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Minsk – the capital of Belarus, located on the Slavic River, which is practically in the geographical center of the country.
It is impossible to pinpoint the exact date of the citys founding, but the earliest records of Minsk in the annals date back to 1067 in «s Tale of the Times» which describes the events that ended with the destruction of the city because of the struggle between the sons of Yseslav the Wise with the Polish prince Vseslav. Later Minsk was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish Republic and the Russian Empire.
The ancient Minsk was mostly built of wood. The first stone structure known of the city today is the second half of the 11th century stone facade of the cathedral. Stone was used extensively in city building in the 12th and 13th centuries. At that time, a two-story stone tower was built. And only later the cultural churches were built: in 1709 – the cathedral of St. Mary the Virgin, the Orthodox Church of Peter and Paul and the cathedral of St. Thomas of Aquinas. And in connection with a fire in 1835, which devastated the city, a ban was placed on the construction of wooden buildings in the center of the city. In 1830, the city began to be beautified with stone, and the streets were paved with stone. In 1872, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is opened, the first city fountain is installed in it, and from 1874 the water pipeline operates in Minsk. In 1896-1898, a magnificent church was built – the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky, and in 1905-1910; – the Red Church – the Church of St. St. Simon and St. Helen. During the Second World War, Minsk was destroyed to the ground. However, its old cathedrals in Baroque and the Church of the Red were miraculously preserved.
In 1950, the Church of St. Thomas, which had suffered considerably in the war, was destroyed. The church of St. Thomas Aquinas was destroyed, along with the Dominican monastery, even though it had been declared an archaeological monument.
Nowadays Minsk – it is the industrial, economic, educational, scientific and cultural center of Belarus. It is home to such powerful industrial enterprises as: MINSK Truck Plant, MINSK Automobile Plant, MINSK Machine Building Plant, MINSK Refrigerator and Appliance Plant &Laquo;Atlant» and many more plants of various types.
The status of an educational center gives it the status of twenty-two state institutions of higher learning in Minsk: Academy of Management under the President of the Republic of Belarus, the National University of Technology, the University of Economics, and the University of Pedagogy, The Belarusian State University, the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics, the Belarusian Academy of Music and ten private universities.
Minsk – a city with its own specialties. It is worth noting the Jesuit Monastery and the Marjorie Chapel, the Monastery of the Bernardines, and the Monastery of the Bernardines. Also, the Shrine of the Holy Trinity, the Sacristy of the Holy Sepulchre and the Chapel of the Basilica are worthy of special attention.
Minsk, in its essence the heart of Belarus, is – a beautiful city with an interesting and rich history, which has preserved its integrity and attractiveness.
Overall Score
- Tap water: No, not drinkable
- Religious government: Non-religious
- Population: 2,000,000 people
- GDP: $5,001 / year
- Power outlets: 230V50Hz
- Internet: 22 Mbps
- Best wireless: MTS
- Pay without cash: Yes, cards OK almost everywhere
- Tipping: Tipping is entirely discretionary in Belarus and service charges are not automatically added to the bill. If you want to tip in a restaurant or café, give about 5% of the total amount. Taxi drivers and hotel staff don’t generally expect tips, although they are always gratefully received!
- Apartment listings: Hata
- Apartments: Airbnb
- Hotels: Booking.com
- More hotels: Hotels.com
- Best taxi: Uber
- Best coworking space: Imaguru
- Online electronics shop: 5element
- Best short-haul air carrier: Belavia
- Best intl air carrier: KLM
- Monthly costs for expat: $650
- Monthly costs for family: $1300
- Monthly costs for local: $370
- Meal: $2
- Small Cola: $0.2
- Beer 1 Pint: $1.6
- Coffee: $1.1
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