THE CITY OF BREST

Minsk is the capital of the Republic of Belarus.

Was first mentioned in "Povesti Vremennykh Let" in 1067. Was erected as a fortress in Polotsk principality. As some historians say, Minsk was founded on the banks of the Menka river.

While building a huge wall round the town to defend it from enemies first citizens of Minsk could hardly imagine how much their descendants will be surprised by the building skills of their ancestors.

By the middle of the 17th century the town becomes one of the biggest settlements. The favorable geographical position added very much to the economic development of Minsk making it an important trade and crafts center.

In 1566 Minsk becomes the center of a province and at the end of the century the main court of the Great Duchy of Lithuania was situated there.

During the nine centuries of its existence the town passed through many historical events. It was seven times robbed, ruined and burned by the foreign invaders. But every time Minsk was rebuilt anew and became still bigger.

The most valuable district of Minsk from historical and architectural point of view is the so called Verkhny town, adjoining Freedom Square. Since the 17th century this part of Minsk has been an important trade, cultural and administrative center. Some stone buildings of the 17-19th centuries have survived till nowadays. They are Ekaterininskaya church, the former Bernard nunnery with a catholic church (now a Cathedral), the former Bernard monastery with a catholic church, the house of masons, the painter Vankovich's country estate, a group of monastery buildings and old dwelling houses.