How Our Favourite Things Are Made? Industrial Tourism In Belarus

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Industrial tourism «was born» in America in 1866 with the opening of the Jack Daniel's plant. This company decided to show the process of production to the tourists. Now there are companies, where tourists are not allowed, almost gone in the USA. In Europe, industrial tourism has taken a different form - here you'll find the post-industrial motif. Tourists can visit an abandoned salt and coal mines, closed shipyards. Especially easy to visit some car production plants.

Industrial tourism in Belarus is a relatively new industry. Some companies that allow excursions can be visited by schoolchildren and students or groups of 60 people or more only. But there are and some tourist-friendly places.

Clothing and footwear, textiles

• Art products factory "Slutsk belts" - a good example of the industrial tourism in Belarus. There you can get a free excursion, which is quite rare possibility in the area of industrial tourism. You just need to arrange a time (of your visit) in advance by calling. Then it will be possible to see the process of weaving.

Minimal number of visitors: 1 person.

Working hours: Tuesday - Sunday (from 9:00 am to 17: 30), by appointment only.

Duration: 1 hour.

Contacts: +375 (17) 953-68-09.

Location: Slutsk, Tutarinov, str., 16.

• Brest Hosiery Factory - is one of the largest factories of light industry in Belarus. Here you can make the tour, during which you will learn not only the history of creation and development of the enterprise, but also visit the production and be able to purchase some favorite products in the shop.

Minimal number of visitors: 1 person.

Working hours: 09.00 - 17.00.

Contacts: +375 (162) 46-34-89.

Location: Brest, Kupala str., 3.

• "Svitanak" factory offers to watch the process of the production of clothing for children and adults. During the tour, tourists will visit a knitting and a sewing workshops, will be able to get acquainted with the museum exposition of the enterprise. Anyone will be able to visit the company store. Excursions are free.

Minimal number of visitors: 1 person.

Working hours: 09.00 - 17.00.

Contacts: +375 (17) 757-01-66.

Location: Zhodino, 8 March str., 1.

• Smilovichi felting factory also offers a service of industrial tourism. The company guides will show you how to make boots: technologists (and factory director) conduct free tours. The visitors will know about all the stages of wool processing, see the equipment, get acquainted with the history of fulling. After the tour, tourists will be able to buy anything at the company store.

Minimal number of visitors: 1 person.

Working hours: 09.00 - 17.00.

Contacts: +375 (17) 142-32-08.

Location: Minsk region, Cherven district, Smilovichi, Respublicanskaya str., 47.

Automotive industry

• BelAZ is a legendary Belarusian company, which produces car-giants. During the tour you can discover the history of the production of these unusual vehicles, but also to learn some trade secrets. Of course, tourists will see the products. Including the biggest BelAZ.

Minimal number of visitors: 1 person.

Working hours: Monday - Saturday, ticket office open until 15.00.

Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes.

Contacts: + 375 (1775) 7-93-57, +375 (44) 566-04-72.

Location: Minsk, Zhodino, 40 October str., 4.

• Minsk Tractor Plant was founded in 1946. Currently there are more than 17 000 workers, and the plant has become one of the largest manufacturers of agricultural machinery not only in CIS, but also throughout the world. Tourists will visit workshops, get acquainted with the peculiarities of production, discover an exhibition of collectible tractors.

Minimal number of visitors: 1 person.

Working hours: Sunday from 11:00 to 14:00.

Duration: 1 hour.

Contacts: +375 (17) 368-13-90.

Location: Minsk, Dolgobrodskaya str., 29.

Alcohol production

• Brewery "Krynica" - is the largest enterprise in the brewing industry in Belarus. Since 1975, "Krynica" produces beer, kvass, soft drinks and food concentrates. Visitors will get acquainted with the history of the company, watch the brewing process, visit the brewhouse and bottling, as well as be invited to the tasting.

Minimal number of visitors: 8 people. (18+)

Working hours: Monday - Friday from 8:30 to 17:00.

Duration: 1.5-2 hours.

Contacts: +375 (17) 299-22-57.

Location: Minsk, Radialnaya str., 52.

• Brewery "Alіvaryya" is a private brewery, founded in 1864. The company has its own museum and a bar, but also the tourists can visit production. During the "Historic Route" tour visitors will learn the history of the plant and know some main stages of brewing. Tourists can walk through the historic part of the existing production and taste several types of beer. Tours are available for persons older than 18 years.

Minimal number of visitors: 6 people. (18+)

Working hours: Wednesday - Saturday from 18:00 to 19:30.

Duration: 1.5 hours.

Contacts: +375 (17) 239-58-36, +375 (29) 500-17-55.

Location: Minsk, Kiselev str., 30.

Food production

• Turov Milk Factory - an enterprise, which processes to 250 tons of milk per day! The plant is well-known not only in Belarus - it works for 7 export markets (Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, United Arab Emirates). During the tour, tourists will get acquainted with classical techniques of manufacture of Italian cheese, with the features of the preparation of cheese, and then they will be invited to a tasting.

Minimal number of visitors: 1 person.

Working hours: by appointment.

Duration: 30 minutes.

Contacts: +375 (2353) 5.3.59.

Location: Gomel, Zhitkovichi district, Lenin str., 154.

• Bakery plant №6 is a well-known for incredible bread aromas in the surrounding area. The plant was built in 1981, has gone through many upgrades, and now continues to delight us with fresh pastries. The "visiting cards" of the plant — "Spadchyna" bread and oat cookies (which will be available in the company store after the tour). Tourists will take part in quizzes and tastings.

Minimal number of visitors: 5 people.

Working hours: 9:00 to 11:00.

Duration: 2 hours.

Contacts: +375 (17) 256-13-44, +375 (17) 252-83-65.

Location: Minsk, Gursky str., 19.

Ceramics, glass and diamonds

• "BELKHUDOZHKERAMIKA" factory - is a company, where you can observe the work of the masters, to hear the story of pottery, as well as to see the process of making a product of incredible beauty. Products are made in traditional Belarusian style, but with modern methods of decoration. By the way, tourists can try to make some pottery. After the tour they can visit the company store with dishes, vases, souvenirs, art pottery.

Minimal number of visitors: 1 person.

Working hours: every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Contacts: +375 (17) 679-53-88.

Location: Molodechno District, Radoshkovichi, Sovetskaya str., 12.

• Glass factory "Neman" is located in Berezovka - in the town of glass masters, where the glass and crystal manufacturing tradition laid since 1883. The history of the company began with a small local huta, where beer bottles were blown. Thus the huge enterprise has grown from a small factory. Tourists will watch the production of crystal, colored glass, visit the museum and see the works of outstanding artists and the best glassblowers.

Minimal number of visitors: 5 persons.

Working hours: Monday - Sunday from 8:00 to 17:00.

Duration: 1-1,5 hours.

Contacts: +375 (154) 56-13-19.

Location: Grodno, Lida district, Berezovka, Korzyuk str., 8.

• «Adamas» diamond factory. Not everyone knows that we can grow real gems in Belarus! There are just a few businesses on the synthesis of diamond crystals in the world, and one of them is near Minsk. Tourists can enjoy the beauty: visitors will learn about the history of the origin of diamonds, their properties and use. Then, tourists will visit the "heart" of production - synthesis plant, watch the process of cultivation of stones, and the process of diamond cutting. Finally, visitors will be able to evaluate the collection of colored diamonds created by the company and even purchase something.

Minimal number of visitors: 1 person.

Working hours: by appointment.

Duration: 1.5-2 hours.

Contacts: +375 (17) 509-23-53.

Location: Minsk district, village Atolino.

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