Braslav is a city in the Vitebsk region of Belarus. Church, Sights, Travel and tourism, Historical and architectural monuments

Braslav is small town Vitebsk region of Belarus, administrative center of the Braslav region. The main architectural landmark of the city of Braslav is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, built here in 1824. Later in 1897, the church in the city of Braslav was expanded, very significantly rebuilt in the neo-Romanesque style and became the way it can be seen today. It was the new building of this church that was consecrated in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. In 1950, the church was closed by the Soviet authorities and converted into a granary, but already in 1953, believers were able to achieve the return of the church to the parish. However, services in the temple resumed only in 1967, after a thorough repair and restoration of the Braslav church. Since then, the temple has never been closed again and has gone through several more stages of restoration work. As a result, today the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the city of Braslav is a functioning church that is in excellent condition.

The church in the city of Braslav is built of natural stone and unplastered brick. An interesting architectural feature of the temple is that the space between the large stones is filled not just with lime mortar, but is lined with small fragments of stones that form various patterns. Externally, the result resembles a mosaic. This element of church decor is now called “Braslav mosaic”. Moreover, this technique was implemented differently on those parts of the temple walls that were erected in 1824 and in 1897. Therefore, even in our time, the border between the old and new parts of the church in the city of Braslav is clearly visible.

In the church in the city of Braslav there is a functioning organ, which is considered one of the best in the entire region. This organ was created at the beginning of the 20th century in Krakow. The sound of the organ and the acoustics of the temple itself leave an unforgettable impression, and local residents are rightfully proud of this musical instrument. However main feature Church in Braslav is that the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of Braslav, widely revered by Christians of various denominations, is kept here.

The Mother of God of Braslav is also considered the patroness of the famous Braslav lakes and the entire Braslav region, and for this reason the miraculous image is also known as the “Icon of the Mother of God Queen of Lakes”. Another name for this icon, which is least common, is “Icon of the Mother of God of the Monastery.” This name is connected with the fact that until the beginning of the 19th century this icon was kept in a Uniate monastery located on an island formed on one of the local lakes. However, in 1832 there was a fire in the monastery. All the monastery buildings were completely burned down, only the icon survived. After this, the icon of the Mother of God was transferred to the church in the city of Braslav. Nowadays, the icon is located in a central place in the main wooden altar of the temple. By the way, this altar was created in 1974.

The church and icon in Braslav have been attracting many travelers and pilgrims to these places for several centuries. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, on the basis of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the city of Braslav, a regional sanctuary was additionally formed. In addition, in 2009, the icon of the Mother of God of Braslav was crowned with papal crowns. The Braslav icon became the first crowned icon in the Vitebsk region and the seventh in Belarus. These events emphasized the special status of the church and icon for Belarusian Catholics and provoked an additional flow of tourists and pilgrims from different countries to the city of Braslav. Thus, the church in the city of Braslav is undoubtedly a valuable architectural, historical and cultural monument of the 19th century, as well as an important landmark of Belarus. Well, the icon of the Mother of God Queen of the Lakes is an important historical and cultural value and a religious relic.

There are many other attractions in the city of Braslav. First of all, let us note the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This temple was built in 1897 and is an architectural monument of the retrospective Russian style of the late 19th century. The Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the city of Braslav was not closed during Soviet times. At the moment, the church continues to function and is in good condition. The church houses several unique icons from the 18th and 19th centuries. Presumably they were painted by local artists, and these icons were transferred to the Braslav temple from a church in the village of Druya, which was closed during Soviet times. Another decoration of the church in the city of Braslav is a wooden carved three-tiered iconostasis, created in the 1980s.

The church in Braslav is located very close to the church. The small square between these temples was once the central (market) square of the entire city. There is now parking at this site. Together, the Braslav churches form a very interesting, beautiful, and most importantly, typical for Belarus (but unique for other regions) architectural ensemble of the historical center of a small town. Of course, the church in the city of Braslav is a historical and cultural value and an interesting landmark of Belarus.

