Museums and Museum-Estates

The Belarusian State Museum of Great Patriotic War History – Displays are dedicated to the 1941-1945 war. General and themed guided tours are offered and documentary films can be screened. Meetings with Great Patriotic War veterans can be arranged and photos can be taken in the cockpit of a Li-2 aircraft. Open from Tu-Su 10 a.m.-5p.m. 25a Pr. Nezavisimosti, office 1. Metro: Oktiabrskaya/Kupalovskaya. Tel.227-11-66, 226-15-44. Internet: www.warmuseum.by

The Belarusian State Museum of Folk Architecture and the Home – This museum is located out of town at a very picturesque spot where the River Ptich meets its tributary, the Menka. Diverse guided tours are offered: Bee-keeping in Belarus, Belarusian Linen, Regional Folk Architecture Belarusian Folk Weaving and Ancient Legends and Fairy-Tales. Folk holidays are celebrated with folk bands performing, craftsmen showing their skills and souvenir fairs. Festive events can be arranged. The office is open from Tu-Su 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 17A Kalvariyskaya str. Metro: Pushkinskaya. Tel. 209-41-63, 209-40-32.

Vladislav Golubok’s Lounge – Affiliated to the State Museum of Theatre and Music History of the Republic of Belarus, it is dedicated to the life and work of Vladislav Golubok, a playwright and an artist. Themed parties are regularly held. Open from Tu-Sa 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., ticket office from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 14 Starovilenskaya str.(Trinity Suburb). Tel. 286-74-03.

The Vankovichs’ House: A Museum of Early 19th Century Culture and Art – The museum’s first and second halls are dedicated to Vankovich’s life and work as an artist. Archive documents, photos of portraits painted by Vankovich, original canvases and decorative and applied arts are on show. A portrait gallery occupies three rooms. The portraits offer insight into late 18th-early 19th century households. Open from We-Su 10 a.m.-5p.m. 33 Internatsionalnaya str. Metro: Oktiabrskaya/Kupalovskaya. Tel.227-87-96.

The Museum of Ancient Belarusian Culture – The museum features a collection of Paleolithic artifacts, 19th-20th century ethnographic and folk art items, icons and sculptures. Pre-booking only. Open from Mo-Th 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 1 Surganova str., buiding 2. Metro: Akademiya Nauk. Tel. 284-27-32, 284-18-82.

The Museum of Belarusian Cinema History – This museum features the best examples of national and global cinema and information on Belarusian film makers. Films are screened and can be booked by order. Open from Tu-Sa 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., booking office from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 4 Sverdlova str. Metro: Ploshchad Lenina. Tel. 227-10-75.

The Modern Fine Arts Museum – Contemporary Belarusian and foreign art is on show. Open from Tu-Sa 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 47 Pr. Nezavisimosti. Metro: Ploshchad Lenina. Tel.288-24-68 (exhibition department), 284-86-21 (reception).

The National History and Culture Museum of Belarus – This museum features a rich collection of artefacts and documents relating to domestic and international history and culture, including 338,000 exhibits grouped into 45 collections: archaeology, ethnography, numismatics, church articles, weaponry, fine arts, icon painting, photography, manuscripts and newspapers. There are displays on Ancient Belarus, The Genesis and Semantics of Symbols, Weaponry, Military Munitions and Time and Belarusian Urban Art in the 19th-early 20th Century. Open daily from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (except Wednesdays). 12 K. Marks street. Metro: Oktiabrskaya/Kupalovskaya. Tel. 227-36-65, 227-06-33.

Museum – Estates

“White Dacha” Minsk Town Estate – a neo-classical monument of the estate and landscape architecture erected in the late 19th century in the south-western part of Minsk. The estate is located on the hill with a landscaped park on its slopes. 76 Kazintsa str.

Z.I. Argur Memorial Museum – One of Belarus’ few monographic museums based in the studio of an artist, Soviet Belarusian sculptor and outstanding portraitist of the 20th century. The museum’s core collection – sculpture exhibits numbering at 418 (original gesso artworks mainly) – is comprised of separate items, sketches and sample monuments. The painting and graphics collection encompasses 44 items including paintings by G.G Azgur, G.N. and Y.G. Gorelvs and a gift collection including paintings by painters – Azgur’s friends such as A.V. Vokov, Y.A. Zaitsev and K. K.Tsvirko among others. The museum’s auxiliary scientific collection includes frameworks, templates, fittings, work instruments and personal belongings of the sculptor. 8 Azgura str. Tel 285-29-87.