.svg/100px-Belarus_on_the_globe_(Europe_centered).svg.png)
Introduction
Belarus (in Russian, Беларусь or Белоруссия, Belarusʹ or Belorussiya; officially, the Republic of Belarus, Рэспубліка Беларусь, Respúblika Belarus)[1] is a state of Eastern Europe that borders to the north with Lithuania Y Latvia, east with Russia, to the south with Ukraine and to the west with Poland.
Understand
The lands of ancient White Russia (original meaning of "Belarus") were dominated for centuries by Russians, Poles, Lithuanians, Prussians, and so on. It was only at the beginning of the 20th century that the idea of a Belarusian nation began to take shape and they achieved a short-lived independence in 1918. The First and the WWII allowed the formation of present-day Belarus under the eaves of the Soviet Union, of which he was part until 1991. After the end of the Soviet era, a government was installed that has been classified by its critics as the "last dictatorship in Europe" and that remains in power to this day.
Belarus maintains a nostalgic atmosphere, away from the capitalism of its neighbors, being probably one of the places where you can most feel the presence of the former Soviet Union. It is also possible to enjoy the architectural wonders of its main cities or venture to the small villages and the beauties of the countryside.
History
Early history
The first precursors of what is now known as Belarusians were the Slavic and Baltic tribes that inhabited the contemporary territory of Belarus. The first Belarusian city mentioned in historical writings was Polack. The Principality of Polack produced the oldest known Belarusian literature, architecture and art.
Grand Duchy of Lithuania
Belarus remained free from the Mongol invasion, which seriously affected other East Slavic peoples. Instead, in the 13th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania began to form in the western parts of contemporary Belarus. The first capital city of the Duchy was Navahrudak. Its rulers attracted the principalities of Polack, Viciebsk, Smolensk, and others to defend together against invasions by the Crimean Tatars, Mongols, and Teutonic knights. The Kingdom of Poland became the main ally of the Duchy.
In 1323, Vilnius became the capital city. Ruthenian, the language of Belarusians and Ukrainians at that time, was the main literary and official language of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania until Polish political and cultural influence prevailed in the 17th and 18th centuries. Many literary works were composed in Ruthenian, as well as the Statutes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, some of the best European legislative texts. They show a broadly secular, tolerant and plural society. The Duchy provided asylum for many ostracized people from neighboring countries, for example old believers from Russia. Tatars imprisoned during the wars were allowed to settle together and produced fascinating translations, known as Al-Kitabs, of sacred texts into Ruthenian, but in Arabic script. From those translations, we know what the spoken Ruthenian of those days sounded like: it had all the main characteristics of contemporary spoken Belarusian. The Grand Duchy of Moscow, Russia's predecessor, was the main threat to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania since the 15th century. This led the latter to an ever closer union with the Kingdom of Poland. This culminated in the Union of Lublin, which produced the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, incl. all of contemporary Belarus, as an autonomous, but not main, participant. As the Russian tsars grew more powerful, they increasingly pursued their expansionist policy. The seventeenth century was especially devastating for Belarus; the war of 1654-1667 stands out among many others. During that war, more than half of the Belarusian population died, starved, was taken to Russia, or was sold as slaves to Persia (now Iran). That war profoundly changed the land and the people; it was a demographic, economic and cultural catastrophe. More wars followed until, in the late 18th century, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was divided between Russia, Prussia, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Hrodna was the last capital city of the Commonwealth in 1793-1795.
Russian empire
In 1795, the entire territory of contemporary Belarus became part of the Russian Empire. The new country was much less tolerant than the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The state machinery promoted the idea that the Belarusians, together with the Ukrainians, were a constituent part of the great Russian nation. For the first time, Jews were not free to live where they wanted; they had to pay twice as much taxes as Christians. After the 1864 appraisal, no Belarussians were allowed to hold positions of responsibility in the state administration. At the end of the 19th century, three-quarters of the peasants spoke Belarusian and identified themselves as Belarusians. Less than 15% of the urban population spoke Belarusian, reflecting the massive assimilation of Poland and Russia, as well as the shift of the population from Russian to Belarusian cities. Interestingly, more than half of the population of Belarusian cities and towns at that time were Jews. With the liberalization of life in the Russian Empire in the early 20th century, Belarusians seized the opportunity to establish their first national party, newspapers, and publishing houses. First, the multi-ethnic Vilnius appeared, which at that time was the main center of Belarusian cultural life; Also in Petersburg, the capital of the Russian Empire and Minsk.
