In search of cultural and historical enlightenment and budget vacations, you can go to Smolensk! How to get to Smolensk? What to see? Where to stay and what sights this ancient city keeps in our material!
How to get to Smolensk
Distance Minsk to Smolensk is 330 km. The city can be reached by bus. Ticket Minsk - Smolensk can be bought for 45-50 rubles from the carrier Busfor or book a seat in a taxi. From Vitebsk you can get to Smolensk for 12 rubles, from Mogilev for 13. Departure of buses from the central bus station in Minsk.
There is an option to go to Smolensk by train. The price for a seat in a reserved seat car starts from 50 rubles. Pay 80-125 rubles for a coupe. Travel time will take no more than 5 hours, in addition, you can choose a convenient departure time.
Do not forget your own car (or bla bla car), no one will argue that this is the most convenient way to travel. And if you don’t have a car, but you want to travel in comfort, book a transfer to Smolensk.
What to see in Smolensk?
Smolensk - one of the oldest cities in Russia with a rich history and many attractions, which will be emphasized in this guide. You must have heard of the Great Wall of China. Smolensk lagged behind quite a bit and can boast of its - Smolensk fortress wall.
The history of the first fortifications of Smolensk dates back to the 12th century, when Prince Rostislav built the first defensive wooden wall.
As part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the city was surrounded by an earthen moat, and during the reign of Ivan the Terrible, a fortress was built. The very same stone wall appeared in the 17th century on the site of former fortifications.
About 18 workers were involved in the construction of walls (6 meters high, 6,5 meters thick, with a perimeter of defensive structures of 30 kilometers), who also had to build 000 towers. Construction took 38 full years!
Smolensk fortress wall had no analogues in the territory of Russia (then and now). Repeatedly subjected to sieges, but not once the enemy was able to take the walls in battle. Although during the retreat of Napoleon, 9 towers and part of the walls were blown up.
Climbing the wall you can see almost the entire city. A truly mesmerizing sight!
Historic Smolensk - this is a unique Russian city, so rich in sights that, willy-nilly, you can miss this or that object. Modern buildings and restored architectural monuments harmoniously coexist in the city. Check out city tours:
A special place in the architecture of the city is occupied by temples, three of which were built in the pre-Mongolian period and have survived to this day.
The most important pearl of the city is certainly the Holy Assumption Cathedral.
The construction of the cathedral began on the orders of Prince Vladimir Monomakh, during the war with the Commonwealth, the temple was destroyed. At the end of the 17th - beginning of the 18th century it was rebuilt. He survived two Patriotic Wars (1812 and 1941-1945) and survived during the “War of Temples”. Now the Assumption Cathedral is not only the main temple, but also one of the most striking sights of historical Smolensk.
The cathedral is part of the ensemble of the Assumption Mountain, in the complex of which there are churches, temples and chambers.
Of course, the weekend guide to historical Smolensk has not collected all the sights, of which there are a great many, but only the main ones, which I hope will leave a desire to get to know this wonderful Russian city in more detail. The easiest way to do this is by visiting one of the exciting city tours. Smolensk city tours:
Look for hotels and apartments in Smolensk here. Read also about the city Sochi и Yekaterinburg.
