Brest Region

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Brest. This city at the junction of the Bug river and the Mukhavets river is a historic site of many cultures: in different periods of its long history it was part of Kievan Rus, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire, during World War II was taken by the Nazis and then returned in the custody of the Soviet Union, and at last became a Belarusian city. However now it’s not so diversified in its cultural heritage, and its main attraction is The Brest Fortress, which was constructed to commemorate the known and unknown defenders of the city. However it itself is a real must-see. Brest also hosts the first Belarusian outdoor railway museum, which, no doubt, is worth visiting it.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park is a unique biosphere reserve. This park, one of the last and largest remaining parts of the immense primeval forest that once stretched across the European Plain, is home to rare European bison. The animals can be seen in enclosures all year round. You can also take an excursion into the interior of the forest by horse, cart, bicycle or on foot. As another tourist attraction, the park features the residence of Father Frost, which presents especial interest in winter.

Kamenetz. The Tower of Kamenetz, or The White Tower, a remnant of an ancient fortress erected in the thirteenth century, is one of the most distinctive landmarks of Brest region. The Tower of Kamenetz, which was a fortified outpost between the north and the south, the west and the east, was erected in 1271–1289 by a prominent builder and architect Oleksa on the instruction of the Volhynian Prince Vladimir Vasilevich to protect Brest-Litovsk against the Tartars. Today it is the only such tower remaining in the area.

Ruzhany. Ruzhany Palace is a large and impressive, but mostly ruined complex. The foundation of this double-storey cross-shaped palace was laid by the Sapieha noble family. In due time the Palace was considered one of the greatest at the territory which is now Belarus and Lithuania. It held a picture gallery, a riding hall, and a theatre, later was converted into a cloth-mill and a weaving mill, then accidentally set on fire by the factory workers and at last almost completely ruined during the Second World War. Today this heritage asset is undergoing complete renovation, but even now is ready to welcome its visitors.

Kossovo. Apart of being birthplace of a national hero of Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, and the United States, Tadeusz Kościuszko, this Belarusian settlement is also home to Kossovo castle. Also known as Puslowski Palace, this neo-Gothic architectural monument  was constructed in 1830 by order of Graf Puslowski and under design of architect Frantisek Yascholda. The construction of the castle is not eventual: each tower represents a month of a year. For a number of years the Castle was absolutely abandoned but now is being in the process of reconstruction.

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