Minsk facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Belarus-Minsk-Cathedral of Holy Spirit-3
The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, in Minsk
Victory-square
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.

Images for kids

  • Minsk. A view of Svislach river

    Minsk. A view of Svislach river

  • Belarus-Minsk-Svislach and Traetskaye Suburb-1

    Trayetskaye Pradmestsye contains the remains of pre-WWII Minsk on the Svislach bank.

  • Belarus-Minsk-Church of Mary Magdalene-2

    Russian Orthodox church of St. Mary Magdalene (built in 1847)

  • K. Marx street photo

    A street in central Minsk

  • Minsk 1912

    The Jesuit Collegium in 1912.

  • Belarus-Minsk-Railway Station Square-4

    Railway Station Square, an example of Stalinist Minsk.

  • Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-137-1010-37A, Minsk, deutsche Truppen vor modernen Gebäuden

    German troops marching through Minsk.

  • Independence Avenue in Minsk

    Niezalezhnasti Avenue (Initial part of avenue candidates for inclusion in World Heritage Site)

  • Belarus-Minsk-Independence Square-2

    Independence Square in the centre of Minsk.

  • Краявіды Мінска 103

    Apartment buildings in Minsk.

  • Minsk memorial

    Jewish Holocaust memorial

  • Minsk all districts color-2011-05-02

    Raions of Minsk

  • Minsk 031 20070803 0170

    Tram in Minsk.

  • Minsk-Metro-Uruch'e-04

    Uruchye station in the Minsk Metro.

  • Stadler FLIRT Minsk

    Electric Minsk city Stadler FLIRT trains at the railway station of Minsk-Passenger

  • Theatre opera&ballet, Minsk

    National Academic Grand Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus

  • Belarus Minsk Archcathedral Virgin Mary

    The city hall (rebuilt in 2003) overlooks the Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary.

  • Belarus-Minsk-BSU Branch-Biology Faculty

    Faculty of Biology, Belarusian State University.

  • Belarus-Minsk-BSUIR

    University of Informatics and Radioelectronics

  • Belarus-Minsk-BSPU-Main Building

    Pedagogical University.

  • Holy Spirit Cathedral (Minsk)

    Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Russian Orthodox).

  • Minsk Catholic Mary church

    Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic).

  • Kaścioł śv. Jazepa - 6

    Church of St.Joseph (formerly Uniate, currently used as an archive).

  • Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral

    Church of Sts. Peter and Paul (Russian Orthodox).

  • Belarus-Minsk-Church of Simon and Helena-7-2

    The Red Church (Roman Catholic).

  • Belarus-Minsk-Church of Mary Magdalene-8

    Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Russian Orthodox).

  • Belarus-Minsk-Church of Exaltation of the Holy Cross-8

    Church of Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Roman Catholic).

  • Belarus-Minsk-Holy Trinity Church-1

    Church of Holy Trinity (Saint Rochus) (Roman Catholic).

  • Vsekh svyatykh sobor 1998

    Church of All Saints (Russian Orthodox).

  • Yevfrosinyi Polotskoy sobor, 1995

    Church of St.Yevfrosinya of Polotsk (Russian Orthodox).

  • St Elizabeth Monastery 1997 1

    Church of St. Elizabeth Convent (Russian Orthodox)


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Minsk Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.