The next attraction worthy of the attention of tourists, travelers and pilgrims is the St. Panteleimon Convent, which was founded in the city of Braslav in 2006 as a structural subdivision of the Polotsk Spaso-Euphrosinievsky Convent. This monastery is located in the building of the former zemstvo hospital, which was built in 1906.

In the city of Braslav there are also quite a lot of other buildings that can be classified as historical urban buildings. Most of these buildings date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these buildings are made in the so-called Zakopane style, which makes them unique and valuable. All these small attractions perfectly complement the very good tourist atmosphere of the city of Braslav; you can happily spend a lot of time here.

Another very important cultural, historical and archaeological monument of the city of Braslav is Castle Hill, or, in other words, a fortified settlement. This fort dates back to the 9th century. Castle Hill is located in the historical center of Braslav, directly opposite the church and church, which in turn are located at the foot of this mountain. The castle hill in Braslav is a flat hill of impressive size with steep slopes, and is one of the largest castles in Belarus.

It is the Castle Hill, towering above the entire settlement, and the two temples, which also stand out against the background of the low-rise buildings of the city, that form the panorama of the entire Braslav. The last fragments of any historical buildings previously located on Castle Hill were completely lost during the fire of 1859, when the settlement acquired close to modern look. Nowadays, several modern monuments, thematic sculptures and gazebos have been installed on the mountain. However, a visit to Castle Hill is included in the mandatory tourist program of all travelers arriving in the city of Braslav, because it is from here that the best views of the stunning surrounding landscapes, overflowing with blue lakes, open.

The city of Braslav is very popular among tourists. But it should be noted that it owes this not to architectural landmarks, but to the surrounding nature. The fact is that near the city of Braslav there are a lot of lakes, some of them very large. We are talking about the famous Braslav lakes. There are so many of these lakes, and they are located so densely that sometimes it seems as if the city of Braslav itself is located almost on an island, although in reality this is not the case. Among the lakes near Braslav there are a wide variety.

For example, the largest local lake, along the shore of which the city of Braslav is located, is called Drivyaty and has very, very flat banks and warms up well in the summer. This lake also has several sandy beaches, so Lake Drivyaty is popular among tourists as a place for a beach holiday. By the way, the proper infrastructure has been created on this lake, there are cafes and bars, boat and catamaran rentals and much more. Also, this and other lakes near the city of Braslav give tourists and travelers the opportunity to have very good fishing. In the city of Braslav itself, of course, there is all the necessary tourist infrastructure, for example: shops, banks, hotels, farmsteads and much more. It is precisely because of the opportunity to have a good swim, great fishing and just a great rest among the beautiful landscapes of the lake region that most tourists come to the city of Braslav.

Braslav is the center of the Braslav Lakes National Park (which includes 60 lakes, ancient forests and hundreds of rare species of animals and plants). This is the land of picturesque sunsets, beautiful legends, reflections by the surface of the water, or a relaxing holiday in a cheerful company. People know more about the beauty of the famous lakes than about the city itself, which has turned from a border fortress into a tourist center - and there is also something to see in it. We tell you all the details.

Despite its growing popularity, getting to Braslav is not so easy. Distance from - 240 km, from - 230 km.

Fans of railway transport have only one (and not the easiest) option: take the night train 625B from Minsk to Druya, and after 1 hour 20 minutes take a commuter bus to your destination. Thus, this route will take 11 hours 42 minutes, and that's only one way! A train ticket costs BYN 8 (€ 4).

A much simpler option is to get to Braslav by intercity bus. There are 5 buses from Minsk to Braslav daily (plus an additional bus on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays), the average trip lasts 4 hours. Ticket prices vary between BYN 14-16 (€ 7-8). Check the schedule.

The fastest and most comfortable transport to Braslav is minibus. The journey takes only 3 hours, and costs BYN 10 (€ 5).

Braslav, as a very practical resort town, is well prepared to welcome tourists. You have a wide choice of accommodation, from a room rented for the night to hotels and farmsteads.

