Pinsk - is a big town of Brest region of Belarus, an administrative center of Pinsk district. In the city of Pinsk survived some very important cultural, historical and architectural monuments and sights of Belarus. Together, they form a very attractive tourist atmosphere, so the city of Pinsk is a very interesting destination for tourists and travelers in Belarus.
One of the main attractions of the city of Pinsk is the body of the former Jesuit College, or, more simply, the Monastery of Jesuits. The structure of the monastery, but a huge residential and administrative building at the same time, which survived until our days, previously served as an even more majestic catholic church (built in 1635). Unfortunately, the church was severely damaged during the Second World War, and during the Soviet era was finally demolished in the course of improvement of the central part of the city of Pinsk. Preserved monastery building was originally built in 1648 and is picturesquely situated on the banks of the river. This venerable age makes this architectural monument of special value.
At this point the body of the former Jesuit College in the city of Pinsk is in excellent condition and is very impressive in its scope and grandeur. The former convent now houses a number of different public and government organizations. One can only try to imagine how once shook the imagination of the lost church, which was almost twice the size of the neighboring monastery of the body (see photo at the bottom of the page). Yet, even the preserved body of the collegium is an important tourist attraction, cultural and historical value and architectural monument of Belarus.
Another very important attraction of the city of Pinsk is a complex of buildings of the former Catholic Franciscan monastery, it is also beautiful stretching over the river, and occupies an entire city block. This monastery was founded in the city of Pinsk in the distant 1396. The structure of the monastery complex includes: the Catholic church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, built in 1730 on the site of an ancient temple of the 16th century, with the inclusion of a laying of a new church preserved fragments of the old temple; bell tower, built in 1817; residential buildings, built in 1769. These monastic enclosure constitute a very cozy and remarkable patios.
Today, all the buildings of this architectural complex are in excellent condition. The monastic buildings now houses the Higher Theological Seminary, which is a major Catholic institution in the whole of Belarus. Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the town of Pinsk and functions and is the main temple of the entire diocese of Pinsk, which includes all the Brest and Gomel regions, thus the church - Cathedral. This temple also has the status of a basilica minor. This honorable status in Belarus has, in addition to the church in Pinsk, literally just a few more temples. Recall that the status of the basilica major means that some temple is in the direct jurisdiction of the Pope. There are only six such temples in the whole world. So, the title "Minor Basilica" is the highest title, which can in principle be awarded to a Belarusian church. Thus, the complex of buildings of the former monastery in the town of Pinsk is a very valuable architectural monument and landmark of Belarus.
Another notable feature of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary church in the town of Pinsk is that this temple was not closed during the Soviet era. Also, this temple is closely related to the name of Cardinal Kazimierz Świątek (1914-2011) - the first Belarusian cardinal modern times and only in the 20th century. After returning from Stalin's camps in the mid-50s of the 20th century, it served as the stretch in the Pinsk church more than 50 years. This man played a key role in the restoration of the Catholic Church structures in Belarus at the end of the 20th century and for a long time headed it. He was the main initiator of the revival of Pinsk seminary in 2001, and many other temples. Here, in Pinsk church, he was buried, and his name today named one of the Pinsk streets adjacent to the monastery.
However, the list of attractions of the city of Pinsk is not limited to the mentioned monasteries. And before going on to describe other attractions Pinsk, you need to immediately mention another church to it and close the topic of the Catholic heritage of this city. So, in Pinsk there is another very remarkable Catholic church - the church of St. Charles Borromeo. This temple was built in 1782. This church is very small, but its appearance is striking in its monumentality and permanently deposited in the memory of tourists and travelers. In our time, the concert hall is located in a well restored building of the temple.
