I dreamed of visiting Belarus for a very long time. Its extraordinary cleanliness and ideal roads, the friendliness of people and the amazing taste of local products are legendary. Belarus is a foreign country, but you do not need visas to visit it. And so, one friendly September morning, we as a family (me, husband and daughter of 6 years old) got into the car and went on a trip.
We left on Tuesday at 3:00 am. The distance from Kovrov to Minsk is 1,100 km, the estimated travel time is about 14 hours.
A few general questions:
- The local currency is Belarusian rubles. Even before the trip, I read a lot about the fact that it is unprofitable to change money in Russia. But it’s always uncomfortable for me to travel without local currency in my pocket, so I changed 1,000,000 bel at Sberbank. rubles. So, I confirm from my own experience that it is necessary to change money in Belarus. There are exchange offices in all shopping centers in Minsk, the exchange rate is much more profitable than in Russian banks.
- Registration of the "Green Card - Green Card" - an international auto insurance policy. Everywhere they write that it must be mandatory. No one asked us for insurance during the entire trip, but this is not an indicator, of course. You can issue it both at home with an insurance company and along the highway, starting from Smolensk and beyond. There are a lot of insurance points, the price is about the same everywhere.
- Petrol. It is better to fill up with gasoline as much as possible in Russia, in Belarus it is more expensive. But the price at all gas stations is identical, which is very convenient.
- Toll roads. Near Minsk there are many signs "Toll road". How and where they pay for travel on these roads - we did not understand. No booths, barriers - nothing. Having passed many toll roads, we never paid. Mystery.
- The driving culture in Belarus is very high. They follow the rules, disciplinedly let people pass at pedestrian crossings.
Well, that's about all. Let's get straight to the journey. So, having left Kovrov at 03.00 in the morning, at 16.00 we were already in Minsk. (
Stopped only at gas stations - coffee / snack / toilet / a little rest for the driver.
I read a lot before the trip and had a rough idea of what to expect from the country. But still, the first thing you pay attention to as soon as you cross the border is the extraordinary cleanliness. The grass, as if combed with a comb, is even, beautiful. And, by the way, not only on the main roads. We had to go and small villages - everything is identical. There are freshly harvested fields all around, I have already forgotten how beautiful it is - well-groomed land.
There are many places for parking along the route, equipped with everything you need. For using the forest as a free toilet / garbage container, you are fined. In general, Belarus is not at all like Russia in appearance. To European countries where I have been too. Belarus is original, and this makes it unique.
The first impression of Minsk is a cozy, calm city. There are no rushing crowds of people. No traffic jams either!
Day 1. Victory Park - Museum of the Great Patriotic War
Guest house «Comfort-House» in Minsk
Upon arrival, we went to the Comfort-House guest house on the street. Novinkovskaya, pre-booked on the booking.com website. We were attracted by the relative cheapness of the room - about 2000 rubles. for three per night and a lot of positive reviews (the average rating of the guest house is very high - 9.3 points).
So, all the praises that are sung to this small hotel are completely true. I have only enthusiastic exclamations and superlatives. "Comfort-House" consists of several small houses, each of which can accommodate two rooms.
In our house there was a swimming pool (use is included in the price), barbecue, sauna (for an additional fee). Huge kitchen with everything you need, TV, sofa, air conditioning, airfield bed in the room. The territory is well-groomed, with an abundance of vegetation, all sorts of figurines, grottoes, fountains, arbors. Honestly, I don't even want to leave. My child was absolutely delighted and still remembers the "Comfortable House" with great tenderness.
A tiny fly in the ointment in this ocean of honey is a very friendly host. Very very. Three times a night he came to see if everything was all right. Edited our plans for the day, etc. and so on. But these are just my troubles, I don’t really like stormy communication with unfamiliar people.
I recommend this hotel to everyone. Probably the best place we have ever stayed.
But let's get back to the journey. Having settled down, we went for a walk around the city. Stopped near victory park on Pobediteley Avenue. Excellent panorama, well-groomed park with fountains, bridges, picturesque alleys.