A hotel awaits you not far from the bus station "Zaezny Dvor" (Gagarina st., 8) . Due to its location, this hotel is a popular destination, so rooms must be booked in advance. Residents can use free wi-fi, lie on the city beach nearby, and go to the museum. There is also a place for lunch - a restaurant "Ozerny". Room prices are BYN 14-34 (€ 7-18).

A very modern and comfortable option, although not the most budget-friendly one possible, is hotel complex Drivyaty (Rybkhoznaya st., 12) . Here you will find the entire holiday package: barbecue facilities, private beach, hot tub, restaurant, bar, wi-fi. The cost of a room per day is BYN 63 (€ 33).

The easiest way to spend the night in Braslav with minimal financial losses is to rent a room. Look for options and . For such housing you will pay BYN 10-14 (€ 5-7) per day, but in the summer, with a large flow of tourists, the price may increase.

Another convenient overnight accommodation option for tourists is recreation centers. In addition to a place to stay, you will get a lot of ready-made tours and excursions: when you get tired of lying on the beach and want to get active, you can always go on an excursion or climb around a rope town. You can take a closer look at the camp site "Braslav Lakes" (Rybkhoznaya str., 15) - a convenient and inexpensive option. You can live in traditional double, triple or quadruple rooms or - a little extreme - in a tent camp.

You can look for other hotels. And for tired city dwellers, we recommend agro-estates: you can live in a house on the shore of a lake, meet local residents, go fishing on a boat and relax in a bathhouse. Choose, just remember that this option is suitable for motorists - most of the estates are located outside the city. However, if you plan to see all the sights of these places, you will still have to travel around the surrounding area.

Places with history

The historical birthplace of Braslav is Castle Hill - an ancient settlement in the very center of the city. The legend about the founding of Braslav is connected with this place - the story about Prince Dvin, his wife Druya ​​and their daughter Driva (you can find echoes of these names in local names). Now the heroes of this legend can be recognized in the wooden idols on Castle Hill. Legend is legend, but here’s a historical fact: Prince Bryachislav of Polotsk founded a border fortress on Castle Hill. The city was first mentioned in 1065. Now the mountain offers an excellent view of the city: from here you can see 2 lakes, a church, a church and numerous houses of Braslav residents.

Doctor Stanislav Narbut is buried on Castle Hill; a monument with a lantern on the top of a ten-meter stele was erected in his honor - a symbol of the doctor’s care for his patients. Stanislav Narbut founded a hospital in Braslav, which operated for 90 years, after which a convent was located there.

Not far from the castle is the Church of the Nativity of Mary. Previously, there was a wooden church on this site, founded by the Vilnius governor Manivid. However, during a big fire in the 15th century, it burned down, and it was rebuilt only in the 19th century. There are also churches in the nearby settlements of Miory, Slobodka and Ikazn, and there is an interesting connection between these four buildings. From the top of each of them you can see the tops of the other three. If trouble happened, residents of a city or village could light a fire on top of a building and thus send a signal to neighboring settlements - and from three sides they would already rush to help. By the way, in the Braslav Church you can buy souvenirs related to the city: among them are postcards, magnets and even T-shirts. In addition to the church, there is also Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in 1897.

Belmont Park- a place with a rich history. Who has ever been here? In 1812, Barclay de Tolly’s headquarters was located here, later Alexander I and the Neapolitan King Murat visited here, the Decembrists A.V. Poggio and M.S. Lunin met here, so it’s time for you to come here too! Now in the park you can see the ruins of a palace, an ancient chapel and hundred-year-old trees - enjoy the leisurely walk of the residents.

18 km from Braslav is located agro-town Opsa. Preserved here Plater's estate, built in 1904. During its existence, the estate managed to be the main residence of the Platers, a boarding school and starred in the film “The Calm” based on Turgenev’s novel. Now the building is under reconstruction - they plan to turn it into an elite hotel.

A couple of years ago it was restored in Braslav "The road to fulfillment of desires": for your wish to come true, you need to walk along the paving stones under a metal arch decorated with the city’s coat of arms.

