Minsk is the capital of Belarus. It is the political, economic, scientific and cultural center of the country and the administrative center of the Minsk region.
Interesting facts about Minsk.
1. Minsk is first listed in 1067, which means that it is older than European cities such as Moscow and Stockholm. 2. Minsk is the most economically developed city in Belarus. Minsk has a population of 1.9 million (2017) and the population is constantly growing. 3. Minsk is located on the main communication routes connecting Western Europe and the East, the regions of the Black Sea coast and the Baltic states. 4. Most of Minsk was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt during the Soviet era. This means that there is a lot of beautiful Soviet-era architecture in Minsk. Minsk is considered one of the most Soviet cities of the former USSR. 5. Today, the capital of Belarus, despite its gloomy reputation, is a progressive, modern and clean place. 6. Automobile roads connect Minsk with the largest cities of Belarus: Orsha, Vitebsk, Molodechno, Brest, Sluk, Mogilev and Gomel. 7. Minsk is one of the least visited capitals in Europe among Western tourists, which probably makes the trip here more enjoyable. 8. People interested in culture can count on very high quality ballet and opera performances in Minsk. 9. Minsk became the capital when Belarus gained independence in 1991. 10. Belarus is one of the few countries in the world where an active branch of the KGB still exists. Taking pictures of these government buildings is illegal. 11. The city has experienced many disasters, including frequent fire damage, sack by the Crimean Tatars in 1505, occupation and destruction by the French army in 1812, German occupation in 1918, Polish occupation in 1919-20, and almost complete damage during World War II, especially during the Soviet front in 1944. 12. Minsk has a large rail network connecting Brest, Moscow, Vilnius and Gomel. The capital has a national airport. 13. There is a huge statue of Lenin here, and since the building behind it belongs to the governor, it really should not be photographed. 14. Minsk belonged to Lithuania in the fourteenth century, and then to Poland, and in 1793 it was restored by Russia in the Second Partition of Poland. 15. The city has a very good public transport system. Minsk, like most major European cities, has a very good metro system. 16. The main street of Minsk – (Aleja Niepodleglosci / Praspiekt Niezalieznasci) – has more 15 km long. It is from 1801 and if you visit Minsk you will definitely see it. 17. The total area of ??the city is 409 km2. 18. The city was originally built on hills, which made it possible to build defensive fortifications, and the western parts of the city are the most hilly. 19. Minsk is a really beautiful city, both in the summer, when there are many good street cafes, and during the other three seasons. 20. There are more than 100 fountains in the city. The oldest of them dates back to 1874 and is located in the Alexander-Alexandrovsky Park. It was built to celebrate the launch of the city’s water supply. You can find it on Independence Square. 21. The average height of the city is 220 meters above sea level. 22. Average temperatures in Minsk vary greatly. Summers are hot and can be very humid. 23. Minsk is a large industrial center. The city produces 16% of the country’s total industrial output. 24. Winter may not be the best time of the year to visit Minsk, but it is one of those periods when the city is considered the most beautiful, with fabulous lighting. 25. The territory of modern Minsk was inhabited by the early Eastern Slavs as early as the ninth century.