Minsk

Minsk is the capital of Belarus. It is also the largest city in the country. It is also the capital of Minsk Voblast province and Minsk Raion. As a capital city it is also the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Independent States and has a special administrative status in Belarus. Minsk was a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1242. The city was conquered by Russia in1793 and later in 1919-1991 it became the capital of the Byelorussian SSR. Russians governed the city until 1667. It was divided into smaller administrative units in 1938 and also established three districts. The city is now the industrial capital of the country by developing industrial and services sectors. With around 250 factories and plants, it has become the major industrial center of Belarus.

Area & Location: Lies on the southeastern slope of Minsk Hills, Minsk is situated along the Svislach and Niamiha rivers. Located at 53º55' Latitude North and 27º33' Longitude East, the city has an average altitude of 220m above sea level. The city occupies a total area of 266.8 sq. km. It is also home to 1,780,000 of its residents.

Tourist Attractions: With amazing theaters, museums and churches, Minsk draws in thousands of visitors from far and wide.

Transportation: The city of Minsk has a well-developed transport system. Minsk Metro, an underground metro system is a very active transportation system. The Warsaw-Moscow railway and Liepaja-Romny railway connects the city with other parts of the world. There are three intercity bus stations that link Minsk with suburbs, other cities and the neighboring countries. Minsk also has two airports that serve the city.

Hotels: The hotels situated in the heart of the city offer complex of services to tourists as well as businessmen. The city's hotels are considered as the most comfortable hotels in the country. Best Eastern Hotel Minsk, Best Eastern Hotel Jubileinaya and Best Eastern Belarus - Minsk are the comfy hotels that provide refurbished rooms and mouthwatering dishes.

Places of Attraction: Minsk, the major cultural center of Belarus offers 20 theaters where the people can relax and enjoy themselves. National Academic Big Opera and Ballet Theater of the Republic of Belarus, Belarusian Musical Comedy Theater, Maxim Gorky National Drama Theater and Yanka Kupala National Drama Theater are some of them. The city's museums preserve all historic relics. The major museums of the city include Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum, Belarusian National Arts Museum, Belarusian National History and Culture Museum, Belarusian Nature and Environment Museum, Ethnography and Folklore Museum, Maksim Bahdanovich Literary Museum, Old Belarusian History Museum and Yanka Kupala Literary Museum. The city also offers variety of parks that serve as recreational centers for adults as well as children. Chelyuskinites Park - an urban forest park in Minsk, K. S. Zaslonov Children's Railroad in Minsk -a narrow gauge railroad loop, Gorky Park -an Public Park, Forest Park and Yanka Kupala Park are the places in the city where the people can spend their leisure time.