If you are passing near the town of Miory, be sure to turn towards the village of Prudniki and try to find a waterfall (55.760301, 27.616554) on Vyata River. Previously, there were water mills here that generated electricity. Later they were destroyed, and travelers received another place for photo sessions, admiration and relaxation. Getting there is not so easy: ask locals for directions.

Lakes and their legends

As a rule, in all legends about lakes Braslav always drowns beautiful girl. Whatever lake you come to, ask the locals how it was formed - and instead scientific explanation about the melting of the glacier you will hear about someone drowning there.

Legend about St Teresa's Bay Lake Nedrovo is no exception. It says that in the Braslav region there lived a beautiful and intelligent girl named Teresa, who treated all people with spells and herbs, which is why she was called a saint. Her death did not seem like a mere coincidence to the residents, and people explained this event by saying that “God takes bright people early.”

Another interesting legend is related to education Lake Strusto and the islands on it. This story is about the beautiful Strusto and her lover Shovo, who went to war and never returned. The girl did not survive the death of her beloved, cried the whole lake, and then drowned herself in it.

And here is the story about the name of the lakes South Volos has physical evidence, and not just a beautiful legend in the memory of residents. Now many scientists believe that the name of these lakes is associated with the ancient pagan god Veles - the master of the kingdom of the dead, the patron of livestock, poetry and wealth. This opinion appeared after the “Veles Stone”, an altar of a pagan deity, was found on the shore of one of the lakes.

Ancient city of Br A Slav is picturesquely located among lakes and forests. Perhaps it can be considered the historical capital of this quiet region, although the city is smaller or only about 10 thousand people live in it. The atmosphere of the city is enhanced by both its historical appearance and natural surroundings, thanks to which Braslav has become, in a way, the resort capital of Belarus. Despite its small size, I have enough material about this city for two stories.

Andrey and I spent a good half day in Braslav, arriving in the city in the morning from the village where we spent the night, and in the evening leaving Braslav in a north-easterly direction.

Map with localization of photographs by their numbers in this story:

2. Just ten kilometers, or 15 minutes by bus from Akhremovtsy, and we are in the city. The bus station in Braslav is new, and brand new - unlike the thoroughly Soviet bus stations in other regional centers visited on this trip. Having handed over our backpacks to the storage room, we set off for a walk around the city.

3. In Braslav you immediately feel the proximity of the border. There are an unusually large number of cars with Latvian license plates driving along the streets, and buses routinely depart from the bus station to Daugavpils - it is only 45 kilometers away, and 15 kilometers from the border. By the way, the Braslav district also borders Lithuania.

Braslav is one of the oldest cities in Belarus. It was founded in 1065 (that is, two years earlier than the first mention of Minsk), and initially bore the name Bryachislavl - in honor of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav Izyaslavich, and over time this name was transformed to its current form. There was even a castle in Braslav (but we will examine its place in the second part), the city ended up in the Russian Empire in 1795 (according to the third partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth) and was part of the Kovno province (the center of which was present-day Kaunas), being a town within Novoaleksandrovsky district (its center was the city of Novoaleksandrovsk - now Zarasai in Lithuania). And now, as already mentioned, it is an ordinary regional center and the “resort capital” of the country. By the way, Braslav is also one of the northernmost Belarusian cities (only Verhnedvinsk is further north).

4. Gagarin Street - the southern edge of the city and part of the highway to Daugavpils. The bus station goes straight to it. There is no railway in Braslav (but this was not always the case, and we will learn about this in the second part).

5. Nearby is Lake Drivyaty (not to be confused with Drisvyaty, which is in the same area), near the shore of which the city is located. There is a sandy beach with a relaxation area, but the water was a little cloudy from the August bloom.

The Braslav region is famous for its lakes and clean air, and therefore is popular as a place for recreation and fishing - there are many recreation centers and sanatoriums in the vicinity. The local landscapes with pine forests, hills and many lakes reminded me of the southern part of the Pskov region, or the Valdai Upland in the Novgorod region. However, these landscapes have the same geological origin - thanks to the glacier.

