machine;
- bake;
- dress;
- still life.
Some of the genre sculptures were installed at the expense of city organizations. Each lantern symbolizes the occupation of the enterprise. A very funny “Clown” lantern near the city cultural center.
Lantern "Clown".
If you turn right after the lantern with the devil, you will get to Freedom Square. The area is triangular in shape. There are 2 monuments on it:
- troops of the 1st Belorussian Front;
- 60th anniversary of the liberation of Brest from the Nazi invaders.
There is another memorial on the Lantern Alley. This is a monument in honor of the 1000th anniversary of Brest. Figures of historical figures and images of important events in the life of the city tell about its heroic past.
Natural attractions of Brest and its surroundings
Garden of Continuous Flowering
Garden of Continuous Flowering is an amazingly beautiful, simply fabulous place. In a relatively small area, 160 varieties of ornamental trees and shrubs and more than 100 varieties of perennial flowering plants coexist.
You will find this blooming corner of nature at the intersection of the street. Mitskevich and Blvd. Cosmonauts.
Also in Brest you can take a walk:
- Along the river embankment Mukhavets ;
- In the park of culture and recreation "May 1 ";
- Along the river Western Bug .
I also strongly recommend visiting the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Nature Reserve, located 50 km from Brest in the village of Kamenyuki.
Active recreation for children in Brest
You don’t know where the “White Fox” is from in Brest, and what interesting things does meeting him promise? What is bumperball and where in Brest you can ride go-karts and play laser tag or paintball. We'll tell you! Read more... More options for active recreation in our Catalog.
If you are planning to visit Brest on the weekend, be sure to check out our selection of the best events, because it is recommended to plan your vacation in advance! We know where to go with a child in Brest next weekend.
Dear readers! If you know other interesting places in Brest, be sure to tell us about them in the comments.
Train Station
Once upon a time it was a real Brest castle in Belarus, created in the medieval style. In 1915 the building was destroyed. In 1953, the greatest architectural structure was restored; it changed its appearance, but did not lose its former grandeur. Now it is one of the most beautiful train stations in the world, located 347 km from Minsk.
Brest is connected by rail with Kiev, Warsaw, Paris and Berlin. The central station serves long-distance trains. A very comfortable environment has been created for passengers here.
Ostrich farm
This attraction is located in the village of Kozische. The local ostrich farm is one of the largest in Europe. The area is always clean and orderly. About 200 adult ostriches and a hundred chicks live here. They feel quite natural, and they behave accordingly.
You can explore the farm on your own or book a tour with a guide who will tell you all about the life of ostriches. You can try ostrich meat - the taste is delicate, but specific.
Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
The simplicity of the forms and the absence of architectural excesses do not deprive it of its solemnity. The only decoration is 2 side towers and a triangular pediment between them. The turrets have arched openings and corner pilasters. There is a rose window above the entrance.
Monument to Lenin and Catholic Church.
Next to the church is a monument to Pope John Paul II. With his right hand he overshadows his flock. In the left he holds a staff with a crucifix.