The landscape is crowned by a majestic building - the Museum of the Great Patriotic War. That's where we went. In general, it should be noted the great respect with which Belarusians treat the memory of the war. Numerous steles, monuments - all in excellent condition. During the war, every third Belarusian died (it’s even scary to think about this figure), and this tragedy will forever remain in the minds of the people.
The Minsk Museum of the Great Patriotic War consists of expositions dedicated to the course of the war, the partisan movement and various installations. Several halls are given over to the demonstration of military equipment. I was especially touched by the halls of the fascist occupation of Belarus. The heart bleeds, one has only to imagine what the people who took upon themselves all the oppression and atrocities of the war experienced.
After wandering around the museum, we went to have dinner. By the way, I will tell you about our food in Belarus.
Food in Belarus
Without further ado, we went to the Lido all the time. A lot has already been written and said about this institution, I will not repeat it. There are two Lidos in Minsk, we both visited them during our days in the city. Inexpensive, varied, delicious. Very atmospheric. It’s a pity, of course, that I didn’t have to visit other places - Anna Sadovskaya talks very tasty about in her reviews. But never mind, we'll catch up another time.Just in case addresses of "Lido" in Belarus:
- Independence Ave., 49, room 1
- st. Kulman, 5A
Second day. Mir Castle - Nyasvizh Castle - National Library of Minsk
World
Waking up and having breakfast at the hotel, we went to. The distance from Minsk to the settlement of Mir in the Korelichi district of the Grodno region is 98 km. Excellent road, very picturesque surroundings.
The castle itself looks monumental. When you enter the gate and see it in front of you, it takes your breath away, as if you were in a fairy tale ..
Inside, everything is no less fabulous. It seems that you are in the Middle Ages, in a second knights and beautiful ladies in crinolines will appear, and servants with boar heads on trays and onion stew will scurry around the kitchen. There is no feeling of a remake, as in many similar places.
Very interesting tour of the castle and its environs. In particular, the tragic legend about the lake, which was dug out by cutting down a beautiful forest. The spirits of the forest cursed the race of the person who gave the order. Fiction or not, but the daughter of the owner of the castle, Prince Svyatopolk-Mirsky Sonechka, drowned in this lake, and then he himself.
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The Mir Castle is full of stairs and catacombs. The stairs are very steep and uncomfortable, I almost fell off the steps several times.
In the courtyard of the castle there is a very good souvenir shop and a small museum dedicated to the years of the fascist occupation of the Mir land. Also on the territory of the castle was located the Jewish ghetto. The ancient walls have become a dungeon for hundreds of people.
It is not only architecture that is beautiful in the World - a wonderful landscape, bridges, a picturesque chapel-tomb of the princes Svyatopolk-Mirsky.
An amazing place where I really want to go back.
Nesvizh
From Mir we went to the cultural capital of Belarus. So it is written on one of the buildings in this city. Distance - 31 km.Upon arrival, we left the car near the ancient church and went to the Castle.
Quite a long path runs along the shore of a beautiful pond. The castle itself is breathtaking. Literally, he is so handsome.
But inside the castle did not make much impression. It seems both beautiful and rich - but it is a remake and does not smell of history at all. We walked, looked, listened, nothing particularly impressed. According to my feelings, Nesvizh is elegant, modern, very similar to the palaces of St. Petersburg. Mir Castle is more exotic, you won’t see this in Russia.
The surrounding area is also disappointing. With such a majestic castle, the landscape is dull and faded. Souvenirs and food stalls are all around, there is a real lack of a well-groomed park with alleys where one could take a walk, admiring the views.
From Nesvizh we went to have lunch at Lido, and then we visited the pride of Minskers -National Library. Very interesting and unusual blue glass building.
We were there in the evening, it was already dark and the lights were on. The view is fantastic, of course.
On a high-speed elevator, we climbed to the observation deck - we saw Minsk at night from a height. Once again we were convinced what a beautiful city it is.
Without arms / without legs, we went to the hotel - to have dinner, swim in the pool, take a steam bath in the sauna and sleep, sleep, sleep.
