Brest Oblast

Brest Oblast (Belarusian: Брэсцкая вобласць) is a region in the western part of Belarus.

Cities

• 1 Brest — the center of the region. Brest Fortress is one of the basic memorials of the World War II. The memorial park also includes the archaeological museum of Berestye, the ancient settlement on the spot of Brest. The city itself is less remarkable, although it preserves several churches from the 19th century and an interesting railway museum.
• 2 Baranavičy (Баранавічы) — a major train hub with a number of modern churches and an interesting railway museum.
• 3 Biaroza (Бяроза) — a town with the remains of the monastery from the 17th century.
• 4 Kamianiec (Каменец) — a town with the famous 13th century tower.
• 5 Leninski — home of the Manor of Bielski.
• 6 Pinsk — one of the most remarkable cities in Belarus, with numerous churches, monasteries, and secular buildings from the 17th-19th centuries.
• 7 Pružany (Пружаны) — a small town that preserves a nice country estate and several fine churches from the 19th century.
• 8 Kobryn (Кобрын) — an ancient town with secular buildings from the 19th century and the museum of Suvorov.
• 9 Kosava — a small town with a reasonably well-preserved Gothic Revival castle from the 19th century. The hometown of the Polish national hero Tadeusz Kościuszko.
• 10 Motaĺ

Other destinations

European bison in Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park

• 1 Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park — a national biosphere reserve and UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the largest remaining parts of the primeval forest in Europe.
• 2 Čarnaǔčycy (Чарнаўчыцы) — a village that preserves a Catholic church from the late 16th century, one of the oldest monuments in Belarus.
• 3 Ružany (Ружаны) — a settlement with the remains of a magnificent palace and churches from the 16th-17th centuries.
• 4 Zakozieĺ (Закозель) — a village near Drahichyn with an impressive neo-Gothic burial chapel.

Get in

By bus

Shuttle buses Brest - Kamyanyets - Kameniuky

• From Brest. minibus: 07:00, 12:30, 17:00. bus: 08:00, 14:30.
• From Kameniuky. minibus: 08:20, 14:10, 18:50. bus: 06:20, 10:00, 16:15.

Bus station phone: 114 (only in Russian)

By car

• From Brest – take Brest-Kameniuky Highway (Р83) – 65 km.
• From Minsk – take Minsk-Brest (M1) Highway till the turn to Zhabinka Town (P7) and then turn to Kamyanyets and on to Kameniuky Village (P83) – around 380 km.
• From Minsk – take Minsk-Brest (M1) Highway till the turn to Slonim Town (P21) and then turn to Kamyanyets and on to Kameniuky Village (P83) – around 380 km.

See

• Struve Geodetic Arc - a cluster of three triangulation points northwest of Pinsk listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stay safe

Belarus has a moderate level of crime. Fortunately, crimes against foreigners are rare, though criminals have been known to use force if met with resistance from victims. Common street crime, such as mugging and pickpocketing, occurs most frequently near public transportation venues, near hotels frequented by foreigners, and/or at night in poorly lit areas. In many areas, you should be especially alert in metro and bus stations, as criminals have a likely chance in attacking you.

Belarus is still largely a discriminatory society. Gay and lesbian travellers face widespread discrimination in Belarus, as do Jews. If you are in any of these categories, exercise caution if you decide to travel to Belarus.

If you participate in a street demonstration with political banners, expect to be detained within minutes. How fast you get out (24 hours or 24 days) depends on your connections, your social status, etc. Westerners especially should avoid any political discussions, protests, etc., due to the government's keen opposition to dissenting views.

The KGB in Belarus has not changed its name since the days of the Soviet Union - it is still called the KGB, and its habits have probably not changed much either. Security personnel may at times place you, as a foreigner, under surveillance; hotel rooms, telephones, and fax machines may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched. Taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in problems with authorities; these sites are not always clearly marked and the application of these restrictions is subject to interpretation.

Visible and hidden dangers exist, including potholes, unlighted or poorly lighted streets, inattentive and dark-clothed pedestrians walking on unlighted roads, drivers and pedestrians under the influence of alcohol, and disregard for traffic rules. Driving in winter is especially dangerous because of ice and snow. Drivers are urged to exercise caution at all times.

Belarus police organizations are well trained and professional, but severely restricted by an unreformed Soviet-era legal system, corruption, and politicization of the police force and other government authorities. Due to low salaries, it is not uncommon for officers to collect bribes during traffic stops. Sophisticated criminal investigations are often inconclusive because of a lack of resources and/or political will.

Tap water is not safe for drinking. Buy bottles.

Toilets are very frequent in Belarus; however, they are usually neither free, nor adapted to wheelchairs. Also note they rarely have available paper (except perhaps in touristy places such as museums), and are often squatting-style.

Go next

• Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park (Belavezhskaya Pushcha) is an ancient woodland straddling the border between Belarus and Poland, located 70 km (43 mi) north from Brest. It is one of the last and largest remaining parts of the immense primeval forest which once spread across the European Plain. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are buses going there from Brest.
• Poland is just a few kilometers away. There is one dedicated daily train from Brest to Warsaw, departing at 15:23 Belarusian time, reaching Warsaw at 17:25 Polish time.