Russia and Belarus: Common History, Common Fate

Your first day in Moscow will start with a city tour. Today we will discover the main sights of the Russian capital: Red Square and the Kremlin, Christ the Savior’s Cathedral, Poklonnaya Gora, and Victory Park, the observation platform in Sparrow Hills, followed by a visit to the Novodevichy Convent – a World Heritage Site of the 16th century.

After an independent lunch, you will be able to take a closer look at the Kremlin cathedrals and visit the Red Square with St Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s Mausoleum. In the evening you will have free time to have a rest.

After breakfast at the hotel get ready to start our program with the excursion to 2 interesting sights: Victory Park and the Borodino Battle Museum. The memorial Victory Park with the Museum of the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945 was opened on May 9, 1995 to the 50th anniversary of the Victory. On its territory, you may see the Victory Monument, the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War, the Church of St. George the Victorious, the memorial synagogue, an exhibition of military equipment in the open air.

The exposition of the panoramic museum “Borodino Battle” is entirely devoted to the Patriotic War of 1812. Battle paintings, engravings, and sculptures, portraits of war heroes coexist in the halls of the museum with book rarities, weapons, samples of uniforms, and household items. The central exhibit of the museum is the artistic panorama “Borodino”.

After lunch in the local restaurant, we are going to have a guided excursion to the Moscow Metro. It is not just a public transport; it is a real underground architectural monument of world significance. The construction went under the motto “Let’s create a palace for the people!” and indeed today many stations of the Moscow metro are more reminiscent of majestic museum halls.

In the afternoon we will walk across the Zaryadye Park – the modern and young park near Red Square.
In the evening get ready for a traditional Russian dinner at a restaurant “Matreshka”. You will have a chance to taste traditional Russian cuisine, like pelmeni, Olivie salad, shchi, and, also, different pies and pancakes. Feel the Russian hospitality in this restaurant.

After breakfast say goodbye to Moscow. Today we are travelling to Smolensk by bus.

On the way from Moscow to Smolensk, you will see the village Borodino, 124 km west of Moscow – the place where one of the most grandiose battles not only in Russian but also in world history took place when two huge Russian and French armies met on the Borodino field on August 26 (September 7), 1812. The Russian victory predetermined the defeat of Napoleon’s army and, consequently, the liberation of the peoples of Europe.

Then we will have a stopover near Vyazma. We are going to visit the Khmelita estate – the family nest of the Griboyedovs. This is the oldest surviving manor estate in the Smolensk region. The stone manor house, picturesquely surrounded by trees, is incredibly beautiful.

Today’s lunch will be at a local restaurant with a gingerbread tasting. Be ready for a Vyazma city tour after lunch.

Upon arrival at Smolensk, we are going to check-in and have dinner in the hotel. The evening will be free, have a rest after the whole day journey.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will enjoy the city tour. The tour will start with the Cathedral Hill complex and the Assumption Cathedral founded in the XVII century and famous for housing the icon of Our Lady of Smolensk, one of the most venerated icons in Russia. You will also see the Smolensk Fortress, which used to be one of the most important fortifications of ancient Russia. The wall of the Fortress, dating back to the XVI-XVII centuries is the longest in Europe.

Then you will be invited to see three functioning churches of the pre-Mongol period (XII century). You will see the Central Square, two parks, the architectural ensemble of the Smolensk Museum-Preserve, a small memorial park dedicated to the victory of 1812, and a house where Napoleon stayed while in Smolensk.

After lunch, we are going to have a transfer to Talashkino – a village near Smolensk where the Russian Art Centre of XIX-XX centuries is located.

In the afternoon you will have time to buy souvenirs and walk across the downtown of Smolensk. In the evening we are going to Minsk by train, the journey will take about 4 hours. Upon arrival, you will be met by a local guide and transferred to the hotel. Dinner in the hotel is included.

In the morning you will meet a local guide and start the excursion program with a transfer to Mir, where you can visit Mir Castle. It is a unique monument of Belarussian architecture. It is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage. Mir Castle is an outstanding example of the defensive architecture of the 16th century. The earliest structures are in the Gothic style and date back to the 16th century. This Belarusian castle was founded at the beginning of the 16th century by Prince Ilynich. In 1568, the castle passed into the possession of Nikolay Radziwill, who completed it in the Renaissance style. A successful combination of Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance architectural styles makes Mir Castle one of the most impressive castles in Europe.

After visiting Mir Castle we will have lunch at a local restaurant and transfer to Nesvizh.

In the afternoon we are going to visit Nesvizh Palace. The Palace and Castle ensemble in Niasvizh is considered to be the most beautiful architectural monuments of Belarus. The foundation stone of Nesvizh Palace was laid in 1584. It was rebuilt many times. Nesvizh Castle is a closed complex of buildings that combine features of many architectural styles from Renaissance and Baroque to Art Nouveau and Neoclassicism. At the end of the 19th century, one of the largest landscape parks in Europe was founded near the Nesvizh Castle. The palace, arsenal, southern and eastern galleries, where various exhibitions of museums of Belarus are presented, are open for visiting. Afterwards, we will return to the hotel in the evening and have dinner.

In the morning we are going to have a city tour. You will get acquainted with the thousand-year history of Minsk city development, learn about its interesting and difficult destiny. You will walk to the “Troitskoye Predmestye” (Trinity Suburb) – one of the oldest areas in Minsk. During the excursion you will be able to visit Island of Tears, Independence Square, House of Government and the “Red” Roman-Catholic Church (1908), Victory Square with 38m high Obelisk and Eternal flame, Holy Spirit Cathedral (1642), St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral (1611), City Hall, the National Library and other modern buildings.

After lunch we will go to Stalin’s line historical complex. “Stalin`s line” is the chain of defensive installations along the former USSR frontier. The exposition of the military-historical museum was created and planed so, that from the first steps a visitor could feel the spirit of the times. The park of military equipment is the most complete exposition in the Republic of Belarus of all artillery and military equipment, which was adopted in different years, beginning from the war times. Stalin’s Line is an interactive museum: here at an extra charge you can fire a real weapon from the times of the Great Patriotic War (Mauser, Mosin rifle or Maksim machine-gun), drive a modern armored vehicle and legendary tanks.

After Stalin’s line historical complex we are going to visit homestead Ganka.
Ganka Farmstead is situated in a restful picturesque place on the edges of Epimahi village. It is surrounded by a beautiful garden and endless fields. Silence, soul harmony and coziness will be companions of your rest.
The hospitable family of the owner will greet you near their cottage with accordion, bread and a shot glass of samogon (home-made vodka). They will tell the story of how to make and how to drink this product in the right way. You will have a chance to take part in the Slavonic dances master class.
The apogee of this holiday will be the most delicious dinner cooked by the family. All ingredients are grown here, in the Manor or nearby. Fantastic folk band will play music while you are having a meal.

In the evening we are going to return to Minsk for overnight.