Day 3. Khatyn - "Lake" - Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of the Republic of Belarus - Komarovsky Market, Minsk.
Early in the morning of the third day we went to. We got to it like this - on the 54th kilometer of the Vitebsk highway there is a sign "Khatyn". We turn left - and after a few kilometers you can see the memorial complex.
I will not talk much about the tragedy of Khatyn - everyone knows about it. One of the most tragic pages of our common history. On March 22, 1943, the Nazis drove the inhabitants of a small Belarusian village into a wooden shed and set it on fire. Old people, women, babies. They had no weapons, they did not harm anyone. And this case is not isolated. During the years of occupation, more than a hundred such tragedies occurred on Belarusian soil.
I heard a lot about Khatyn, read a lot, but when I myself found myself in this place ... Morning, fog, bells ring on the skeletons of burnt houses, a huge statue of the “Unconquered” - a burnt old man with a dead son in his arms. Dark, disturbing atmosphere. Everyone should be here, in my opinion. But I wouldn't hesitate to come back here.
From Khatyn we went to the Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of the Republic of Belarus "Lake".
And I fell in love with this place forever. "Lake" refers to open-air museums or skansen museums. That is, one where historical and cultural monuments are displayed in a natural environment.
First of all, it is famous for interesting sculptures in front of the entrance. Well, and of course, the range. Everything that Belarus is rich in is presented on the market. And sausages, and cheeses, and dairy products, and products of confectionery factories. For every taste. We stocked up on condensed cream - the taste is amazing and the price for our money is about 50 rubles per can, Belarusian lard and sweets. I wanted to buy everything at once. But since we, like Winnie the Pooh, love condensed milk most of all, we basically bought it. Yes, more. :) They also bought several cans of stew. By the way, it is very rare to find the word GOST on Belarusian stew. And the fact is that in Belarus this word is not an empty phrase. For the slightest discrepancy can be very severely punished.
I also want to note dairy products - everything is very tasty. For example, if you take a milkshake (my daughter loves them very much), it will be a real cocktail, and not a burd with a lot of E, which is sold in our stores. Sausages are like sausages. I did not notice any special difference with the Russian ones.
The products of Belarusian cosmetic companies - Biovita and Vitex - are sold everywhere. Shampoos and creams are good. But again, no better than "Clean Line" and "Grandmother Agafya", in my opinion.
After spending the night at the hotel again, in the morning we went home. The trip to Belarus by car was coming to an end... It was a pity to leave, we liked this hospitable country so much. So many interesting things remained unknown - Brest, Grodno, Lida and many, many more. There is a reason to return!
The junction of East and West closest to us attracts with amazing contrasts. The country to this day remains a kind of reserve of socialism with a coat of arms and flag that has not changed much since Soviet times, monuments to Lenin in almost every city, street names unchanged since the times of the USSR, and even ... collective farms. At the same time, in Belarus there is a very decent and inexpensive service, unusual cleanliness on the streets and even in courtyards, unpolluted nature, good roads in Western European style and polite drivers. And Belarus is also a country of museums, and the most diverse - sometimes unexpected for the uninitiated - directions and eras.
How to travel and where to live
To travel to Belarus, Russians do not even need a passport. To add only car insurance - a green card, which you can buy just before the border. By the way, there is no border as such between Russia and Belarus. True, for some time now, when entering Russia, all cars have been stopped to check the presence of Russian passports. Belarus has opened borders for many countries. However, such control takes a minimum of time and nerves. You don't even have to get out of the car.
From Moscow to Minsk and Brest we go straight along the M-1 highway. We cross the border and feel a certain breath of Europe. On large sections of the route on the territory of Belarus, unlike Russia, there is a wide dividing strip. Permissible speed for a passenger car is 120 km/h. It is not worth exceeding much, and signs, especially in settlements, must be watched vigilantly. There are a lot of cameras photographing the tail of the car, and even after a few days of traveling around the republic, you can be stopped, presented with a photo as proof of the violation and politely offered to pay a fine. But they won't stop for no reason. And the Belarusian law enforcement officers do not take bribes. Roads - even local, narrow, provincial ones - are always in surprisingly good condition.
