If you are a fan of road travel and have traveled to Europe, then you have probably visited Belarus. Entering the country from the southeast, you will move through Gomel, and on the way to Minsk you will definitely meet the quiet and cozy city of Bobruisk. But even if you are entering Belarus from Pskov or Smolensk, and your goal, for example, is the Brest Fortress, or you are heading further towards Europe, make a short detour and visit Bobruisk. In tourism, as in any other business, “nothing personal.” Therefore, if this city is included in excursion bus routes around Belarus, then you can be sure that you will have something to see in Bobruisk.
Bobruisk fortress
This is the first thing that attracts history buffs to the city. The Bobruisk fortress is called a sister city to the Brest fortress, and its history is no less remarkable. This defensive structure was built by personal order of Emperor Alexander I. The implementation of the plan, approved personally by the Tsar, was led by engineer Karl Opperman, a German by birth who was a Russian citizen. The architects successfully used the features of the landscape and old buildings (for example, the old Jesuit church), around which the fortress was built. As a result, an entire city was erected with architectural buildings in the classicist style, a square, a botanical garden and a temple. The cobbled streets and square of the Bobruisk fortress have repeatedly hosted military parades.
The fortress was protected by ten-meter walls with loopholes and water ditches. Supplies of weapons and ammunition were designed for a year of siege, food - for six months. This made it possible to withstand a four-month siege by Napoleon's army in 1812. After that, the Bobruisk fortress served as a military warehouse; political prisoners were also kept here, and during the Second World War, the Germans set up a concentration camp for prisoners of war there. In the 50s, it was decided to destroy the fortress, the walls of which fell into disrepair during the war. They spent a lot of dynamite to undermine the defensive structures, but the bastion survived.
Now the authorities are working on the restoration of the Bobruisk fortress. Tours of the ancient bastion are becoming increasingly popular among connoisseurs of architecture and military history. The Belarusian authorities are planning to turn the Bobruisk fortress into a modern historical and cultural complex with a developed tourist infrastructure, so if you want to see the battle scars of the great citadel, it is better to hurry.
Transport
Citizens travel by the following types of public transport: buses, trolleybuses and minibuses. The city has about 50 intra-city routes operated by more than 150 transport units. The cost of a travel ticket for one trip is 0.6 Belarusian rubles.
Belarusian taxi is also quite a budget and convenient form of transport. The cost of a taxi ordered through a dispatcher will cost an average of 4.5-5 local rubles. Daily rental of an economy class car will start from 50 Belarusian rubles.
Bobruisk Museum of Local Lore
History buffs will definitely visit the Bobruisk Museum of Local Lore, founded in 1924. In Soviet times, the exhibitions were devoted mainly to the ancient history of the city, the Great Patriotic War and the Bobruisk Fortress, but now visitors will also be told about the Principality of Minsk, as well as the city’s stay as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In addition, the guides present ethnographic and archaeological exhibitions in a bright and interesting way, and will also tell you about architectural sights and what else you can see in Bobruisk.
Interesting places to relax with children
With children you can visit the attractions of the city park on Internatsionalnaya Street 45 a. The park is equipped with recreation areas, playgrounds and cafes
And just take a walk along the quiet cozy streets of the city in search of interesting monuments of urban architecture. After all, there are only 3 different sculptures installed here for the beaver. Children will also definitely enjoy horseback riding or a visit to the water entertainment complex in Zhlobin.
Architecture of Bobruisk
It must be said that this city is a pleasant place to spend time for residents of megacities who are tired of the tasteless, disorderly buildings of our time. On the streets of the city, modern buildings coexist harmoniously with buildings of the Tsarist and Soviet eras. This creates a special cozy atmosphere in Bobruisk. You will be told in detail about city architecture at the Local Lore Museum, but we will focus on the most interesting objects.
Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary . The church was built at the beginning of the twentieth century for the religious needs of the city's Catholic community. In 1935, the temple was closed and used for economic needs.
During the German occupation, the church again performed religious functions. In 1956, the bell tower and part of the facade were destroyed, and an administrative building was added to the temple itself. Today, the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary has once again become the religious center of the local Catholic community.
Those who want to visit an Orthodox church should go to the Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (see photo above) and the Church of St. George the Victorious (see photo below) . Both churches were built at approximately the same time - the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century in a retrospective Russian architectural style. Cathedral of St. Nicholas was erected on the site of an old wooden church, and the St. George Church was built at the entrance to the Bobruisk fortress.
Leisure
The city is home to the largest ice palace, Bobruisk Arena, where mass skating and training of hockey teams are held. The sports complex is located on Kuibysheva Street, building 11. You can visit the palace with a guide on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rides are held in the evenings and on weekends.
The city also has its own equestrian club, where you can take riding lessons in the arena or rent equipment for a horseback ride through the forest. The cost will be up to 20 rubles. at one o'clock. The club is located on Baharova Street, 108.
