Press releases

29 Dec 2025

My Belarus exhibition: Belarusian regions unveil tourism gems

An archive photo

MINSK, 29 December (BelTA) - The large-scale exhibition My Belarus continues its work at the Minsk International Exhibition Center. BelTA found out what the country offers tourists to see.

One of the central themes of the project is tourism. Each region has presented its most iconic landmarks, traditional crafts, industrial tours, and various types of recreation - from eco-tourism to wellness tourism.

The Brest Oblast pavilion features a scaled-down replica of the main entrance to the Brest Fortress in the form of a star with a multimedia screen at its center. The Granit enterprise is among the industrial tourism sites. The Mikashevichi quarry is the largest deposit of construction stone in Belarus and one of the largest in Europe. The main attraction is not its size but the waterfalls cascading down rocky steps. The enterprise is visited by about 11,000 tourists annually.

“We have developed seven different tours. We invite you to discover the unusual landscape, the technological process, visit the observation deck and the equipment exhibition. You can learn more about the profession of a walking excavator operator and take a ride in a BelAZ truck. An updated museum will open soon. We also organize photo sessions,” Aleksandra Pavlusevich, a guide for the enterprise, said.

The Animal Park has prepared an interesting attraction. This popular tourist complex, which is among the top three most visited tourist sites in the region, brought its furry residents to the exhibition.

The Khovanshchina Memorial Site surprised guests with a huge Christmas tree, where both children and adults were greeted by a partisan-style Father Frost with a beard made of oakum. As explained by staff from the Ivatsevichi Historical and Cultural Museum, Khovanshchina is a partisan land where everything is preserved to help visitors feel how underground Belarus lived and fought. Last year, the complex was visited by over 41,000 people, mostly guests from Russia. Tourists also came from Lithuania, Poland, Kazakhstan, and other countries.

Vitebsk Oblast has focused its presentation on memorabilia from the Slavianski Bazaar, the legacy of Marc Chagall, and Orthodox shrines. Visitors can see life-sized replicas of local art installations: the Polite Streetlamp ready for a handshake, a mosaic bench, and a miniature model of the ancient city. Modern art and the region’s brand – carpets - are also on display.

“We explain what there is to see in the region and suggest various vacation options. We also present our festivals and natural sites. For example, the Yelnya Landscape Reserve is located in Miory District and Sharkovshchina District, and is a popular destination for tourists. Numerous farm stays operate there,” said Oksana Filipenok, a representative of the region’s tourism sector.

Grodno Oblast has showcased models of the Lida, Novogrudok, Grodno, and Mir castles, the Augustow Canal, landmarks of Volkovysk District, the recently renovated bridge in the town of Mosty, the Holy Dormition Zhirovichi Monastery, and other holy sites. Visitors can see artifacts from archaeological excavations and an exhibition of glass art from the Neman Glassworks.

The Minsk Oblast’s space is divided into two zones. One is dedicated to architecture and cultural heritage, the other to innovation. An interactive LED screen shows videos about the region’s spiritual sites and tourism highlights. Exhibits include a gallery of models titled Multi-Confessional Minsk Oblast, a fragment of a Slutsk sash, a Belarusian duda (bagpipe), and Ivenets ceramics. Each item is accompanied by a QR code.

Thanks to VR stations, visitors can take a virtual journey to medieval Volozhin and ancient Zaslavl. They can also see a rotating display case with a model of a multi-tonne BelAZ truck and test a training simulator from the Belaruskali railway car. The Nesvizh Museum-Reserve introduces guests to its new services and tours.

The Belarusian capital Minsk has presented itself through education, urban culture, creativity, and youth initiatives. Guests can participate in workshops and see costumes, props, and set pieces from the Belarusian films Homeroom Teacher and Turning Point. The city’s identity is revealed through models of its iconic landmarks and artistic projects. The display includes models of the Belarusian State Museum of the History of the Great Patriotic War, Victory Square, and the Trostenets Memorial Complex.

Gomel Oblast and Mogilev Oblast have showcased the richness of folk traditions, highlighted key landmarks, and presented rituals and holidays, including the Kupala Night festival in Alexandria. Central to their exhibits are models of the Gomel Circus and the palace and park ensemble in Zhilichi. The recently opened Mogilev Oblast Glory Museum is also on display.

The entire exhibition is designed as a grand journey across the country. All stands are unified by a common visual style - Belarusian vytinanka, the traditional art of paper cutting, which was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2024. Interactive stands dedicated to natural beauty are on show. Ecological installations allow visitors to feel the atmosphere of Belarusian nature and listen to birdsong.