First independence and USSR
During World War I and after the 1917 revolution, Russian political parties refused to contemplate an independent state for Belarusians. This changed in 1918 when the Germans occupied part of Belarus. Belarusian parties and organizations proclaimed an independent Belarusian Democratic Republic in Minsk on March 25, 1918. The republic was recognized by only a few governments. This forced the Russian Bolsheviks to allow the formation of another Belarusian republic, the Soviet Socialist Republic, which was a founding member of the Soviet Union and the United Nations, and which effectively became the independent Republic of Belarus in 1991.
In the Soviet Union, Belarus gained a lot and also lost a lot. On the one hand, it developed economically: there were Belarusian schools, and Belarusian books were widely published. On the other hand, the Belarusian identity was partially suppressed and belittled. For example, higher education in Belarusian was not allowed. Stalin's terror was another catastrophe for Belarus. Between 600,000 and 1,400,000 Belarusians were killed in Belarus or sent to Siberia. In the political purges of the 1920-30s, Belarus lost 80% of its professional literary writers. Of 139 doctoral students in 1934, only six survived. Stalin's terror practically destroyed Belarusian sciences and arts.
WWII
World War II for the Belarusians began in 1939 when Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union invaded Poland. Part of the Belarusian ethnic territories had been incorporated into the Polish state since 1920; now, the western and eastern parts of Belarus were united as part of the Soviet Union. In 1941, Germany invaded its former ally, the Soviet Union. Belarus was an area of great battles, a widespread partisan movement, and great suffering. Belarus was the most affected Soviet republic in the war. About 30% of the population died, including in more than 200 concentration camps; 70% of the towns and cities were totally or partially destroyed. The population of Belarus did not regain its prewar level until 1971. The Jewish population of Belarus never recovered after the Holocaust.
Independence
On July 27, 1990, the parliament of the Belarusian Soviet Socialist Republic declared the sovereignty of the country, but without breaking with the Soviet Union that was already collapsing. In December 1991, the heads of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia - the founding members of the USSR - formally dissolved the Soviet Union in Bielaviežskaja Pušča. Since then, the Belarusian government has adhered to the policy of being Russia's closest ally while maintaining and strengthening its independence.
Geography
With 9.5 million inhabitants, Belarus is a medium-sized European country covering a total area of 207,600 km², slightly smaller than the United Kingdom, five times the size of the Netherlands and Switzerland. The maximum distance from west to east is 560 km, while 650 km is the maximum distance from north to south. The country has more than 11,000 lakes and 91,000 km of rivers, with important areas of salt marshes. There are five main rivers in Belarus: Nioman, Dniepr, Sož, Biarezina, and Prypiać. The latter flows to the site of the former Chernobyl nuclear complex (Ukraine), scene of the 1986 nuclear disaster. About 40% of the country's landscape is covered by forests. Most of the country is flat and has vast areas of rolling countryside, but the highest point is Dziaržynskaja Hara at 334 m.
Holidays
The following festivals are national holidays:
- New Year's Day ( Новы год ): the January 1 It is a public holiday and the most important celebration for most Belarusians, and the celebrations take place throughout the night.
- Christmas ( Ражджаство ) - January 7th - Orthodox Christians in Belarus celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar.
- Women's Day ( Дзень жанчын ) - March 8 - a much loved celebration dating back to the early years of the Soviet Union.
- Workers Festival ( Свята працы ) - May 1 - it used to be one of the most important Soviet celebrations; its importance has declined significantly in contemporary Belarus.
- Victory Day ( Дзень Перамогі ) - May 9 - the victory of the Soviet Union in World War II is one of the cornerstones of contemporary Belarusian state ideology; various festivities are held throughout the country.
- Radaǔnica ( Радаўніца ): a festival of commemoration of the predecessors that takes place on ninth day after Easter according to the Julian calendar. Many people will visit cemeteries.
- Independence Day ( Дзень Незалежнасці ) - 3rd of July - initially, this day commemorated the liberation of Minsk from occupation in World War II in 1944. Over time, a new meaning was given that underlies the importance of war in the founding myth of Belarus. independence. A military parade takes place in the center of Minsk and other festivities, all over the country.
