Travelers Best

Overview
Belarus was known as Belorussia or White Russia. Once the country gained independence from the USSR in 1991, it took on the name Belarus. The close tie Belarus maintains with Russia has made the country pretty isolated from the rest of the world, mainly when it comes to foreign relations. There are heavy regulations in the state and the human rights record is not a pretty one. Belarus has gained a reputation for just being a transit area to and from Russia. However, this reputation is not deserved by the country. Belarus has picturesque villages, wide plains, monasteries, ancient castles, scenic landscapes, deep forests, a fabulous culture and thousands of lakes. This is a paradise for nature lovers. Most of the territory is covered with oaks, pine trees and maple filled forests. Nature lovers are in for a real treat with the diverse fauna such as elk, deer, bison, wolf, wild boar, fox, bear, lynx and beaver along with numerous birds. The rich and unique cultural heritage ad history of Belarus is depicted with significant architectural monuments going as far back as the 12th century.

History
In the 13th century, Belarus was part of Lithuania of the Grand Duchy. The Grand Duchy and Poland were united in the 15th century. However, by the 18th century the Russian Empire took Belarus under its wing following Poland’s dismemberment. The Soviet Union was born in 1918 at the end of World War I. In the 1940s German forces occupied most of Russia, and nearly two million people lost their lives in this period. At the end of the war, Belarus once again became part of the Soviet Union, but the United Nations granted the state greater voting power. The Soviet Union was disintegrated in 1991. Christians mainly make up the population of Belarus. The country has Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox with small communities represented by the Muslims, Jews and Protestants. The people of Belarus are friendly and welcoming with the main tradition being hospitality.

Sightseeing
There are a great number of significant architectural sites in Belarus. Aside from architecture, the state is a natural beauty. Belavezha Wood is one such site where visitors can see rare animals like bears, bison and wolves mingling in their natural habitat. With scenic hiking trails, marshland, primeval forests, diverse fauna and deep rivers, this unique region is a protected biosphere. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is a state national park which is home to five hundred year old trees, 900 types of plants and 60 types of rich animals. Brest, a fortress was used in the 1940s to repel the German army. There is a museum inside the fortress that depicts a rich history going back to the 13th century. Visitors should not miss an opportunity to see the famous puppet theatre and the Belaya Vezha.

Things to Do
Shopping in Belarus is mainly done on Scarina Avenue which has antique shops carrying trinket boxes, wooden caskets, decorative plates, straw items and other ornamental items. Russian souvenirs such as original samovars and matreshka dolls can also be found. The cultural scene in Belarus is a thriving one with the theatre, opera, ballet, puppet theatre and circus. There are some great restaurants offering live music in Minsk, discos, bars, night clubs and music venues.

Weather
The weather in Belarus is a temperate continental climate. The winters are medium to heavy with 75-125 days of snow. The rainy season is from April to October. The best time to visit Belarus would in the middle of the year.
M.A.H.