The Lesnoy water sports complex with a swimming pool and a games gym is located at 5 km of the Minsk highway, open daily from 8 to 21, with a lunch break from 14 to 15.
Sanatorium named after Lenin in Bobruisk
This health resort complex attracts those wishing to improve their health in Belarus with a fairly acceptable ratio of prices and services provided. The profile of the sanatorium is treatment with mud and mineral waters, so it is primarily suitable for people suffering from diseases of the musculoskeletal system and gastrointestinal tract. Vacationers will also appreciate the qualified staff and cozy rooms of the sanatorium. After the procedures and before going to bed, you can have a pleasant time walking in the park or near the river, or take a boat ride. The sanatorium is located near the city center, so you will have plenty of time to get to know Bobruisk better.
Excursions
Bobruisk, whose attractions are popular among visitors to Belarus, offers one-day excursions exploring the main attractions at very reasonable prices and multi-day tours with organized hunting or fishing in specialized areas.
City above the Berezina
An educational sightseeing excursion program will introduce you to the history of the city, its industrial and cultural development, the main monuments and the local history museum. The cost of a minibus excursion ranges from 30 to 60 Belarusian rubles per person, depending on the size of the group.
Hare trails
An excursion program for 5 days, costing 52 thousand Russian rubles, includes accommodation at the Tourist hotel with 3 meals a day.
Tourists will enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city with a visit to the museum, a trip to an agricultural estate in a forest nursery, and hunting in the grounds.
gold fish
Organization of winter or summer fishing in the lands of Bobruisk with all the necessary gear and equipment. The program includes 3 meals a day and accommodation, a city tour with all the sights. The cost of a 5-day tour is 1300 Belarusian rubles.
Where to go in Bobruisk
This question becomes meaningless when you get to this cozy city, because it’s simply pleasant to walk even on the streets. In Belarus, in general, they pay special attention to cleanliness and comfort. You can, of course, study the sights of Bobruisk from photos with descriptions on thematic forums and read reviews, but it would be better to contact the local residents on the spot. People in Bobruisk are very hospitable and friendly, so you will receive comprehensive information about all the monuments, squares, cafes and restaurants with a description of prices and characteristics of the staff. They will always tell you in detail how to get to the place you are interested in.
Local cafes and restaurants, like the city itself, lack the pathos inherent in megacities. There is nothing superfluous in the interiors, the food is delicious and the prices are reasonable. If you are not passing through Bobruisk, but decide to spend a few days here, both the “Best Club” night club and the theater named after. Dunin-Martsinkevich.
Distinctive features of the city
The location in the semi-closed Central Berezina Plain, densely indented by rivers and drainage canals, left its mark on the weather conditions of the area with a temperate continental climate. Winter is cool and short, the average temperature in January is -4 degrees. Summer is warm and humid, starting in May and lasting until September.
Bobruisk climate by month
The city is located in an area of numerous mixed forests with a predominance of oak, pine, birch and alder. Also common are maple, linden, ash and aspen. Eutrophic and steppe meadows have been preserved in the river floodplains.
The fauna of forests is represented by the following common representatives:
- moose;
- red deer;
- wild boars;
- roe deer;
- martens;
- caresses;
- hares;
- hedgehogs
The European bison is a rare protected object of the Red Book. Endangered species also include the badger, European lynx, eagle owl and godwit.
The swamps are home to turtles, toads, frogs, lizards and snakes. The city's population exceeds 217.5 thousand people. It is considered the 7th largest city in Belarus by population, the 2nd in the Mogilev region, and the largest non-regional center in the country.
The main national composition of the population is represented by:
Nationality | Percent | Number of thousand people |
Belarusians | 83,6 | 180,5 |
Russians | 13,2 | 28,7 |
Ukrainians | 1,9 | 4,1 |
Jews | 0,3 | 0,65 |
Poles | 0,2 | 0,43 |
Other peoples | 1,3 | 2,8 |
In confessional terms, the predominant directions are:
- Protestantism;
- Orthodoxy;
- Judaism;
- Old Believers;
- Catholicism.
Don’t miss the most popular article in the section: What to see in Belarus - attractions and interesting places.
Beaver Monument
And of course, one cannot fail to mention the monument to the symbol of the city, which local residents consider to be perhaps the main attraction of Bobruisk. More precisely, two attractions, because there are two monuments. One beaver - on Karl Marx Street, not far from the market - greets you standing, while the second is luckier: he sits with his legs crossed.
It must be said that monuments love to sit on benches - from Leonid Utesov to John Lennon. Leonid Utesov lounged imposingly on the famous Deribasovskaya, and John Lennon actually went all the way to Cuba, occupying a bench in one of the public gardens in Havana. The symbol of Bobruisk sits at the entrance to the Tavern on Moskovskaya, as if inviting you to enter the establishment.
