“From the Varangians to the Greeks”
Legend
The land of Belarus that was settled by Slavic Tribes in the 7th-8th centuries
was an important part of the great trade route that connected
Scandinavian countries with Black Sea countries. In the 8th – 11th
countries the Scandinavians – the Varangians –would travel to the lands of
Eastern Slavs by water. This trade route came into history as the route
“From The Varangians To The Greeks” and its length was more than
3,000 km.
This route was connected with the rise of the first land roads in Belarus so
called “volocks” (portage), the places of the closest rapprochement of two
neighbouring rivers suitable for navigation and where vessels and cargoes
were dragged on the surface from one water basin into another. There were
about 20 medieval “volocks“ in Belarus known at that time. Usually, the
distance between the final points of “volocks“ didn’t exceed 20–30 km. In
the 11th – 12th centuries due to the feudal breaking up of Rus and the
establishment of trade connections of the Western Europe with the Near East
through the Mediterranean Sea this trade route lost its significance.
...One of these trade routes passed in the following direction:
the Baltic Sea – the Western Dvina River – the Ulla River – Lepelsky Lake –
the Essa River – Plavno Lake – the Berezina River – the Dnieper River – the
Black Sea. Then the route passed along the shores of the Black Sea till
Constantinople or to the Crimea or to the Caucasus – to the East.
This old trade route passed not only through Belarus but also through the
territory of other modern European countries – Latvia, Russia and the
Ukraine and that’s why we invite them for mutual cooperation in joint
exploring of this route today.
In the 18th century Peter the First and Pavel the First, the Russian Emperors,
decided to create the similar route between the Baltic and Black Seas by
connecting the Western Dvina River and the Dnieper (this waterway was
called the Berezinsky Canal System) and some practical steps were done ...
and the vessels started to navigate... But the time passed by... The rivers
became shallow, connecting locks were destroyed...and new highways
connecting the cities of Belarus, Russia and the Ukraine appeared. And now
this route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” is only our glorious past.
The tour we offer is some kind of tribute to the past – today is impossible to
follow this route using “water” ways.
The highways passing through the cities are the basis of this tour.
And we invite you for this tour connecting the past and the present!
The part of this route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” in Belarus gives a
chance to get acquainted with the cultural and ethnographic character of this
land and to enjoy the wonderful fauna and flora of Belarus.
Tour “Along the Ancient Trade Way “From the Varangians to the Greeks”
Itinerary: Minsk – Polotsk – Lepel –the “Berezinsky” Biosphere Reserve
– Begoml – Zembin –Borissov – Orsha – Shklov – Mogilev – Gomel –
Minsk
Duration: 7 days/ 6 nights
Recommended period: April – September
Day 1
Arrival at “Minsk-2” International Airport.
Transfer to the hotel
Check-in at a hotel in the center of the city
Meeting with “Belarustourist” management and discussing the details of the
coming “journey” Time at leisure. Dinner (National Belarusian cuisine)
Day 2
Breakfast
Sightseeing tour of Minsk (first mentioned 1067) including its main
highlights of the 17th –19th cent. and of today. There is a version that in
ancient times Minsk was also situated on the old trade route
Visit to the Museum of Old Belarusian Culture or to the Museum of Folk
Architecture presenting specimen of ancient architecture, articles of people’s
creative work from different corners of Belarus Optional: Attending the
service in one of the orthodox churches of Minsk
Dinner with folklore-show
Day 3
Early Breakfast
Departure for the city of Polotsk (300 km).
The city founded in 862 and the city which has been on the crossing place of
European trade routes for more than 11 centuries. Back in the 13th cent. it
belonged to Hanseatic League and was its main partner in the area. Situated
on the bank of the Western Dvina the city has a number of places of interest
telling about its century-old history – like the 11th cent. St. Sophia Cathedral,
the 12th cent. Church with unique frescoes and others connected with life and
activity of outstanding people of Belarus
Sightseeing tour of Polotsk
Departure for the “Berezinsky” Biosphere Reserve (115 km)
Check-in at a very comfortable hotel in the reserve
Dinner – party
Day 4
Breakfast
Tour of the “Berezinsky” Biosphere Reserve,
the unique area in the center of Europe, under UNESCO protection including
Museum of Nature, open-air cages with wild animals, visiting Plavno Lake,
from which rivers flow out in different directions into the basins of the Baltic
and the Black Seas (!!!) and the remaining connecting locks of the
Berezinsky Canal System of the 18th cent
Departure for the town of Borissov (100 km) via Begoml and Zembin
The tour of Borissov (1127), situated on the bank of Berezina River is
famous for the village of Studenka where one of the most important battles of
1812 War took place. Here the army of Napoleon, the French Emperor, was
completely defeated when crossing the river and now only monuments
dedicated to this battle remind of that
Tour of Borissov is over and the tourists continue their travel along the
highway to the town of Orsha (130 km) situated on the banks of the Dnieper
river, once also a part of the old trade route
Sightseeing tour of Orsha (founded 1067)
Departure for the city of Mogilev (80 km), situated on the banks of the
Dnieper. On the way – a short sightseeing tour of Shklov (40 km) – the
birthplace of the First President of the Republic of Belarus – Alexander
Lukashenka.
Check-in at the hotel.
Time at leisure.
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Sightseeing tour of Mogilev (founded 1267)
including the 17th cent. Church of St. Nicolas, the Church of St. Stanislav
(18th – 19th cent.), Archbishop Palace (the 19th cent.) and Lesnaya village
where in 1708 the great battle between the Russian Army of Peter the First
and the Swedish King Karl XII took place
Departure for the city of Gomel (170 km)
Check-in at the hotel
Sightseeing tour of Gomel including Rumyantsev–Paskevich Palace – Park
Ensemble, a fine specimen of the architecture of the 18th cent., the 18th cent.
wooden the Church OF St. Ilijah and others. The Museum of History in the
town of Vetka (18 km of Gomel) is known by its unique collection of old
icons and manuscripts
Dinner
As an option: Evening ride on the river motor-ship along the Pripyat
Day 6
Breakfast
Departure for Minsk (330 km) via Zhlobin and Bobruysk
Check-in at the hotel.
Time at leisure.
Dinner. Evening cultural program
Day 7
Breakfast.
Transfer to the airport for the departure flight
This tour may be combined with Latvia and the Ukraine but arranged
beforehand.
In this case Day 3 of this tour will be Day 1 for the combined one and the
tourists are recommended to arrive at Polotsk at 1–2 p.m. from Daugavpils,
the Latvian city on the banks of the Daugava (the Western Dvina when in
Belarus). The distance from Daugavpils to Polotsk is about 200 km, Latvian–
Belarusian border – 45 km; and Day 6 will change – for departure for Kiev –
the capital of the Ukraine and further accordingly to the Ukrainian part of the
tour confirmed.
Don’t forget about separate visas!