- October Revolution Day ( Дзень Кастрычніцкай рэвалюцыі ) - November 7 - Belarus remains the only country in the world that celebrates the anniversary of the Russian Revolution (1917) as a national holiday.
- Christmas ( Божае нараджэнне ) - December 25th - Although Catholics are a religious minority in Belarus, according to the Gregorian calendar Christmas is a national holiday and is also celebrated by non-Catholics.
Weather
The weather in summer is quite good. Approximately 28 degrees during the day, cooling a bit first thing in the morning and last, although not too much. Mid-afternoon storms are common, but they don't usually last long.
In winter the temperature can reach 30º below zero and the normal thing is that there are copious snowfalls.
Regions
| Center | |
Misnk Nesvizh | |
| West zone | |
 | Belavézhskaya Pushcha Brest Grodna Mir |
| East Side | |
 | Gomel Mogilev Sharkovshchina Vitebsk |
To get
By plane
Perfect if you do not have a visa (the closest embassy where you can apply for a visa is in Paris). At the same Minsk 2 airport you can request a visa (you need an invitation letter from a tour operator, if the trip is for tourism).
The airport is 40 km from Minsk, and there are bus services that for 1 euro drop you off at the bus station in the center of Minsk.
Minsk is served by daily flights to Frankfurt, Vienna, Prague and Milan, and from there it is easy to connect with Madrid or Barcelona.
Several European airlines have flights to Minsk domestic airport, approximately 40 km from Minsk, including Belavia, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Lot Polish Airlines, Air Baltic, and Czech Airlines.
Belavia, the only national airline, offers direct flights at competitive prices. Flights to / from Vilnius cost as little as € 40 and little advance purchase is required.
Boat
Since Belarus is landlocked, this option is not available. Boat trips through the many rivers that the country has, are still not exploited for tourism.
Travel
| Note: The main highways are toll roads in Belarus. Before the trip, check the list of toll roads. There are no toll stations. The toll for the use of Belarusian roads within the BelToll system can be paid on the basis of a prepaid contract or a postpaid contract. |
Belarus is not a large country, and a traveler can get from one side of its border to the other in less than a day.
By car
Traveling by car will take you far, as the infrastructure in Belarus was well developed after WWII. Gasoline is relatively cheap by European standards; 1 liter of gasoline costs 1.37 BYR (July 2018), with the price set by the government at all gas stations on a daily basis. You can rent a car in Minsk at the airport or city from major international rental chains or smaller local companies.
In taxi
You always have to adjust the price; If Russian is not spoken, the surprise can be very unpleasant. There are many taxi companies. Yandex Taxi, which can be accessed through its mobile app or the Uber mobile app, is the most popular and offers good prices if booked through the app.
By bus
Intercity buses are cheap, relatively comfortable, and relatively punctual, but they can be more expensive and less comfortable than trains. Bus schedules can be found online here and here. Note that some buses sell out, so it's best to book tickets in advance. They can be purchased at bus stations.
By minibus
Small minibuses (known as маршрутка, marshrutka), typically painted yellow, are generally cheaper than buses. Intercity seats can be reserved by phone or by walking and paying in cash.
By car
The signs both in cities and in the countryside are written in Cyrillic characters, so if you want to travel by car without a driver, it would be necessary to familiarize yourself with this alphabet first. The roads are in very good condition; the country is said to have the best road network of all the former Soviet republics.
By train
The train is a good way to travel through Belarus. It is quite safe and punctual, with a marked police surveillance, although it has the disadvantage that it is a bit slow. You sleep acceptably well in the sleeping cars, and you can buy clean sheets and a blanket for a small price. It is a good system if you want to arrive early to a city or save one night's accommodation. Seeing the sunrise from this medium can be beautiful.
To eat
If you are looking for a national gourmet meal, you are in the right place. Most of the products and ingredients are organic and radiation levels are constantly monitored in food to avoid contamination.
- Take fresh aurochs, and if you don't have any, you can use the moose instead. - From an 18th century Belarusian cookbook
Modern Belarusian cuisine is based on ancient national traditions, which have undergone a long historical evolution, with similarities to Russian cuisine. But the main methods of traditional Belarusian cuisine are carefully maintained by the people.