Initially, the Beaver was simply bronze, but restaurateurs decided to decorate it, which gave the symbol of the city a special charm. In general, it’s worth saying that this is a good marketing ploy, because tourists specifically come to Sotsialisticheskaya Street to take pictures on the bench next to the cheerful beaver. Therefore, when you tell your friends that you were in Bobruisk, and they decide to tease you with the question “did you see beavers?”, you can answer: “Of course. I even took a photo with one.”
The video about Bobruisk is a real mini-tour of the glorious Belarusian city on the Berezina River. Photos of the most beautiful sights and a very interesting song dedicated to this city. Take a look, you won't regret it.
This is the story I got about the city of Bobruisk and its attractions. Maybe I missed something or do you just want to tell us about your holiday experience in Bobruisk? Waiting for your comments.
How to get there
Bobruisk, whose attractions attract an increasing number of tourists every year, is conveniently located on the railway transport branch of the pan-European corridor. You can get there by direct train from Moscow in 12-14 hours. There is also a good railway connection with Minsk, about 10 trains per day, travel time from 2 to 3.5 hours.
The fastest option is to fly to Minsk by plane in 2.5 hours, and then by train, train or bus. You can get there by your own car or on one of the direct buses from Moscow in 15-17 hours.
Children's park
bobruisk.by
There is no children's park as such in Bobruisk, or rather there is a park, but it is both for children and adults at the same time, which, however, does not prevent it from remaining a favorite place for children's walks and entertainment. The season is open from mid-April.
bobruisk.by
There is a lake in the park. Friendly ducks always welcome guests with a loaf of bread. Some townspeople do not hesitate to fish here.
Parks and Attractions
Children's park of culture and recreation in Bobruisk
Bobruisk, International, 45A
+375 (director)
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Churches and Temples
Cathedral of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
Address: st. Sovetskaya, 76 Website: https://snsobor.by/
The stone temple was erected at the end of the 19th century. By the beginning of the 20th century. the church had about 4 thousand parishioners.
After the Bolsheviks came to power, the church was closed. Valuables worth more than 2 thousand gold rubles were seized from it.
During the Great Patriotic War, the temple opened its doors to believers. The occupiers buried soldiers of the fascist army in the church cemetery. In the 60s of the last century, the temple was closed again. A swimming pool was built in the church.
In 2003, the cathedral was returned to its original functions. After the restoration of the building, services resumed there. A center of spiritual Orthodox culture has been created in the church.
Church of St. George
Address: intersection of Minskaya and Uritsky streets, st. Karbysheva, 4
The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was erected on the territory of the Bobruisk fortress in the first half of the 19th century. Its parishioners were military personnel of the fortress garrison. After the expansion of the garrison, the temple was destroyed.
In 1916, the emperor visited the temple. After the revolution, the domes were dismantled from the temple and the bell tower was broken. Over the years, a sewing workshop, a canteen, and an auto repair shop operated within its walls. The interior of the cathedral was damaged, church valuables were looted. The temple was finally destroyed by fire.
A church service was held in the cathedral again in 1992. After the restoration, St. George's Cathedral regained its former grandeur. In the temple, believers can visit the library, and there is a volunteer center to help those in need.
Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bobruisk
Address: st. Oktyabrskaya, 121
A Catholic church in the neo-Gothic style was built in Bobruisk in the early years of the 20th century.
In 1935 the church was closed for many years. Part of an ancient building was combined with a modern house in the middle of the last century. In such a strange mix, the church appears to its contemporaries.
Over the decades, when the church housed various institutions, the facade and interior decoration were severely damaged. Restoration work in the temple began in 1990.
Today, services have resumed in the church, and a construction company is working in the administrative building adjacent to the church.
Hotels
In the city you can stay quite comfortably in numerous apartments, hotels and inns in the very center of the city at an affordable price.
Hotel Tourist
On Voikova Street, house 20, within walking distance from all the attractions of the city center, there is a spacious modern hotel with a billiard room, bowling alley, gym, sauna, massage parlor and mud treatments. The restaurant serves delicious dishes of national and European cuisine.
A bright, comfortable room with all amenities and a buffet breakfast can be rented for 1.2 thousand rubles. Pets are allowed.
Anniversary
The hotel on 50 Letiya Komsomol Street, building 26, offers vacationers a fitness center, hairdressing and beauty services, entertainment in a nightclub with karaoke, a restaurant, a 24-hour bar, billiards and table tennis.
Breakfast is served in your room. It is possible to choose a special diet menu. The cost of an economy class room starts from 950 rubles.
Amaks Premier Hotel
On Sovetskaya Street, house 97/26, there is a cozy modern hotel with a bar and restaurant, free parking, laundry, hairdresser and beauty salon. The rooms are equipped with a work space, a refrigerator, and a TV. Room rates with breakfast start from 1.5 thousand rubles.