Gasoline costs about the same as in Russia. for a few days, you need to change a certain amount to the local currency. The times when in many places, especially at gas stations, our rubles, and euros, and even dollars were accepted, are long gone. However, cards are accepted almost everywhere.Finding a hotel in any city is not a problem. Often hotels have a certain touch of "Sovietism", but everything is clean and not shabby. For some, there is a kind of thrill in such a return to the past.
A double room in a three-star hotel in large cities costs about 4,500 rubles per day, in four-star hotels - 5,500–6,000 rubles. There are paid parking near some hotels, but the prices are such that no one will be ruined.
The food in Belarus is cheap, satisfying and tasty. Quite a decent dinner in a quite decent restaurant will cost 700 rubles per person. By the way, local products are not only delicious, but also surprisingly cheap. I know an amateur who regularly travels around Belarus and invariably brings dairy products and stew from there, which costs half as much as in Moscow.
What to watch?
Belarus famous
Of course, even those who have never been to Belarus know that the country suffered enormously during the war and remembers it well. Therefore, historical monuments associated with the Great Patriotic War are especially numerous and revered here.
Of the most famous, of course, the Brest Fortress, a memorial complex in the village of Khatyn burned in the Great Patriotic War, and Buynichesky field on the outskirts of Mogilev, where German tanks defended the city in the summer of 1941, holding back German tanks for more than three weeks. By the way, it is also a literary and cinematic place. It was these battles that Konstantin Simonov described in The Living and the Dead, and then reproduced in the film of the same name by Alexander Stolper.
Oddly enough, the wonderful, very interesting Minsk Museum of the Second World War is known less. By the way, there is also a special, unusual exhibit. Having risen to the second floor and seeing, at first you are surprised: how did they drag you? And not everyone, and certainly not immediately guess that the tank is a perfectly made copy of ... foam.
Among the museums in Minsk, the art museum is very good, by the way, with an interesting collection of Russian and Western paintings.
To the delight of technology lovers from 5 to 60 years old, there is an extensive collection of Soviet aviation equipment near Minsk. Those who wish here, by the way, will also ride on a sports Yak-52. True, only in good weather.
The well-known symbol of Belarus is Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Many have heard of it, but not all have been. This is the largest and one of the most ancient forests of modern Europe. In addition to the main "heroes" of the forest, and part-time symbols of the country - bison, there are many other interesting animals here. By the way, another “relic” lives near Belovezhskaya Pushcha - the Belarusian Father Frost.
Belarus unknown
Belarus and military monuments - of course. But far from everyone associates the republic with palaces and castles. But on the territory of modern Belarus, five centuries ago, Lithuanian and Polish nobles, and then industrialists, built luxurious palaces and estates, surrounded them with regular parks in the Western European style, usually in the English style. Today, most castles, of course, have been turned into museums and centers of historical and cultural complexes. Here are just a few of the more interesting ones.
In the Grodno region, 100 km from Minsk in the village of Mir, there is a castle complex, the origins of which are already in the 1520s. They built it as a fortress from the raids of the Tatars (and ran here!) And unfriendly neighbors. In addition, in order to receive the title of count of the Holy Roman Empire, one had to own a stone castle.
The Nesvizh palace and park were created over two centuries starting from the 16th century. Therefore, different architectural styles are bizarrely combined here. All this wealth belonged not to anyone, but to the famous Polish family of the Radziwills. Now here, 112 km from Minsk towards Brest, there is a national historical and cultural reserve with a museum, a hotel and other tourist attractions.
The huge Ruzhany castle, which once belonged to the family of the Lithuanian chancellor Lev Sapieha, is still mostly in ruins. Restoration, in fact, has just begun. The first fire happened during the First World War, when there was already a weaving factory, and the Second World War finished off the once luxurious palace. But such ruins are worth seeing on their own. And yes, there is a museum.
Of all the countries of the former USSR, it is easiest to get to Belarus by car. Although the path from Moscow to Minsk is not close, 720 kilometers, it can be overcome very quickly with full observance of the speed limit, in just eight hours.