6. Near the lake there is a small alley paved with cobblestones. The inscription "Braslav" is visible on the hillside.

7. And here there is a hypertrophied stool:

8. And the sculpture of the Golden Fish, donated to the city by college students in the village of Vidzy, Braslav region. And don't ask why it's not actually gold.

I was, however, more confused by the sign under the sculpture: it is not clear, firstly, why a gift for compatriots should be signed by English, and secondly, why is Vidzy written with the letter W and not V.

9. From the bus station we head to the city streets. They are cozy and in some places surrounded by greenery, which maintains a resort atmosphere. Here I sometimes remembered St. Petersburg resort villages on the Gulf of Finland - for example, Repino and Komarovo.

10. The gymnasium is in the process of renovation. I regret that I didn’t take a closer look at the panel on the wall.

11. Mass grave of soldiers who died in the battles for Braslav during the Great Patriotic War. The city was under Nazi occupation from June 27, 1941, and was liberated on July 6, 1944 during the Siauliai offensive operation.

12. Nearby there is a reminder that this region was part of Poland in 1920-39. A small block of houses for officials (I saw a very similar one in), built in the 1920s according to the design of the architect Juliusz Klos. And yes, this is another shot from the “find the cat” series.

13. This house is especially decorated with thickets:

14. And this one looks more modest:

15. Another Polish house is now occupied by the police:

16. And this is the entrance to a Soviet two-story building in the same block:

17. A well with an unusual wooden canopy has also been preserved from Polish times:

18. Although gas is installed in the houses, some people still use stoves. Pay attention to the round woodpile - this is how firewood is typically stacked in these parts.

19. From here it’s a stone’s throw to the small but main square of the city. On the left you can see the district executive committee - the building was also built “behind the Polish hour”, like the eldership of the Braslav povet (that is, in fact, the purpose has not changed). On the right you can see the silver Lenin.

21. And a children's library. It’s hard to say how old the building is - it’s been spoiled too much by modern materials.

22. Handwritten sign at the bus stop!

23. There are many pine trees in the Braslav landscape. Sometimes quite bizarre in shape.

24. This is Sovetskaya Street, which, cunningly bending, runs through the city from west to east. There is another Polish house in the frame.

26. And handwritten posters. Where would we be without them?

27. And in this wooden house there is a local history museum, which we also visited, but later.

28. Slow life, small houses. The main part of the city's development is a diverse private sector. And it must be said that it is difficult to single out any clearly defined center in Braslav. By the way, on the left you can see a house occupied by some kind of Protestant church.

29. Soon we came to the city cemetery:

30. Graves are found from different times. And the inscriptions on the slabs are in both Russian and Belarusian.

31. And this is the Muslim grave of the Lithuanian Tatars. There are also those - descendants of mercenaries from the Golden Horde who served in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. There was even one interesting thing, like Belarusian Arabic writing.

32. Also here, as in Glubokoe, there is a mass grave of Polish soldiers who died near Braslav in 1920.

33. Across the road there is another mass military grave. Now Russian soldiers who died here in the First World War.

34. However, there are Polish “civilian” graves here too:

35. And this, apparently, is the crypt of some famous people:

36. Behind the trees is another clearly Polish building, and another example of paving stones. Now it is a children's creativity house.

37. And again a handwritten poster. I’m afraid to think about the purpose of a wrench in children’s art (which, by the way, cannot be the same on both sides, as in the picture).

And let's stop there for now. From this place you can get to the late Soviet five-story microdistrict, from which I will begin the second part. And from there we will head to the main historical place of the city - Castle Hill and the temples standing next to it.

Firstly, I want to dispel the myth that the quality of roads in Russia and Belarus is incomparable. Let's put it this way: the main routes in the Pskov region are equally decent. But when I had to travel around the Belarusian outback, on secondary roads, I found all sorts of things there. I even managed to get a crack on the alloy wheel as a souvenir.

The picturesque surroundings began in the Sebezh region - I really wanted to return to this town. Having driven along a chain of lakes with shores overgrown with reeds, admiring entire flocks of wild swans, we drove out onto a sandy forest road that led to the border. The former customs post was empty - no barrier, no checks, just a large sign informing that “you are leaving a stage 1 swine fever zone.” This is how they speak ugly about the Fatherland...

