The southwestern part of Belarus is occupied by unique natural and ethnocultural land, called Polesie. The Pripyat River with its numerous tributaries forms the main waterway. In addition to man-made attractions, there are many interesting places created by nature.
In order to protect the unique natural monuments in the Brest region created 12 reserves and 29 protected nature monuments. The main attraction of the Brest region and the pride of the Republic of Belarus is Belovezhskaya Pushcha – a unique nature reserve, located in the north-west of the region. The total area of the national park is more than 87 thousand hectares, on which grows more than 900 species of plants and is home to more than 60 species of animals, the main celebrity of which is the European bison – the Bison.
It was here in Viskuly that the leaders of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine signed the famous “Belovezhskoe Agreement” which ended the existence of the USSR. Now this place has a huge popularity among tourists from all over the world.
In the village of Kamenyuki is the museum of “Belovezhskaya Pushcha”, which widely presents exhibits from the history of the national park, created exhibitions with representatives of flora and fauna.
You should not miss the opportunity to visit another national symbol of Belarus – the famous Kamenets Tower, widely known as “White Tower”. This tower was built in the 12th century and still impresses with its architecture and elegance.
The territory of Brest region is rich in monuments of history and culture. Here are more than 120 old parks and estates, 2,084 monuments of history and architecture. The oldest of them is Berestye – an archaeological complex with buildings from the 11th-12th centuries.
One of the most valuable historical and architectural monuments on the territory of the region is the Catholic Church in Ishkolde (Baranovichi district), built in the original Belarusian Gothic style, as well as the Catholic Church in the village of Chernavchitsy (Brest district) designed in the Renaissance style, the Cartesian monastery in Bereza, St. George church in Sinkevichi village (Luninets district). The remains of the Sapieha Palace in Ruzhany (17th-18th centuries), despite its poor state of preservation, will create a lasting impression, thanks to the columns of the once majestic facade.
Brest is traditionally called the “western” gate of the country. It is a city with a glorious, centuries-old history. The city was first mentioned in 1019. In 1390 Brest was the first in Belarus to receive the privilege of self-government in accordance with the Magdeburg Regulations. It was here in 1596 that the “Union of Brest” was signed, which reconciles and unites Catholicism and Orthodoxy in Belarus. In 1917, the Bolshevik government headed by V.I. Lenin signed the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty with Germany, ending World War I.
The city of Brest stood out during World War II. The heroism of the defenders of the “Brest Fortress” is forever inscribed in the annals of the city, as the greatest feat of the people. Today, “Brest Fortress Hero” is one of the most visited landmarks of Brest. The courage of the Soviet soldiers who were the first to face the treacherous attack of Nazi Germany in the summer of 1941 and who held the defense for a month to this day seems incredible. The red walls of the fortress still bear traces of those times, because they are literally all riddled with bullets.
Modern Brest is a strong and developing border city. In 1996 a free economic zone was created here. As a result, this led to a significant revival of business activity in the region.
