Belarus is a country of ancient history and architectural monuments. The world cultural treasury, however, is complete not only with objects of ancient archeology or medieval castles, but also examples of the 20^th-century architecture — the so called Stalin Empire style, say UNESCO experts.

 

 

 

Architects say there were only two European capitals to have been globally reconstructed after WWII, with whole blocks to be pulled down and street plans changed. That’s London and Minsk. However, the British would not dare to go for such a radical move. In the meantime, the capital of Belarus changed beyond recognition. The garden city impresses tourists with the abundance of trees and flowers in the streets.

 

Opposite the Palace of the Republic is Alexandrovski Alley with a fountain decorated with the Boy & Swan sculpture.

 

Next to the alley there is the Armed Force Central House that is partly hidden from the avenue by two buildings: the Archbishop’s House that is now home to the Institute of Theology, and a church museum.

 

The central avenue of the city crosses the River Svisloch that separates the Circus from Gorki Park.

The architectural backbone of the city is Independence Avenue, which is 2,900 meters long and combines architectural objects, natural landscape, squares, alleys, public houses and housing blocks. The architectural plan of the city was made in 1944 when Minsk was liberated from the Germans.

 

It took 15 years to rebuild the central avenue that cross the city from north-west to south-east and is part of Berlin — Warsaw — Brest — Minsk — Moscow motorway.

 

The avenue starts at Independence Square — the whereabouts of the Seat of Government — a building erected in the 1930s. 

The square is surrounded by St Simon and St Helena’s Cathedral, the City Hall, the Pedagogical University, the Central Post Office and Hotel Minsk.

 

 

 

Today, Independence Avenue is completely recreated and is home to an underground centre for shopping and entertainment.

 

One of things all buildings on Minsk’s central avenue have in common (besides style) is that they are the same height.

 

The gem of the avenue is Oktyabskaya Square with the Palace of the Republic that hosts congresses, popular gatherings and shows. Also in that square there is a memorable sign symbolizing “the Onset of All Roads of Belarus”. The place is a popular tourist site.

 

The Palace of the Republic stands next to the WWII Museum.

 

 

 

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