Even at five in the morning, a small traffic jam had already formed at the exit from Moscow for 10 minutes due to road repairs. Photo: AIF / Denis Sveshnikov
There are a lot of photo and video cameras along the way, both from the Russian and Belarusian sides. The local traffic police does not forgive violators. Exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 km / h can cost up to 7,000 rubles. And this is not the most severe punishment. For a repeated violation, you will have to part with the rights for a period of up to a year.
Roads in Belarus are of better quality than Russian ones and are not as busy. Photo: AIF / Denis Sveshnikov
There is no need to prepare for crossing the border, because, by and large, there is none. All preparation consists only in buying a "Green Card" - a compulsory car insurance policy for traveling abroad. If you travel only in Belarus, the cost of the document will be only about 900 rubles. It is almost impossible to forget about this nuance - along the road, starting from Smolensk, there are constantly kiosks with huge signs "Green Card". In order not to waste time on the road, it is better to arrange everything in advance.
Photo: AIF / Denis Sveshnikov
Directly at the border, customs officers can selectively stop cars to check documents, but this, in any case, does not take time. Giant traffic jams and queues should not be expected even on holidays. The quality of the road is excellent almost all the way, except for a couple of repaired sections with two lanes for traffic in each direction. The Belarusian part of the route is better in every sense and not only in terms of the quality of the coverage. Firstly, the speed limit is higher here - 120 against Russian 90 km / h. Secondly, the highway never passes through settlements, so you can drive all the way from the border to Minsk without changing your speed at all.
However, on long holiday weekends, it is better to leave Moscow in advance. Although leaving at five in the morning on a weekend or on the night from Friday to Saturday, few people can please, but even half an hour of delay will affect the total time on the road. In addition to the traditional traffic from summer residents and other vacationers, the situation is aggravated by repairs in the Minsk direction in the Kubinka area. At 7-11 in the morning on the way from Moscow and at 19-22 when returning back, you can lose more than an hour here. As an option, go around Novorizhskoe highway and Ruza.
If you want to visit Brest, you can spend the night in one of the park hotels with private parking near the city. Photo: AIF / Denis Sveshnikov
It is better to refuel up to the border "to the eyeballs", because in Belarus gasoline is on average 3-4 rubles more expensive per liter. Savings are not significant, but nonetheless. Taking into account the trip to Brest and the outskirts of Minsk, with an average fuel consumption on our Suzuki Vitara of 7.8 liters per hundred, 7,500 rubles were spent on gasoline. Even if you go not with a company, but at least together, it will turn out to be significantly cheaper than by any other mode of transport.
It is worth taking care immediately upon entering Belarus of the local currency. There are a couple of exchange offices just a few kilometers after the border. If you miss them, there will be nowhere to change money until Minsk itself. However, there is still no problem. In Belarus, and in the most shabby roadside cafes, where it’s scary just to be, they accept bank cards.
Mir Castle. Photo: AIF / Denis Sveshnikov
Nesvizh Castle. Photo: AIF / Denis Sveshnikov
You can see a lot in three days. Mir and Nesvizh castles with picturesque parks and the Dudutki museum complex are located very close to the capital, it will take no more than an hour to get there. In Minsk itself, getting around by car is not difficult. The avenues are wide, the interchanges are simple, and there are few cars. And the main attractions are concentrated in the city center. You can leave your car and take a taxi — given the small area of Minsk, almost any trip will cost no more than 500 rubles.
In the center of Minsk there are many hotels with free guarded parking lots. Photo: AIF / Denis Sveshnikov
Single rooms in three-star hotels on holidays cost an average of 2.5 thousand rubles. It’s convenient to rent an apartment for a company – it’s even cheaper for one person. And, of course, there is no limit to perfection.
In cafes and restaurants, Russians will feel like millionaires. True, we must also try to dine for more than a million Belarusian rubles. Food in Minsk and during the influx of tourists is inexpensive. Without denying yourself anything, in restaurants, most likely, you won’t leave more than 2,500 rubles a day.