The first more or less large settlement on our way was Novodvinsk. Already there I noticed what I later noted in Belarusian towns: cleanliness, grooming, neatness. In our provinces we often have a problem with this - next to something like this there may be some broken fence or a pile of garbage. Everything is very harmonious with them - pavement with tiles, flower beds, fences, all the houses are painted. Impressive.

There in Novodvinsk they exchanged rubles for Belarusian rubles. I felt like a millionaire: I haven’t held such a lot of money in my hands since the 90s. During the first few days in the store, I fell into confusion and simply handed the saleswoman a pile of banknotes: take as many as you need. But they are used to it there - there are a lot of tourists from Russia.

And here is our goal: the glorious city of Braslav.

Something reminded me of the Krasnodar villages: maybe the summer heat, maybe the general “resort” spirit. The city's perimeter is surrounded by four lakes, the largest of which, Drivyaty, is the local “sea”.

The best way to view Braslav is from Castle Hill.

A stone with the date of the first mention of the city and a list of "historical milestones".

Every self-respecting city should have a legend. Preferably sentimental - with love, separation and a beautiful maiden throwing herself into the waters. You can read it - and everything is clear almost word for word, if you delve into it a little.

And here are the wooden sculptures of the heroes of this story.

The main city attraction is the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, built in 1824 in the austere Romanesque style. I have always liked the combination of brick and granite in architecture.

Nearby is a summer terrace in the shape of an ark. There are benches, a raised platform for the pulpit - either for sermons in hot weather, or for some kind of youth events.

Altar with the icon of the Virgin Mary “Queen of the Lakes”.

The interior has stained glass windows and an abundance of wood carvings.

Such voluminous bas-relief icons are rare in Orthodox churches. I remember something similar in the house church of the Gatchina Palace.

The church stands on a gentle hill and is surrounded by a low stone wall. Opposite it, across the street, is the Orthodox Assumption Church.

What I noticed, both in Braslav and in other surrounding towns: Catholic churches are always in a more advantageous place - they were clearly built before the Orthodox and managed to stake out either a picturesque hill or a position closer to the center. It is immediately clear that these places were under Poland for a long time.
In addition, all the churches that we saw were open, even despite the absence of services. Orthodox Christians, not only do they usually stand somewhere on the side, in the outskirts, but also give the impression of being less well-groomed and less visited. In some, judging by the overgrown paths and dusty porch, services are clearly held only on holidays. I don’t know religious statistics for the Vitebsk region - I’m only saying what I saw myself. However, it is possible that the Catholic diocese receives help from abroad, so it can afford more.

At the entrance to the local history museum, someone lost his head.

In the museum itself, in the historical part, it was dark, like in a cave, so I filmed only on the 2nd floor, where local folk crafts are exhibited. These are mainly weaving, straw weaving and wood carving.

We later saw this cathedral in person.

Belarusian netsuke.

And this is Mount Mayak - one of the highest and best viewing points of the Braslav Upland. From a height of 174 meters above sea level, views of the surrounding forests, islands and lakes open up. There is a gazebo built at the very top of the mountain, so you can climb another three meters higher. Above the entrance to the gazebo it was written “Tsmok lives here.” We didn’t know who this was, so we didn’t pay much attention to the warning. As they explained to me later, this is a local persecution of Zmey-Gorynych, so it turns out that we were exposing ourselves to serious danger, since I forgot my treasure sword at home.

There are white spiers in the distance - this is the village of Slobodka. We'll see him more closely.

The path to Slobodka runs through a village with the gloomy name Ikazn. It seems that at one time there were much more inhabitants here, otherwise why would they build such a hefty church - more than in Braslav.

And it's true. The current population of the village is only 300 people, and in the 16th century there was a castle here, which Ivan the Terrible failed to take during the Livonian War.

In the distance, behind the apple orchard, rises the elegant bell tower of St. Nicholas Church.

