Minsk is the capital of Bel., an ancient and beautiful city with long and exciting history.  

   It was first mentioned in chronicles in 1067 in connection with the battle of the Nemiga River during which it was destroyed. It was destroyed, burned, ruined by the conquerors many times during its 930-year history: by the Crimean Tatars in 1505, French Troops in 1812, German occupants in 1919-1920, fascists during World War 2. But each time it raise from the ruins and ashes as the mythical bird Phoenix. Many conquerors have passed through Minsk because it is situated on the crossroads of the busiest trade-routed connecting the Baltic and the Black seas, the East and the West thus, this advantage often turned into disadvantage.  

   Minsk stands on the Svisloch River in a picturesque place. The present day city is almost entirely of new construction. It is the city with broad streets and avenues, modern architecture, shady parks and some churches, which have survived as relics of the past.  

   Minsk is the major industrial centre of Belarus. The economy is based on machine building, particularly the manufacture of trucks and tractors. Other products include electric motors, bearings, machine tools, radio and television equipment, refrigerators, watches, textile and foodstuffs.  

   The city is also a major educational and cultural centre with the Academy of Sciences of Belarus, the Belorussian State University founded in 1921 and numerous institutions of higher education and scientific research. Its the city where you can find the best pieces of Belorussian cultural heritage: museums, exhibitions, theatres and so on.  

   The best way to explore the city is to make a tour. The shortest way to be acquainted with the city and its people is to walk down Francisk Skorina Avenue from Independence square to Yakub Kolas square. This is the most beautiful and the busiest part of the city. The most famous places are the Hose of the Government, the State University, new modern library, the Russian Academic Drama Theatre, the Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus, Y. Kupala Belarusian Drama Theatre, Opera and Ballet House, Victory Square and the Obelisk of Victory with Eternal Fire, the Palace of Arts, Philharmonic Society.