The first mention of the Belarusian city of Pinsk dates back to 1097, and is considered the date of its foundation. It is located 200 km from Brest and an hour’s drive from the country’s border with Ukraine. Pinsk is the historical and cultural capital of the Polesie Lowland. The city has a large number of attractions and buildings, some of which were built in the 17th century.
Top 7 Sights of Pinsk
The city, when you first visit, is striking with its cleanliness and neatness. The authorities carefully monitor the condition of the facades of buildings and pedestrian areas. Pinsk has everything for the sophisticated tourist. Cozy yards, wide avenues, mowed lawns, pleasing to the eye and friendly locals.
You can walk around the city for days on end, and not see even half of the interesting places. There are many sights in Pinsk, the beauty of which, photos can not convey.
Pina River Embankment
The history of Pinsk has always been closely connected with water. As in Russia, Polesie built cities near rivers. Pinsk is located at the intersection of two rivers: the Pina and the Pripyat. Of course, along the water is one of the most popular walking areas for locals and tourists – the promenade. Previously it was no more than 100 m, but in 2008 it was improved and extended to 300 m.
There is a river station and a pier for private boats. Who doesn’t dream of having his own yacht or jet ski? And the residents of Pinsk have such an opportunity. In summer, the river is quite active. In the 20th century, the river was an additional way for citizens to move around the Pinsk area. This is not the case these days, but they made an exception for tourists.
Anyone can buy a ticket to the boat and see the city from an unusual angle. Even an inattentive person will notice a white church with unusual, black domes. This is an inactive Franciscan monastery for men.
Franciscan Monastery
The Franciscan monastery is considered to be one of the largest Baroque sites in Belarus. The majesty of the complex, the completeness of architectural solutions attracts true connoisseurs of architecture, devout Catholics and idle travelers, who are also not alien to the desire for beauty.
The first Catholic order of Polesie was once located here. Since 2001 there has been a seminary open to the public and the splendid Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Butrimovich Palace
You should continue to get to know Pinsk from the oldest street of the city, now Lenin Avenue. The main building to view is the Butrimovich Palace. It was built in the 17th century, in 1794. Even modern people will find the palace beautiful and majestic. What to say about the inhabitants of the city at that time.
This house was built by the famous politician Butrimovich and was one of the first stone civil structures. It now houses the Pinsk Wedding Palace.
House of the Horde
The building was designed at the beginning of the last century and is representative of the eclectic style. Napoleon Orda, the famous musician and artist of Belarus, built it for his son’s wife Lucina Orda (Rutkovskaya in maiden name). The woman had Polish roots and brought elements of her native culture into the architecture, making the house stand out from the overall design of the city. Since her death, the house has remained virtually unchanged.
The facade of the corner building is made of red brick. An interesting detail is the cut corner, atypical for Pinsk and Belarus as a whole. Now, despite the fact that this landmark is of historical value to the city and country, private stores of citizens are open here.
St. Fedorovsky Cathedral
The city coexists with many religious denominations – Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Buddhism, and Judaism. There is a place for all parishioners in Pinsk. Most of the churches are Catholic and Orthodox.
Away from the historic center, in the Luga neighborhood, is St. Fedorovsky Cathedral. Erected less than 30 years ago in the 1980s. Like many of the havens of suffering Christians, the cathedral was built with donations from townspeople, local businesses and firms.
A unique opportunity to view the majestic structure and see the peculiar solution of modern architects. The cathedral and the nearby bell tower are striking in their beauty of symmetry. There is also room for tradition. The temple ends with five domes, traditional for Christian structures. The ensemble is in white, except for the domes: they are copper, deep, black.
The Polesie Partisans Memorial Complex
Returning from the outskirts, you should definitely visit the monument to “Poleski partisans” on Pervomayskaya Street. Three men stand to protect a woman with an infant in her arms. In between is a tree split in half with a broken stork’s nest. The complex symbolizes the sacrifice and bravery of the Pinchans.
For 1119 days here, behind enemy lines, a partisan detachment led by Major-General V. Z. Korzh was active. The Pinchans rallied together and defended their right to life together. But, of course, the detachment was not capable of providing decent protection for the city. Before World War II, 50% of Pinsk’s population was Jewish. During the persecution about 20,000 members of the nation were killed and now less than 1% of them live in the city.
In spite of this, the contribution of Pinchans cannot be overestimated. It is no coincidence that Pinsk is called the land of partisan glory. Thanks to the warriors on the home front, the German soldiers did not receive a significant amount of resources for the battles of Voronezh and Kursk and saved thousands of people.
Polessky State University
Pinsk was and is populated by hearty, kind people. A lot of young people live here, and isn’t that an indicator of a thriving city. The city authorities focus on education, Pinsk has a central university of all Polesie, which consists of 3 buildings. Each is in the center, at a distance from the others.
The university building and grounds themselves are a great place to relax. In the summer, student life ends and the squares are empty. Lone pedestrians don’t get in the way of enjoying a stroll downtown. There is a large mural on the wall of the first building. On the sides it shows scientists, their discoveries of the past and the future. On the left, in the past, the faces of Galileo Galilei and Newton are recognizable. On the right are the future discoverers. And between them, a young man, striving upward, for knowledge. He’s wading through rocks, representing hardship. To help him, storks come.
There are more than 3,000 students and a preparatory lyceum on the basis of the university. Students, graduates and teachers of the university make a huge contribution to the development of Belarusian science and economy.
Pinsk, of course, deserves close attention of tourists. The residents are hospitable people who know the history of the city. Come to the city for food for the soul and mind, walks through relict forests and inspiration. Fedor Glinka about Pinsk:
“Wonderful Pinsk! Your expanses
Worthy of the best masters.
Nowhere have I seen more freedom
Your sprawling forests.”
The Russian publicist found the 19th-century city inspiring. Pinsk has retained its former charm to this day.
