Minsk

Minsk is the capital and largest city in Belarus. The city is situated on two rivers- Svislach and Niamiha, on the southeastern slope of the Minsk Hills - a region of unstable slopes. Svislach River runs through the town from northwest to southeast. Minsk is the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the administrative center of the Minsk area, but without entering into its composition.

Minsk has the rank of a separate administrative region. Over time, Minsk marks a positive growth of its population, it is home to some 1.8 million people.

The history of Minsk is centennial. It is an ancient city, which was first mentioned in 1067. In the course of history Minsk often suffered total destruction - often as victim of fires or destruction by aggressors and enemies. After each crash, however Minsk is restored, often compared to the mythical phoenix bird that is reborn from its ashes.

Today Minsk is the industrial and cultural center of Belarus. It is divided into nine urban areas, and urban settlements include Falcon. In Minsk are the Parliament and the Government of the Republic. The location of Minsk has long been a strategic crossroads, which is a prerequisite for transitions from east to west and from north to south, Minsk is an important transport link with several bus and railway stations, airports and two well-developed metro networks.

Industry in Minsk is constantly growing. The city has a lot of resources like science and research centers, transport, administration and finance amenities. Minsk is a well developed industrial center with machine building, electronics, textiles, construction, food industry and others. Some 34 higher educational establishments are found in Minsk.

Of course, not only the industrial face of Minsk is fundamental to the city. It has very beautiful buildings and other cultural and historical monuments. In Minsk there are 16 museums, including the National Museum of Art and the Museum of Arts and Culture of Belarus.

Among the 11 theaters in Minsk is the distinguished Belarusian National Opera and Ballet Academic Theatre. The Belarusian capital has 139 libraries. Among the beautiful temples in Minsk is the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, originally built between 1642 and 1887 in Baroque style and restored in the 19th century.

Another important temple of Minsk is the Virgin Mary Cathedral. This temple was built by the Jesuits as their monastery between 1700 and 1710. The temple was restored in 1951 and again in 1997. Opposite it is the renovated City Hall building from the 18th century. The local square is known as Independence Square.

In Minsk there is an interesting Red Church (Sts. Simeon and Helene) built in the tradition of neo-romanticism in the early 20th century. One of the largest churches in the Russian-speaking world is St. Mary Magdalene.