Brest Fortress. Photo: AIF / Denis Sveshnikov
As for the upcoming Victory Day, events in Minsk in the Stalin Line complex will last from May 7 to 9. You can see the reconstruction of the battle for Berlin. Fireworks will take place on the day of the holiday at 22:00. The concert program, also ending with fireworks, will also be held in the Brest Fortress. However, only residents of neighboring regions will be able to stay for the celebrations in Brest and return to the working day. The way back to Moscow is more than 1000 kilometers, which, despite the good road, will take a lot of time and effort.
This article will be useful for those who are going to visit the Republic of Belarus on their own vehicles. I will share my experience of traveling to this wonderful country in order to save you from unpleasant surprises that may take you by surprise.
First, let me tell you a little about Belarus. Arriving here, it seems that this fraternal republic has retained all the best that was in the USSR. When you come here for the first time, you get the feeling that you are watching some good Soviet film. Everywhere is clean and tidy, there is no corruption, all the fields along the roads are used for agriculture, there are good-natured people on the streets and everyone is busy with something useful, etc. and so on. Many Belarusians may not agree with this, but I repeat, these are the feelings of a tourist.
Belarus is also famous for its lakes and historical monuments, and tourists will have something to see here, but more on that another time…
What you need to know before traveling to Belarus by car
You need to have a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, a driver's license and Greencard insurance (green card) with you. You can issue it in Moscow, or directly before the border. Along the road there will be many tents where you can buy it. At the time of the spring of 2015, its cost cost us 750 rubles. No more documents are needed. The border is virtually absent, as if you are entering from one area to another.
Exchange Russian rubles for Belarusian in advance. Since changing money at a gas station or with people will be very problematic - everyone is afraid. In Belarus, this is strictly! Previously, it was possible to refuel for rubles, but from March 1, 2015 this opportunity was canceled.
Which road is better to go to Belarus
From Moscow to Belarus can be reached along the Kyiv or Minsk highway. Definitely, it is better to drive along the M1 Belarus highway (Minskoe shosse). Unlike Kievka, the roadbed on the M1 is in good condition + at least two lanes in each direction.
There are many places for recreation and catering along the route. Be careful when driving through the Smolensk region, the route passes through settlements and the speed is limited to 60 km/h. Everywhere there are a lot of cameras and valiant representatives of the traffic police.
Gasoline in Belarus is much more expensive than in Russia, so I advise you to fill a full tank before the border.
The distance from Moscow to the border is about 450 kilometers, and to Minsk about 700.
Passing the border
Since 2011, in connection with the creation of the Customs Union, crossing the border in light vehicles has become a formality. There are no customs and border guards at the border. Only the Russian Transport Inspectorate, which controls heavy vehicles, functions. Therefore, most likely, no one will stop you.
Summer, as you know, is the time for vacations, the very time when many decide where to spend their vacation time. At the same time, among the many "summer" destinations, the Republic of Belarus is becoming increasingly popular, where there are a large number of attractions, sanatoriums and recreation areas in the Braslav Lakes region.
In this regard, many motorists are interested in what features and difficulties those drivers who are going to go to Belarus by car may face.
Crossing the state border
Border control between Belarus and the Russian Federation, in fact, is a fiction. Only heavy vehicles (trucks) are subject to inspection.
For individuals, on their own car, it is not even necessary to stop at the checkpoint. However, upon returning back to Russia, you can still be stopped to check your passports, which, however, does not take much time.
The only significant nuance in preparing for the trip is the purchase of international green card insurance. This insurance policy is an analogue, but in an international format and you can buy it for a period of 15 days to one year.
At the same time, buying a policy for a long period is much cheaper than a “short-term” one. After the crisis, the prices for "green cards" increased slightly, but their cost remains very affordable - from seven hundred rubles to almost five thousand rubles for a policy that is valid throughout the year.
Up-to-date information on the prices for green card insurance can be found on specialized websites - the information offered there allows you to fairly accurately calculate the cost of insurance for various travel dates.
At the same time, you can buy the policy itself both at the insurance company at the place of residence (by the way, not all insurers sell insurance of this type), and directly at the border - in front of each large checkpoint there is a huge number of small "representations" of insurers like " booth”, where you can become the owner of the coveted policy. For its registration, you only need a vehicle passport (PTS), and the procedure itself takes about ten minutes.
