Zelva District

On the way to Zelva you will be welcomed by a picturesque reservoir. Even when the weather is bad, there are fishermen on the banks. It seems like the fish jumps up right in your hands from the reservoir.

The landmark of this region is Synkovichi Church. "But, it's a castle again", - the tourists sometimes say. No, it is a church. One of a defensive type. Unique "orthodox gothic". Such a Belarusian architectural phenomenon. The place is sacral. People ask for the most innermost things here in front of the icon of the Mother of God "Vsetsaritsa" (the copy from Greek "Athos"). It helps.

In 2018 Belarus was ranked the best country for agrotourism by the National Geographic Traveler magazine. But it is unlikely that you knew that the first farmstead had appeared namely in Zelva district. It is "Veres". The farmstead has a private dendrological park: bright, blooming, with carved pergolas, swings and carriages. And between all this beauty the peacocks walk slowly. If you're lucky, they might even show off their gorgeous tails.

Another worth-visiting place is the farmstead “Staraya Ves”. Here has been set up the insect museum. What an impressive collection! It was gathered carefully by the farmstead owner. Almost all "exhibits" were caught in Belarus, but there are also unique "foreign guests". One cannot leave the farmstead without several sorts of honey and a piece of natural hand-made soap.

It's not even a city now. Just a small town. Back in the old days, Zelva was the home of Europe's second biggest fair, the Annenski Kirmash, which used to be held there for the whole month. The population of Zelva doubled during that month. Trade was booming. Apart from merchants from all over Europe, the cultural elite came here: theatres, orchestras, exhibitions and circuses. If you'd like to see how the action is reconstructed nowadays, plan a trip to Zelva for August.

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