We continue the description of the Christian heritage of the city of Pinsk. Another attraction of this town is a complex of buildings of the former Catholic Bernardine monastery. This monastery was founded in Pinsk in 1705. The structure of the complex includes: the central temple, which was built in 1787 as a Catholic church; gate-bell tower, built in the late 19th century; residential building, built in 1828. In the 1830s, after the defeat of the uprising of the corresponding complex of buildings of the monastery was transferred to the Orthodox Church. At the same time the central temple of the complex was somewhat rebuilt and remodeled by the Orthodox Church. Today is Orthodox Cathedral of St. Barbara. This cathedral and other buildings are part of the architectural complex of the former monastery in the town of Pinsk in our time is in excellent condition and are important architectural monuments, cultural and historical values and attractions of Belarus.
Also in the city of Pinsk, there are still a few modern Orthodox churches. These temples are of course not yet acquired the status of cultural and historical values, but even now thanks to its rich architecture and status may be interested in a certain circle of tourists and travelers in Belarus. Be sure to note that one of these modern temples (next photo) refers to the existing Orthodox convent, which was first founded in the city of Pinsk in 1521. Today it is completely recreated from scratch the monastery in modern buildings, however, as we can see, it has a rich history and traditions.
Then we go on to describe the Christian churches of secular architectural monuments and sights of the city of Pinsk. First, the most beautiful and memorable attraction is a small palace. This palace was built in the town of Pinsk in 1790, and is located near the river. It is very picturesque, richly decorated and concise building undoubtedly deserves special attention from the tourists and travelers in Belarus. Today in the palace are various non-governmental organizations, and the palace itself is in excellent condition.
Another attraction of the city of Pinsk, deserve special mention, it is a small wooden house, built in 1900. It is noteworthy that the building is in the fact that here in 1912-1915 lived Yakub Kolas - the famous Belarusian writer, poet and translator, one of the founders and the classics of the Belarusian literature, a public figure, people's poet of Belarus, academician.
Besides the above, in the city of Pinsk, there are many different architectural monuments and historical buildings. Most of them belong to the end of the 19th century - beginning of the 20th, but there are more old buildings related even to the 18th century. All these buildings can be described as historic urban terraced houses. Among these small monuments of the city of Pinsk are: former administrative and residential buildings, banks, cinemas, synagogues, farms, schools, industrial buildings and many others. Most of these buildings are now in good condition, and perform a variety of useful functions. Some of them even are various tourist facilities, such as restaurants, others - and today are residential or office buildings.
Drilling historical buildings of the city of Pinsk, as has been said, it has been preserved in a large volume. Most of the buildings belonging to it, located, naturally, in the historic center, the same place where the key attractions of the city of Pinsk, and very successfully complements them and creates a very pleasant tourist atmosphere. Historical buildings occupied by several large areas of the city. Unfortunately, the historical development of the city of Pinsk alternates with modern buildings, so the effect of total immersion in the old days is not observed. Also it is necessary to mention that from the Collegium to Cathedral (described at the beginning), in the area of the most intense of historic buildings in the city of Pinsk organized a pedestrian street, which also adds a city tourist attraction.
Finally, describing tourist atmosphere of the city of Pinsk, not to mention the fact that the city itself, and in particular, its historic center with a lot of already described attractions, stretched along the river Pina, right in the place where the river flows into the Pripyat River. Both of these rivers in this place already full-flowing and, together with the old riverbed Pina, they create here a four-bend. And all this right in the center of Pinsk. Thus, here is created by nature itself is also very unusual and fascinating picture. This successful combination of natural beauty and architectural splendor of some attractions Pinsk, can only delight tourists. To this must also be added that the quay Pina in Pinsk nice landscaped, here there is a small park where summer work rides and a variety of sports grounds, and on the very river floats a lot of river transport, which can also be very interesting to see.
Also, once again mention that Pinsk - it is a big city. It has all the necessary infrastructure for tourists and travelers, in particular: cafes, restaurants, hotels, banks, offices of mobile operators, gas stations, souvenir shops, ATMs, pharmacies, post office and the police, hospitals and more. And as a small bonus, we note that in the city of Pinsk has very unusual ordinary Belarusians building - Floating River Station (next two pictures). This wooden station, built in the first half of the 20th century and has a very memorable appearance.
Sketches of Napoleon Orda, Pinsk:
Pinsk at the old photos:
