Attractions
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One of Minsk's only remaining historic buildings, the
Cathedral of the Holy Ghost dates back to 1642 when it was built as
a convent for Bernadine nuns. Like the city itself, the Cathedral
has a chequered history, damaged by fire in 1741, turned into a
monastery, and ultimately closed down by the Bolsheviks. Today it
is once again open for services and visitors, and is one of the
city's prime attractions with its remarkable collection of icons
from the Moscow Academic School. The collection includes the Icon
of the Mother of God, according to legend discovered in the river
in Minsk in 1500, allegedly made by St Luke the
Evangelist.
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For all the fun of the fair, old-fashioned style,
visit the Chelyuskinites Amusement Park in the city centre of
Minsk. Established in 1932 and little changed since, it is a far
cry from Disneyland, but there is plenty of fun to be had on rides
like a Ferris wheel and roller-coaster, and one can rent
radio-controlled planes to play with (the park is named after a
famous Belarussian pilot). Alongside the park is a very pleasant
Botanical Garden to stroll through.
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Those interested in the long and turbulent history of
Belarus can do no better than to visit the National Museum of
Culture and History, which chronicles the past from 40,000 BC
through to the present. Among the most interesting exhibits are
archaeological finds from the area's primitive societies, ancient
manuscripts, a collection of folk costumes, and an exposition on
the heraldry of Belarus.
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Not for the faint-hearted, the Great Patriotic War
Museum showcases the horrors of World War II. Included among the
exhibits are a model of a Nazi concentration camp, and an
interesting section depicting the Belarussian resistance
movement.
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