Belovezhskaya Pushcha and Kamenetz

Here in the natural surroundings of the national park “Belovezhskaya Pushcha” you can enjoy a digital detox: listen to a tree and talk to a stone. You can go hunting - a truly royal way of entertainment. It is also possible to hold a corporate party or a business meeting of the highest level. For instance, one of these in Viskuly has resulted in the break-up of the Soviet Union.

Also, Father Christmas lives in pushcha. His house is open all year round. So, if you're wondering if Father Christmas wears shorts in the summer, you can check it out empirically.

By the way, in Belarusian “pushcha” means a dense, impenetrable forest. Belarusians are sure that Belovezhskaya Pushcha got its name from "Belaya Vezha", a tower in the form of a huge chess rook located in the nearby town of Kamenetz. The adjective "Belaya" means that you will see a white building.

"Am I colour-blind?" - you might ask in a whisper when you see the defensive tower made of bright red bricks. Don't worry, you're fine! The fact is that the tower in Kamenetz hasn’t always had a modern look. Once it was whitewashed. What a sensation it was! So, up to this day it has remained "Belaya Vezha".

In fact, the name of the pushcha comes from the town of Belovezha in Poland, and the town of Kamenetz is definitely worth a visit on your way to the national park.

There is a cosy little island in the heart of the Belovezhskaya Pushcha forest – the farmstead "Gvozd". Here you will learn that the Belarusian hospitality is ubiquitous! The interior of the farmstead is authentic: all the items are handmade. You can taste the original Belarusian cuisine with lots of wild fowl. The real thing at the farmstead is the linen bedsheets. Every visitor of the farmstead notes that it feels like sleeping on a cloud.

Even with vivid imagination, it can be difficult to think of what the outlines of different countries on the world map look like. But for Belarus, the answer is obvious: a forward running bison. "Bison-watching" is a must-do activity in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The symbols of Belarus are most friendly and photogenic here.

See also