And in the garden itself there are several technical rarities. As a child, next to our dacha there was a state farm “Ilyich’s Way”. So, there were a great many similar horse-drawn agricultural machinery abandoned there. It’s a pity that in the 80s everything was scrapped.

And here is Slobidka with the sugar-white Church of the Heart of Jesus.

We took a picturesque road, along gentle hills, past wide fields, to the northeast towards the town of Druya, located on the banks of the Dvina.

It would seem like a remote place, much deeper, but there is no sign of depression. There are no abandoned villages, or even ruined houses in the villages. This again is a stark contrast to our rural area.

They live everywhere, everything is well-groomed, the fields are cultivated. There are no wastelands overgrown with weeds and ruins of collective farms. Everywhere there are either mowed, plowed, or herds of cows and sheep roaming. IN as a last resort, storks.
So we have something to strive for.

“Uncle, did you knock out the tank?
- Ya, ya!”

And more about road signs. They are a little different from ours. The dot in the triangle is like an exclamation point - “Other dangers”, which has hardly been used in our country lately. There are artistic signs attached to it, explaining exactly what dangers may await you. The second sign - “Twisting road” is always accompanied by an exact indication of the number of upcoming twists. But I still don’t understand the meaning of the latter - “watch the road” or what?

A traveler entering Druya ​​is greeted by an old Jewish cemetery that looks like a field sown with dragon teeth.

And here is the central square of the town. From it one can quite fully imagine the degree of his provincialism.

In the middle of the square lies a large boulder - Boris's stone. It received its name from one of the local princes of the 12th century, who ordered a cross and the inscription “Boris, you’re right,” which is now almost impossible to make out, to be stamped on it. The stone was found in the river and when it was taken out from there with the help of heavy equipment, it was accidentally split. This is how the Tsar Bell turned out.

Several more views of the village streets.

And this is a Catholic monastery. The “ears” buttresses on the sides of the bell tower make it somewhat similar to our Peter and Paul Cathedral, only without a spire.

Beyond the Dvina is Latvia. It is not clear whose cows are swimming on the shallows in the middle of the river. One must think that in the evening they themselves will sort out their nationality and state affiliation and go where they need to go.

I hope I haven’t gotten too tired of churches yet? Then here's another one - in the village of Opsa. We are already riding southwest of Braslav.

In the surrounding area, an estate was found in a state of sluggish restoration. They say that somewhere in a nearby park there is still an oak tree to which Napoleon tied his horse.

I won’t lie - we didn’t find the famous oak tree, but we did find this cute little barn. Or maybe a glacier.

On the way, a strange thing was discovered at a small lake: I didn’t know that there were atolls in our latitudes.

So we arrived in the village of Drisvyaty.
Church.
That's it, okay, I won't do it again... :)

Lake of the same name. In the middle of it is Castle Island. Which also seems to hint at the former glory of this village.

The dark stripe on the horizon is already Lithuania. It’s somehow quite simple here with the border zones. It would be possible to sail to the European Union. However, judging by the queues of cars at gas stations, it is more economically profitable to sail here.

And in conclusion, here are a few more idyllic evening landscapes of this lake region.

250 kilometers from Minsk and only 15 kilometers from the Lithuanian border is small and cozy Braslav. The sights of the city and its environs are an ancient and mysterious settlement, a beautiful church, an ancient brick mill and, of course, lakes.

History and heraldry

The city of Braslav with a population of ten thousand people is located in the north of the country. It is surrounded on all sides by forests and picturesque lakes, thanks to which, by the way, Belarus is often called “blue-eyed”. This ancient city has its own rich history. He had a chance to see and experience a lot in his lifetime.

Already in the 9th century the first settlement was formed here. The first written mention of Braslav dates back to 1065. In the 14th century, the city became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and in 1500 it received Magdeburg Law.

The 17th and 18th centuries were difficult for the city and its inhabitants. As a result of numerous wars, Braslav was repeatedly destroyed. In 1795 the city became part of the Russian Empire, and in 1922 it again came under Polish rule. In 1944, Soviet troops ousted the Germans from Braslav and occupied the town.

