Minsk Facts for Kids

The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, in Minsk

Victory Square, the central place of Minsk

Minsk or Miensk (Мінск (official spelling in Belarus), Менск; Минск ; Mińsk) is the capital and a major city of Belarus. 1.8 million people live in the city. Minsk is also a headquarters of the Commonwealth of Independent States. As a capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is also the capital of Minsk voblast (province) and Minsk raion. Minsk is situated by the Svislach and Niamiha rivers. The timezone in Minsk is GMT +2.

The oldest mentions of Minsk date back to the 11th century (1067). In 1326 Minsk became a part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and received its town privileges in 1499. From 1569 it was a capital of the Minsk Voivodship in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was annexed by Russia in 1793 as a consequence of the Second Partition of Poland. During 1919–1991 Minsk was the capital of the Byelorussian SSR.

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Trajeckaje pradmiescie
Independence Square in the centre of Minsk.
The Saviour Church, built under the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1577, is part of an archaeological preservation in Zaslavl, 23 km (14 mi) northwest of Minsk.
Minsk in 1772
The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, built in the early 17th century, is the oldest existing building in the city.
Orthodox church of St. Mary Magdalene (built in 1847)
The Jesuit Collegium in 1912.
Belarusian national flag over the building of the People's Secretariat of the Belarusian People's Republic
Meeting in the Kurapaty woods, 1989, where between 1937 and 1941 from 30,000 to 250,000 Belarusian intelligentsia members were murdered by the NKVD during the Great Purge
Children during the German bombing of Minsk on 24 June 1941.
War memorial in Victory Square, Minsk.
German troops marching through Minsk.
Railway Station Square, an example of Stalinist Minsk architecture.
Janka Kupala National Theatre
Independence Avenue (Initial part of avenue candidates for inclusion in World Heritage Site).
Minsk satellite photo, 2019
Apartment buildings in Minsk.
Jewish Holocaust memorial "The Pit" in Minsk.
Chinese signage, Minsk railway station (2018).
New synagogue in Minsk
Power plant.
The city hall (rebuilt in 2003).
Outside view of the Dinamo National Olympic Stadium, 2019.
Dinamo National Olympic Stadium (after reconstruction).
Minsk Arena
Electrobus AKSM E321 in Minsk.
Vakzalnaja station in the Minsk Metro.
Minsk Central Bus Station Nowadays
Stadler Astra train, Minsk train station.
Bike path in Minsk.
Church of Sts. Peter and Paul (Russian Orthodox).
Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Russian Orthodox).
Church of Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Roman Catholic).
Church of Holy Trinity (Saint Rochus) (Roman Catholic).
Church of All Saints (Russian Orthodox).
Church of St.Yevfrosinya of Polotsk (Russian Orthodox).
Church of St. Elisabeth Convent (Russian Orthodox)
The Red Church (Roman Catholic).
Church of St.Joseph (formerly Uniate, used as an archive).
Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic).
Minsk Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Russian Orthodox).
Minsk State Linguistic University.
Faculty of International Relations, Belarusian State University.
Belarus State University rector's office.

Minsk facts for kids

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See also