Dishes made with potatoes, which are called "the second bread", are common in Belarus. Belarusians make their beloved pope famous in their verses, songs and dances. There are specialty potato cafes in the country where you can try various potato dishes. Many salads include potatoes; they are served together with mushrooms and / or meat; They become different pirazhki (empanadas) and baked puddings. The most popular among Belarusians is the traditional draniki.(known as "latkes" to Americans, but eaten with sour cream only, never apple sauce), thick pancakes made with grated potatoes. The wide spread of potato dishes in Belarusian cuisine can be explained by the natural climatic conditions of Belarus, which are conducive to the cultivation of very starchy and tasty types of potatoes.
Meat and meat products, especially pork and salted pork fat, play an important role in the diet of Belarusians. One of the sayings of the town says: "There is no fish tastier than tench, and there is no meat better than pork." The salted pork fat is used lightly smoked and seasoned with onion and garlic. Pyachysta is one of the traditional dishes of the holidays. It is boiled, stewed or roasted suckling pig, poultry or large pieces of pork or beef. Meat-based dishes are often served with potatoes or vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, black radishes, or peas. It is characteristic that many vegetable and meat dishes are prepared in special stoneware pots.
Among fish dishes, Belarusians prefer yushka, galki, and also river fish baked or boiled without special seasonings. In general, the most common seasonings are onion, garlic, parsley, dill, caraway seeds, and pepper; they are used very sparingly in Belarusian cuisine. However, the national dishes are abundant and tasty. Fruit and vegetable options include fresh, dried, salted, and pickled mushrooms, and berries such as blueberries, wild strawberries, lingonberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Of the flour dishes, the most popular is zacirka. Pieces of specially prepared dough are boiled in water and then milk is poured over them or garnished with salted pork fat. Belarusians prefer to use whole milk, which affected some methods of making yogurt and the so-called klinkovy cottage cheese. In Belarusian cuisine,
Signature dishes include draniki, potato babka, knish, pyachysta, and zacirka.
Foreign cuisine
There are several foreign chains in Belarus, including McDonald's, KFC, and TGI Friday's. There are also French, Italian and Asian restaurants. Pizza is a very popular dish in many restaurants.
Drink and go out
Typical non-alcoholic beverages include kefir , which is a kind of sour milk, similar to yogurt, kvass Y kompot.
Vodka (harelka), the nastoikas of herbs bitter (especially Belavezhskaja) and sweet balms are the most common alcoholic beverages.
Krambambula It is a traditional medieval alcoholic drink that you can buy in most stores or order in a restaurant. It is a fairly strong drink but its flavor is much milder than vodka.
Medovukha (or myadukha) is a honey-based alcoholic beverage very similar to mead.
Sbiten it is a combination of kvass, another common soft alcoholic beverage, with honey.
Berezavik or biarozavy sok It is a birch sap that is collected in March from small holes in the birch trunks without damaging the plants themselves. There are several variations of this very refreshing non-alcoholic drink, which is a good thirst quencher in hot weather.
Sleep
Hotels in Minsk are of two categories: either very expensive or very cheap. Yes, they are the expensive ones, around 100/150 euros a night, the quality is European, and if you choose the cheap ones, they are Soviet-style hotels in very bad condition and the prices are around 30/50 euros a night.
There is another possibility and that is to rent rooms to individuals.
Please do not leave valuable items such as computers, mobile phones or wallets / cash in hotel rooms as there have been reports of theft by housekeepers.
Security
Belarus has a moderate level of crime. Fortunately, crimes against foreigners are rare, although criminals have been known to use force if they encounter resistance from victims. Common street crimes, such as muggings and pickpockets, occur most often near public transportation sites, near hotels frequented by foreigners, and / or at night in poorly lit areas. In many areas, you need to be especially vigilant in metro and bus stations, as criminals are likely to attack you.
Avoid visiting nightclubs and discos as they are operated by criminal gangs willing to hunt for more money, but organized criminal violence at the street level is rare and generally does not affect expats.
Cybercrimes of all kinds are well developed in Belarus. Merchandise orders with fraudulent credit cards, identity theft, piracy, blackmail schemes and advanced Nigerian-style fee fraud are gaining popularity. If you are doing business with individuals or companies in Belarus electronically, you should proceed with extreme caution. Wire fraud is not only common at ATMs and grocery stores, but serious injuries have been inflicted during robberies at street machines.
