5 Must Visit Tourist Spots In Babruysk, Belarus

Babruysk is one of the oldest cities in Belarus and is the country’s seventh-largest settlement. It was first mentioned in writing in the middle of the 14th century, and these days houses a population of around 215,000. The city is also sometimes spelt Bobruisk when transliterated into English, and remains a less-visited tourist spot. Work your way through these activities on your visit to this up-and-coming city.

# Walk around Lenin Square

Communist history is clear to see for anyone travelling in Belarus. Babruysk’s Lenin Square contains leafy gardens and a pedestrian only zone. Military parades are sometimes held in the main square. The most photographed parts of the square are the Lenin Statue itself, and the rectangular City Hall that sits behind it. There are benches to relax on and some cafes and bars nearby.

# See a genuine Soviet Union tank

Downtown Babruysk also has some memorials and reminders of the Soviet days. A former Soviet tank sits on the other side of the main square. Beside it there is a war memorial dedicated to soldiers from Babruysk who died in battle.

# Visit the UNESCO-listed Berezina Preserve

Probably the most essential tourist place to visit in Babruysk is this UNESCO-listed nature reserve. The Berezina Preserve is on the UNESCO list of biosphere preserves. There is some tourist information on boards by the river and you can get a tour on the waters, but the main point is to preserve the nature and wildlife here. You can see many mammals in the preserve, including elk, deer, beaver, wild boar, foxes and squirrels. Bird watchers can also enjoy the many species of birds that live here, such as the black grouse and the willow ptarmigan. A good spot to watch the sunset by the Berezina River is the park at the back of the Hotel Tourist.

# Tour the ruins of Babruysk's fortress

Don’t expect a masterpiece or anything to blow your mind here, as the ruins mean exactly that. The fortress has never returned to its former glory and only small parts of it remain. But before your visit, read up on the history, particularly the Battle of Berezina. It was here, back in 1812, where Napoleon Bonaparte’s army lost around 36,000 troops when crossing the Berezina River. As a result, Berezina is sometimes used in the French language to mean ‘catastrophe’.

# Watch Belshina Babruysk at the Sparta Stadium

Football is alive and well in Belarus, and the tidy little Sparta Stadium is the proud home of Belshina Bobruisk. You can get a ticket to watch the local team play here, as Belshina ply their trade in the Belarussian top flight. They have won the Belarussian league once (in 2001) and the cup three times. Impressively, the stadium has been used by the Belarus international women’s team through the years. Around the pitch is also an athletics track. The stadium is on Kastrycnickaja Street.