Brest is situated 349 kilometers away from the Belarusian capital. The city lies at the crossroads of several major motorways and railroads connecting it with Minsk, Grodno, Gomel, Vilnius, Moscow, Bryansk, Kyiv, Warsaw, Bialystock. There is also a river port and an international airport in Brest. Besides, the city is part of transit corridor No. 2 (London-Berlin-Warsaw-Brest-Minsk-Moscow).

 

According to archeologists, Brest was founded in early 11th century. The ancient city that was then called Berestye was first mentioned in chronicles in 1019.

 

 

In 1146 Brest became part of Turov Principality and in 1199 it was included in the Principality of Galicia and Volhynia.

 

In 1319 Prince Gedymin annexed the city to the Great Principality of Lithuania. In 1349 Brest was captured by Polish King Kazimier III, and thirty years later is was ruined by crusaders.

 

Brest was among the first cities in Belarus to receive Magdebourg Right in 1390. In 1409 princes Vitaut and Yagaila met in Brest to work out the plan to defeat Teutonic Knights.

 

In 1500 troops led by Crimean Khan Mengli Gerey ruined the city. However, its inhabitants managed to quickly rebuild it. 58 years later there was built the first Belarusian printing shop in Brest, and the first Belarusian Bible came off the press in 1569. In 1569 the Brest became part of Rzech Pospolitaya. In 1596 the city hosted a synod that resulted in the foundation of the Uniate church.

 

 

On March 3, 1918, a peace treaty between the USSR and Germany was signed in Brest. In 1921 — 1939 the city belonged to Poland. In the first days of the Great Patriotic War Brest Fortress garrison heroically defended the city from fascist invaders.

 

Other places of interest include a group of buildings at the junction of Sovetskaya and Komsomolskaya Streets (19th century), a bank (1926), a post office (19th century), a railway station (1886), St Mikhail’s Church (1906), St Simeon’s Cathedral (1865), Holy Cross Day Cathedral (1856), dwelling houses located in September 17th Street and Sovetskiye Pogranichniki Street (late 19th century — early 20th century).

 

Four Orthodox Christian Churches (St Simeon’s Cathedral, St Nicholas’ Cathedral, St Nicholas’ Church and Holy Resurrection Cathedral and Catholic Holy Cross Day Cathedral located in Brest have been included in the national list of historical and cultural values.

 

 

Every year Brest hosts Belaya Vezha international theatre festival. On Victory Day (May 9) there are always organised various concerts and celebration ceremonies in Brest Fortress. Brest’s indoor skating rink, rowing channel and track-and-field facility often host international sports competitions.

 

The city has several museums, including Berestye museum of archeology, museum of recovered values, local history and lore museum, city history museum, space museum, nature museum and railways museum.

 

There is also park, ten hotels, 30 restaurants and around 40 bars and cafes, ten night clubs, five casinos, eight cinemas and two theatres. The municipal authorities are looking into the possibility of building a water park in Brest. Don’t miss the disco party that takes place on board a motorship floating up and down the river Mukhovets every Saturday!

 

There are 26 travel agencies in Brest. Five companies rent tourist equipment.

 

 

 

 

 

The Fortress of Brest (Brest Hero Fortress Memorial)