If you participate in a street demonstration with political banners, expect to be arrested in a few minutes. How quickly you get out (24 hours or 24 days) depends on your connections, your social status, etc. Westerners, especially, should avoid political discussions, protests, etc., due to strong government opposition to dissenting views.
Belarus remains largely a discriminatory society. Gay and lesbian travelers face widespread discrimination in Belarus, as do Jews. If you fall into any of these categories, be careful if you decide to travel to Belarus. The old national flag of Belarus, which is widely used by the opposition. Many demonstrations can be identified by seeing a red and white banner - a white background, with a red stripe that crosses horizontally in the center, forming a white / red / white flag. If you see this flag, do your best to stay away from the demonstration.
Avoid applauding in public, as this is a gesture often used by opposition protesters to mock the government.
Security personnel may, on occasion, place you, as a foreigner, under surveillance; Hotel rooms, telephones and fax machines can be monitored, and personal belongings can be searched in hotel rooms. Taking pictures of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest can lead to problems with the authorities; These sites are not always clearly marked and the application of these restrictions is subject to interpretation.
There are visible and hidden dangers, including potholes, unlit or poorly lit streets, distracted and dark-clad pedestrians walking on unlit roads, drivers and pedestrians under the influence of alcohol, and breaking traffic regulations. Driving in winter is especially dangerous due to ice and snow. Drivers are urged to exercise caution at all times.
The KGB in Belarus has not changed its name since the days of the Soviet Union; it's still called the KGB, and its habits probably haven't changed much either.
Some journalists of Polish ethnicity and with Polish citizenship ran into problems with the authorities (from being denied entry to a dozen days in prison) during 2005. If you have a Polish-sounding name, you better have good evidence that it is. not a journalist.
Belarusian police organizations are well trained and professional, but are severely restricted by an unreformed Soviet-era legal system, corruption, and the politicization of the police force and other government authorities. Due to low wages, it is not uncommon for agents to collect bribes during traffic stops. Sophisticated criminal investigations are often inconclusive due to lack of resources and / or political will.
Belarusians are extremely clumsy drivers.
Baths are very common in Belarus; however, they are not usually free or adapted for wheelchairs. Also note that they rarely have paper available (except perhaps in tourist spots like museums) and are often squatter style.
Health
Belarus had historically maintained an excellent health care system, but the aftermath of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster severely damaged the health care system. Consequently, medical care in Belarus is neither modern nor easily accessible, making it even more difficult for those who are not fluent in Russian or Belarusian. Ambulances are poorly equipped and unreliable; a waiting time of 30 minutes or more is not unusual. The fastest way to ensure care at the Western European level is medical evacuation to the European Union.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an increasingly serious health problem in Belarus. Consider consulting with a doctor about vaccination before traveling to Belarus.
The impact of the Chernobyl disaster on the food chain is an ongoing study. Food inspectors monitor food not only for bacterial contamination but also for its radiation levels. Most foods are considered insurance , except if they come from the prohibited regions within 50 km of the Chernobyl plant or the second access point around the intersection of the borders of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
Tap waterdo not it is safe to drink. Buy bottled water.
Respect
Since the Belarusian, Ukrainian and Russian cultures are very close and therefore share much in common, many of the same principles of behavior that can be applied to Russians and Ukrainians also apply to the population of Belarus. For example, when dating in a group, men are expected to pay for women regardless of whether or not they are in a romantic relationship.
Make sure you recognize Belarusians as a nation in their own right. They are not Russian despite their close relationship.
Keep in touch
In Belarus there are 3 main GSM providers, all of which offer prepaid SIM cards for Internet access and phone calls.
- MTS: has the best coverage
- Velcom: has good coverage
- Life :) - Has the worst coverage of the 3 providers
You will need to show your passport at the point of purchase. All 3 service providers have tourist plans that cost around BYR 15 and provide around 2GB of data, with more available to purchase at additional cost.
In places with free Wi-Fi, you will need to enter your cell phone number to receive a validation code by SMS.
Surroundings
Grades
- ↑In Belarusian: Беларусь, Bielaruś; officially, Рэспубліка Беларусь, Respublika Bielaruś.
external links
Wikipedia has an article on Belarus.w: Belarus
Wikimedia Commons houses multimedia content about Belarus. Commons
