Many people of the post-Soviet space and the whole world bow before the unprecedented heroism of the defenders of the Brest Fortress during the Nazi invasion of the territory of the Soviet Union. However, the Brest region is famous not only for the memorial complex dedicated to the heroes. There are a lot of unique natural reserves and reserves, monuments of history, architecture and culture, many other interesting tourist sites.
Location
The Brest region is located in the southwestern part of the state of Belarus. In the south it shares the border with Ukraine, and in the west with Poland.
The region is considered one of the most environmentally friendly in the country. About 36% of its territory is occupied by forests, there are also swampy lowlands, which is typical for Polissya. The water resources of the Brest region are the rivers Pripyat, Shchara, Mukhovets, Western Bug, many of their tributaries, large and small lakes. The climate here is quite mild, in winter it is rarely colder than -6 … -8 degrees. Summer onsouth-east of Belarus is not hot and long, which makes it possible to grow even grapes, apricots and peaches. Brest region is a major transport hub. International routes to Moscow, Warsaw, Vilnius, Kovel, motorways to Minsk and Grodno pass through its territory. Air, river and rail transport are also well developed. The region consists of 16 districts, 3 regional and 18 district cities.
A little digression into history
Brest region was once called Beresteyskaya, presumably from the word "birch bark". In the 10th century, it was part of the Old Russian Principality of Turov, ruled by the descendants of Vladimir the Baptist of Russia.
The proximity of Poland and Lithuania, as well as its location on an important trade route, made Berestene a desirable prey. It was conquered by the Poles, Lithuania fought for it and Prince Galitsky, who managed to capture these lands for a short time. The prince built a stone church of St. Peter and a defensive fortress here. This building opened the account of the heroic fortitude of the inhabitants in the fight against the invaders, many times helping to withstand sieges and assaults. From the 14th century, the Beresteisky lands became part of Lithuania. Subsequently, they repeatedly passed from hand to hand, belonging either to the Poles, then to the Russians, then to the Ukrainians, until finally in 1939 they became part of the Belarusian Soviet Republic. More than 1,200 historical, about 300 archaeological and as many architectural monuments have been preserved on its territory as evidence of the tragic events and unprecedented prosperity of this unique region.
Brest district, Brest region
The administrative center and the most visited tourist site of the region is the heroic Brest. In terms of area, the Brest district ranks 12th in the region. The main part of its territory is located in Polissya, on the Pribugskaya Plain. Brest district (Brest region) includes many villages, several urban-type settlements and farms. Some of them are objects of he alth, fishing and ecological tourism, others attract with their monuments. So, in the village of Beloe Ozero, located on the banks of the reservoir of the same name, there are several recreation centers, a he alth-improving complex built according to European standards of the Greenwood Chalet. Nearby is another lake - Rogoznyanskoye. The Berestye sanatorium operates on its shore. There is also an excellent recreation center near the village of Znamenka, located on the Western Bug. An ethnographic museum has been opened in the village of Medno. Tourists are also interested in the village of Chernavchitsy, where the Trinity Church is located, a unique architectural monument, the village of Terebun with the Grabovsky estate and the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord from the beginning of the 17th century.
Brest
There are settlements with this name in Germany, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, even France. Brest (Brest region) in Belarus is located at the confluence of the Mukhavets river with the Western Bug.
This is a large regional center with a population of about 330 thousand people. Its main attraction is the complex of the Brest Fortress,remaining a free island, when the Nazis were already atrocious for many thousands of kilometers around. For the first time, Brest (then Berestye) is mentioned in The Tale of Bygone Years. This city many times became the scene of hostilities, was subjected to robberies, destruction, burned in the fires of conflagrations. Nevertheless, its favorable location ensured economic prosperity. Unfortunately, endless wars and natural disasters destroyed many of the unique buildings built in the 13th-17th centuries. Now the Berestye Museum, created on the site of the excavated ancient settlement, the Museum of Saved Values, railway. railway station built in the 19th century, the ruins of the Bernardine monastery, functioning churches, churches, cathedrals.
Pinsk
Many cities of the Brest region are famous for their history. The large regional center Pinsk is one of them. It is spread out on the banks of the beautiful river Pina. The Tale of Bygone Years speaks about Pinsk for the first time. This city is the second in Belarus and the first in the Brest region in terms of the number of architectural monuments available here. Unfortunately, most of them were destroyed during the long history of Pinsk. The most popular of the remaining ones are the Jesuit Collegium, the churches of St. Stanislaus, the Mother of God and Karl Baramey, the Butrimovich Palace, many other buildings built in the 17th-19th centuries, an ancient cemetery on Spokoynaya Street. Of the modern ones, one can name embrasures of pillboxes, the BK-92 ship, memorials and monuments to Soviet soldiers, a beautiful embankment on the Pina River.
Baranovichi
This city, which isthe administrative center of the Baranovichi region, also keeps its glorious history. In the 17th century, the Jesuit Mission was located here. The location on a straight line between Brest and Minsk served to ensure that a railway appeared here already in the 70s of the XIX century. station and its locomotive depot. There is even a Railway Museum in Baranovichi, which has about 400 exhibits. Like other districts of the Brest region, Baranovichi has many historical and architectural monuments and unique natural sites. The village of Gorodishche, founded at the beginning of the 15th century, stands out in particular. 33% of the district's territory is occupied by forests, there are two picturesque lakes - Domashevichskoe and Koldashevskoe, - a large reservoir Gat. Two nature reserves have been created to protect natural resources: Baranovichi and Stronga.
City of Ivanovo (Brest region)
For many tourists it will be interesting to visit this small town, which the locals call Janovo. It began its existence as the village of Porkhovo. But at the beginning of the 15th century, it was presented to the Lutsk church, the bishop of which was Jan Laskovich. The village was renamed in honor of him. It is famous for the fact that Andrei Bobolya, the patron of all the Belarusian lands, preached here. He, who was already in years, was seized in Yanovo by Ukrainian Cossacks and executed after inhuman tortures. In the city, a memorial sign was erected at the place of execution, and two memorial crosses were placed at the place where the saint was seized. Bobolya was buried in Pinsk, and about forty years later they were exhumed. The body of the priest turned out to be incorrupt. In 1938 he wasnumbered among the Saints. Ivanovo (Brest region) is the administrative center of the Ivanovsky district.
Reserved places
In the Brest region is the most famous nature reserve in the world - Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Almost all of its territory is covered with ancient forests, in which more than a thousand relic trees grow. In terms of the number of animals, birds and plants, the reserve has no equal in Europe. Many representatives of flora and fauna, including the famous bison, are listed in the Red Book. But not only our smaller brothers are interested in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. There are also historical monuments here, such as the Tyszkiewicz estate, the Viskuly residence, the Belaya Vezha watchtower, even the residence of Father Frost. The Brest region carefully takes care of its nature, therefore several reserves have been created on its territory: "Pribuzhskoye Polesie", "Brestsky", "Bugsky" and "Barbastella", in which the largest colony of bats has been taken under protection.