Otherwise, you will need a standard and general passport for the trip (as we already wrote, border guards may require it).
Driving on the roads, traffic rules and communication with law enforcement officials
Driving on Belarusian roads leaves, in most cases, very pleasant impressions for Russians. High quality coating, clear road markings, timely repair of irregularities are the first advantages that catch the eye. Even in rural areas (away from the main highways) the quality of the roads pleases.
Carrying out the road works themselves does not bother either - all narrowings of the roadbed have a full range of designations, and on the most difficult sections there are detours with temporary markings, which are also of high quality pavement.
From the point of view, driving in Belarus, at first glance, is no different from Russia. However, there are some nuances here.
In particular, the action of a road sign does not extend to the first intersection, but to the first designated intersection, that is, the one at which the corresponding sign is installed. This should also be remembered.
In the Republic of Belarus, it is very important to remember that those drivers who are already moving in a circle have priority, unless otherwise specified by road signs.
Speed control in the Republic of Belarus is very strict and can turn into a number of problems for a Russian who is counting on impunity. Thus, a fine for speeding, calculated in the so-called "base values", can be quite impressive.
In addition, a citizen who has violated traffic rules, no matter what country, is entered into a single database, and subsequent speeding by more than 25 kilometers per hour can result in not only a fine, but also deprivation of "rights".
Separately, it is worth mentioning the systems of automatic video recording of violations. There are quite a lot of "cameras" on the roads of Belarus, they are installed in almost every settlement, near which there is a corresponding designation.
The State traffic inspectorate of the Republic of Belarus uses very modern systems that take pictures from the rear of the car. Such complexes are practically not fixed (the latter “detect” their operation only at the moment of direct passage and, as a result, do not allow the car to slow down in a timely manner).
Previously, Russians could not be afraid of "letters of happiness", but over the past year the situation has changed radically. In particular, cameras are being installed at the main checkpoints between Russia and Belarus, which record the numbers of passing cars in advance.
In the event that a car has a fine issued by an automatic system, traffic police officers stop the car and may require payment of the fine before leaving the country.
Another important point can be called very severe sanctions against drivers who have abused alcohol. Initially, a motorist who has sat behind the wheel is deprived of a driver's license and a large fine is imposed.
A repeated violation leads to the fact that the traffic police seizes the offender's car, which turns into state revenue and goes under the hammer. At the same time, this law also applies to citizens of other states - there are relevant agreements between Belarus and Russia.
Communication with employees of the State traffic inspectorate in Belarus also differs in some nuances. The main one lies in the fact that in most cases it will not be possible to give a bribe to a traffic police officer.
This was achieved in the republic by the fact that traffic cops have very good salaries and can easily get a real term without the right to work in state bodies if they try to increase income at the expense of a motorist.
Nevertheless, in the most “popular” directions among Russians, there are rare cases (during the three years of frequent trips, the author of these lines had to deal with this only once) of abuse by traffic police inspectors.
These abuses consist in the use of the laws of Belarus in relation to Russians who are not familiar with them. This applies to tinting on the rear windows, which, in accordance with local laws, is completely prohibited.
This aspect applies only to vehicles registered in the Republic of Belarus, and if the inspector tries to impose an appropriate fine on you, you can safely suggest that he go to the head of the traffic police of the corresponding area or threaten to file a complaint with higher authorities.
This will be enough for the zealous servant of order to reconsider his decision. In fact, these difficulties are the only ones that can be encountered on the journey.
The main destinations for recreation in Belarus
In most cases, Russians prefer the central part of Belarus for recreation, where most of the sights and resorts for recreation are located.
No less popular are the Braslav Lakes, which are distinguished by their beauty and the presence of a huge number of health resorts. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is a little less popular, due to its relative remoteness.
Regardless of the choice of travel direction, trips around Belarus leave a favorable impression, and the tourism infrastructure in the country is at a very high level.
When preparing for a trip to Belarus, we recommend
