Gomel is one of the oldest East Slavic settlements, the first mention of it is found in documents of the 10th century. It has preserved many cultural and architectural monuments that make the city attractive for tourism. No wonder so many would-be tourists dream of visiting this ancient city.
Do I need a passport
First question: "Where is Gomel, in what country?" This is the second largest regional center of Belarus. So for starters, a tourist needs to get to the republic. Since an alliance agreement has been concluded between the countries, a foreign passport is not required to enter the state. The Treaty of Union assumes that the borders of both states are common.
Under the terms of the agreement, when visiting the country, visitors do not go through customs control, visa-free regime. Theoretically, to come to Belarus, where Gomel is located, is as easy as from Moscow to St. Petersburg. But a Russian passport is a must. You can get to Gomel:
- by rail;
- by bus;
- by car;
- by plane.
Which transport to choose
If it's more customary to travel by train,where Gomel is located, they know exactly at the box office of the railway station. Trains go from different cities of Russia, but not from all, so you first need to clarify whether the train passes through the desired settlement. It is definitely known that there is a direct train from Moscow to the Belorussky railway station to Gomel. Most likely, you will first have to get to the capital.
You can get into Belarus, where this city of Gomel is located, through the capital Minsk. Between these settlements 300 kilometers, which makes it possible to use the intercity bus. Gomel is one of the largest transport hubs of the republic. Numerous railways converge here, there is an airport. However, getting to Gomel by air is not easy. For the most part, the airport accepts charter flights, so you can only get there by plane as part of a tourist group.
What other ways to choose
Using public transport, a tourist does not think about where Gomel is located. It is much easier and cheaper than by plane to get to your destination by bus. There are numerous direct bus routes to Gomel from cities:
- St. Petersburg;
- Bryansk;
- Moscow.
A bus from Moscow takes less than a day, low cost and a large selection of flights attract those who like to save on travel.
If a tourist wants to get there by his car, then wondering where Gomel is, he must remember that the course must be kept to the south-east of Belarus. Gomel is very close to the border with Russia. The nearest Russian city to it is Bryansk. You can drive along the highway from Bryansk to Gomel in just 4 hours.
The main gem of the city
It is noteworthy that in the place where Gomel is located, the large river Sozh flows. This allows the regional center to be also a major river port. On the bank of the ravine, where the Gomiy stream flows into the Sozh, there is the famous Gomel Park named after Lunacharsky. This is one of the most beautiful palace and park ensembles in Belarus.
Historically, Gomel, where the park is located, was repeatedly conquered and completely destroyed. Belarus is located next to Poland and Ukraine, whose lands throughout European history passed from hand to hand of the next invaders. For this reason, despite its long history, it is difficult to find complete ancient structures in Gomel. The palace and park ensemble began to be created relatively recently compared to the age of the city - in 1777.
Architectural beauties
The Rumyantsev-Paskevich Palace in the park is an architectural monument of the 18th century. At one time it was built as the estate of a famous family. Unfortunately, historical events repeatedly subjected the building to destruction. Nevertheless, every time the palace was scrupulously restored. Now it has been completely restored and is a real decoration of the ensemble. There is a museum on the first floor of the palace. Beautiful premises are still used by the current government for the adoptionheads of states. The Reception Hall is used for its intended purpose:
- To sign agreements at the global level.
- To negotiate.
As already mentioned, Gomel, where the palace and park ensemble is located, was periodically captured. During the Great Patriotic War, it was almost completely destroyed by the Nazis. By some miracle, the mighty trees of the park, 200 years old, survived. The city itself was much less fortunate. Monumental houses on the streets of Gomel were erected after the war, when the country was restoring the territories destroyed by the enemy. Therefore, the central part of the city is an example of Stalinist architecture.
Monuments and sculptures
Interest for tourists are monuments and sculptures on the streets of the city. Most of them are buildings of the 20th and 21st centuries. The remarkable thing about the monuments of Gomel is that they can be found anywhere, and they can be dedicated to the strangest heroes and objects. Here you can see:
- Plumber;
- purse;
- horseshoe;
- artist's set;
- bee.
There are many sculptures in the city dedicated to fairy-tale, literary heroes and real people. For example, near the circus there is a monument to the clown Pencil with his dog, and near the puppet theater - Pinocchio. There are many other attractions in Gomel. There are beautiful fountains, a hunting lodge, the Peter and Paul Cathedral, several interesting museums.
We told where isthe city and how best to get there to a tourist interested in its beauties and sights.
