Second day

Next station - Homiel.

Homiel is a city to relax. Walk along beautiful Savieckaja Street with interesting architecture. In winter join locals in sledging in the park and in summer cross the longest bridge in Belarus and bag some rays on the beach. There are lots of cozy parks, small fountains and peaceful corners. 

Once you leave the railway station, you have two options: go straight by Pieramohi Parkway and reach Vasstania Square or turn to the right and by walking along Lenina Avenue arrive to the palace. During those walks you can grab something to eat (find the best spots in the following chapters of the guide).

The adumbration of Pieramohi Parkway took shape back in the middle of the 19th century. It’s hard to believe that 100 years ago one of the most beautiful streets of the city was wooden and scruffy, and people used to move along its western part by boats, because there was an actual moor. There was a place for military marches where now Paŭstannia Square is; the tank, the favorite local meeting point, appeared there in 1968. There were a catholic cathedral, a fire station and well-known in those times Metropol and Golden Anchor Hotels on modern Lenina Avenue.

Park of Homiel has existed on the bank of the river Sož for 200 years now, and just recently it has been named after Łunačarski, a writer and revolution activist. The park is famous for its unique plant collection: you can find a Weymouth pine, pedunculate oak and Manchurian walnut among regular maples, ashes and chestnut trees.

The heart of the city is Homiel Palace & Park Ensemble built in Russian Classic style, a park with a Swan Pond, St. Peter and Paul’s Cathedral (it used to be a planetarium during Sovietic period), the family vault of the Paškievičy, the monument to Rumiancaŭ, an amusement park, the Winter Garden and a watchtower. Locals love walking there regardless of the season. The Palace construction began in 1777 by Count Rumiancaŭ-Zadunajski, Field-Marshal-General Paškievič also influenced the palace’s looks. Tsar family memebrs and emperors used to visit the palace. Long story short, it’s definitely worth seeing.

Go for a walk along river front, it’s 2.5 km long. Go down from the palace to the Swan Pond. The renovation works took quite a long period of time, but the result is nice: an excellent place to walk and a big playground for children.

Another cool place for walks in Homiel is the Gramyka Park, usually called Pijanierski Skver , and behind it there is a Puppet Theater .You’ll meet our favorite fairy tales characters next to the theater. As you may notice, lots of sculptures are one of the hallmarks of the city.

Fiestyvalny Park is for daydreamers. There are “Lonely benches”, the islands for dates and break-ups, and even “The Tree of Love” where newlyweds keep putting “locks of happiness” with their names.

One more charming corner is a small park with a fountain in front of the Lenina Library. In summer local people feed pigeons here, take sun bathes, and idly turn book pages sitting on the bench.

For active leisure lovers there is an Ice Palace with public skating and Solnechny ice rink, which turns into a roller skating rink in summer. Find information about the timetable, prices and skates rent on the website.

You’ve seen all the sights and got a couple of hours before the train leaves? Check out the quest room “Vyjti iz komnaty” (Get out of the room) at . You’ll have an hour to unriddle the puzzle. Be ready to pay € 15-27.5 for all.

There are three theaters in Homiel: The Drama Theater , The Youth Theater and the Puppet Theater .The plays are quite diverse; also troupes from Russia come to perform. It’ll be interesting to see a show in Puppet Theater with children, and subtle humor lovers will enjoy plays in chamber atmosphere of the Youth Theater.

There are also three cinemas: Kalinina , Oktyabr  and Mir . Each of them is comfortable; Mir and Oktyabr are equipped with 3D systems.

In the Museum of Military Glory you’ll learn the history of the WWII battles in which Homiel people took part, see a broad exhibit of tanks and planes. In case you are not tired of this topic, of course.

The Museum of Criminal Science is the only museum in Belarus dedicated to crimes and punishment. There you can see picklocks, used false money and documents and learn about much talked-of local gangs of the 90s.

The Museum of History of the City of Homiel  is situated in the former summer residence of Count Rumiancaŭ. The museum educates about the history of the city and organizes themed exhibitions.

The Palace of Rumiancavy-Paškievičy and the unit of Vietka Museum are located next to each other, but are about different things. In the Palace you’ll touch the life of Russian aristocracy and walk around the rooms where the atmosphere of those times is preserved. And in Vietka museum you’ll learn belarusian traditions, dances and songs. Both museums sell souvenirs, and in the palace there are photo and art exhibitions, besides the permanent one. Vetka museum is probably the most liberal: there are always some events and parties. 

Vaschenko Art Gallery is named after a famous belarusian artist. The exhibit demonstrates more than 400 works by belarusian artists (among them there are 50 paintings by Vaschenko).

Every other year international dance festival Sožski Karahod is held in Homiel. More than 20 countries of Europe, Asia and North America take part in it. If you want to dance or see others dance, come to Homiel on the Day of the City.

Homiel has something more to offer than classical "museum-cinema-park" program. So if you come here for the weekend, and in the evening there are a couple of free hours, then you can learn how to work on a potter's wheel or draw a picture sipping a glass of wine. Every now and then something like that happens In the first in Homiel creative studio "VOZDUKH" .

In the city center there is another studio, specializing in various workshops. Head for the CHVOJA ,if you do not mind creating your own beauty box or handmade pillow-knot.

The Lenin Library has long been used by Leninka .Here you can do a lot more that just reading: listen to the lecturers, practice German language and chat with travelers, who have their own club here. There are also book presentations, poetry readings and art exhibitions.

There is great news for extreme-lovers: the first skate park was stopened in Homiel this summer (we have been waiting for 10 years!). Now you can hop on the board to get rid of depression on the embankment near the Palace (not far from the famous "Kvartirnik" bar).

If your soul is craving for some good deeds and you want to update the wardrobe at the price of a chocolate bar (only € 1.5 for a piece), take a look at the Op Shop . It is a charity project that takes stuff people are bored with and sells it at a minimum cost. The money goes to children from orphanages and shelters.