What interesting things can today’s Braslav show to a visiting tourist? The city's attractions are not only historical and architectural sites, but also natural monuments.

In addition, the real highlight of this locality is its coat of arms, which many associate with the Freemasons. On it you can actually see the image of an eye in a blue triangle. However, it is a symbol of “divine observation” and in this case protects the city and its inhabitants from various troubles and misfortunes.

The city in the Vitebsk region is today an important recreational and tourist center of Belarus. The mild climate, clean air and lakes full of fish attract thousands of vacationers here every year.

What might be interesting about Braslav itself? The must-see attractions for every tourist are listed below:

• Castle Hill fortification;
• Church of the Nativity;
• Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
• water mill from the early 20th century;
• Narbut hospital building;
• local history museum;
• Museum of Culture and Traditions;
• Belmont Park;
• healing spring Okmenitsa;
• old Christian cemetery of the 19th-20th centuries.

Castle Hill - a place of legends and mysteries

On a low 14-meter hill between lakes Novyata and Drivyaty there is an ancient settlement. Here you can still see the remains of fortifications from the 9th-12th centuries. The emergence of Braslav itself is connected with this place.

Castle Hill impresses not so much with the preserved fragments of earthen ramparts and fortifications, but with the stunning views that open from its flat top. There are small wooden gazebo houses designed for outdoor recreation.

At the top of Castle Hill there is a memorial block, indicating that it was here that Braslav began. Nearby is the grave of local doctor and philanthropist Stanislav Narbut, marked by a tall obelisk. He used his own money to build and open the first public hospital in the city.

Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary

Immediately below Castle Hill you can see other attractions of Braslav. Among them is the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God, built in the 1820s.

The sacred structure was built in the neo-Romanesque style, using the technique of alternating red brick and stone boulders in the masonry, traditional for the Baltic region. Inside the temple, a valuable relic is kept - the icon of the Mother of God of Braslav, which is shown to visitors exclusively on holidays.

It is known that during the Nazi occupation of the city, the rector of the temple, Mieczyslaw Akreitz, was shot by the Germans. In the 50s, the church was turned into a grain warehouse, but two years later it was returned to the parishioners.

Narbut Mill and Hospital

In the historical part of Braslav, several more ancient beautiful buildings have been preserved. One of them is massive, made of brick and stone. It was built at the beginning of the twentieth century and now serves as a museum.

Another interesting building can be seen in the city - this is the Narbut Hospital, which was already discussed above. A talented doctor Stanislav Narbut built a hospital in Braslav that met all the requirements of European medicine. Within its walls, he performed dozens of complex operations, saving the lives of both adults and children. The red hospital building is located directly under Castle Hill and is distinguished by its discreet but rather elegant brick wall decor. Now this building houses an Orthodox monastery.

The virgin purity and idyll of the Braslav lakes

In a story about the tourist sites of a Belarusian city, one cannot fail to mention the reservoirs that surround it. Braslav Lakes are a group of reservoirs and a national park with a total area of ​​130 square kilometers. A great place to relax and observe wildlife. In total, there are 70 reservoirs of different sizes. The largest of them are Drivyaty, Snudy, Tsno, as well as Lake Strusto. On the bank of the latter, by the way, there is the Okmenitsa spring with healing mineral water.

Braslav lakes attract a large number of tourists and vacationers, especially in the summer. On their banks there are modern recreation centers, campsites and cottages, and tent sites. You can enjoy the picturesque panoramas of the lakes to your heart's content by climbing Mount Mayak, where a wooden observation deck has been equipped especially for tourists.

In conclusion

Braslav is a small city in the northwestern part of Belarus, which is surrounded on all sides by coniferous forests and lakes with crystal clear water. Thanks to these natural resources, it has become a popular resort destination.

In the city itself you should definitely visit several interesting places and attractions. Among them are Castle Hill with the remains of ancient ramparts, the neo-Romanesque Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, a water mill and the Stansislav Narbut hospital, and a local history museum. After visiting all these objects, you can have a wonderful rest on the shore of one of the Braslav lakes.