www.belarustourism.by Hospitality beyond borders

Belovezhskaya pushcha

Welcome to the European oldest forest reserve Belovezhskaya pushcha

The Republic The Republic of Poland of

Legend

hotels guest and hunting houses aviaries Ded Moroz Residence

Places of birds’ and animals’ inhabitation

Wisent

Elk

Deer

Wild Boar Beaver Wood-grouse elovezhye…This is the marvel of the belarusian land and one of the most renowned symbols of our country and the priceless gift that mother Nature has given to man. Centuries-old forest underbrush, giant oaks, slender pine trees and fairy fur tress, refined birch tree greenery and motley grass below!.. The bird and the animal and even the tiniest fly feel free here. Beautiful at any time of year, Pushcha bewitches, fascinates and lavishly fills your lungs with fresh air. Welcome to Belovezhskaya Pushcha to take back with you the impressions of the oldest European wood!

State Environmental Protection Institution «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» of moss, more than 290 species of lichen and about 600 species National Park is a unique natural site, situated in the western part of mushrooms. of Belarus, 340 km from Minsk. Its territory amounts to 152962 ha, the Wildlife of the national park is so rich that it’s practically impossible length from the north to the south is about 70 km. The area of Pushcha to name all its specimen. The park is home to 59 species of mammals, is flat with medium-high hills bended by small rivers. There are no lakes birds outnumber 250 species (40 of them are on the list in the Red of the natural origin. Book), 11 species of amphibian, 7 species of reptiles, 27 species of fish. In 1939 «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» reserve was founded on the basis But the most numerous group is insects — they amount to 10000 spe-­ of the historically protected territory. In 1992 it was included into the cies in total. UNESCO World Heritage list and in 1993 Pushcha became a Biosphere The king of the park wildlife is wisent. This giant can be as high Reserve. At the end of 1997 the National park was awarded the as 3 m and its normal weight (male adult) is 1 tone. Wisents were European Diploma by the decision of the Council of Europe. exterminated in Europe in 18 century and Belovezhskaya Pushcha is Flora of the forest is an unusual combination of southern and the only place where they have found their sanctuary. According northern plants, maritime and continental climate. Here you will find to the words of the famous researcher S. A. Severtsov «Pushcha has more than 1000 species of forest plants, shrubs and herbs; more than survived thanks to the wisents and the wisents have survived thanks to 60 of them are included into the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus, Pushcha». Everything connected with these creatures of relic is being the report of the threatened species within a certain country or region, carefully protected at the National Park. You will even find a winter including the list of this species. Besides, Pushcha is rich in 270 species feeding-rack that was constructed in 1907.

CONTACT US

State Environmental Protection Institution «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» • «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» restaurant National Park (booking for individuals and companies; Belarusian, European 225063 Kamenyuki, , , Belarus cuisine; wide range of wild fowl, berries and mushrooms meals) • To order an excursion to the Nature Museum, the Ded Moroz tel. +375 1631 56 564 Residence, aviaries with wild animals, please call tel. +375 1631 56 436 tel. +375 1631 56 267 • To book rooms at the hotels, count Tyshkevich house (ancient palace Travelling to Belovezhskaya Pushcha: welcoming up to 9 persons), «Pererov» hunting house (for 5 persons) with • minibus taxi «Brest-Kamenets-Kamenyuki», dep. from Brest — the Russian Bath or sauna and fishing for the guests, please call 7 a.m., 12.30 p.m., 5 p.m. (except for Wednesday) tel. +375 1631 56 398 • express bus dep. from Brest — 8.25 a.m., 2.30 p.m. • Hotel №1*** (tourist facility) • on your own car tel. +375 1631 56 497 from Brest — highway Brest-Kamenyuki (P83) — 60 km • Hotel № 2 (Kamenyuki village) from Minsk — highway Minsk-Brest (M1) to the turn to Zhabinka (P7), tel. +375 1631 56 572 to Kamenets and then to Kamenyuki village (P83) — about 380 km • Hotel № 3*** (tourist facility) from Minsk — highway Minsk-Brest (M1) to the turn to Slonim (P21) to tel. +375 1631 56 543 Kamenets and then to Kamenyuki village (P83) — about 380 km

1 Belovezhskaya pushcha │ The pages of history

he first reference to the old virgin that made them adopt the protection Tforest is given in Geradot’s works laws. In 1892 Tsar Nikolai II, the last of the 5 century B.C. Many centuries Emperor of Russia, issued an edict later (70 —120 A.D.) Plinius and Tacitus according to which Pushcha had were also mentioning it in their works. to be kept in its primeval condition Description of the Pushcha can be and not used to derive profit. In found in the Ipatiev Chronicle of 983 1937 Pushcha was included into A.D.— the most important source of the territory of the Belarusian Soviet historical data for southern Rus'. At those Socialistic Republic and was given the times the forestland was stretching status of the Belarusian State Reserve from the Baltic seaside to the far south «Belovezhskaya Pushcha». regions. Initially, these lands were After World War II the territory of inhabited by Yotvingians, Dregovichs, Pushcha was divided into two parts — Buzhenyans and Narevlyans, the tribal the polish and the belarusian ones. The unions of Early East Slavs. Belarusian part came up to 74,5 ha The origins of the name «Belovezh­ ­ of the forest reserve. The scientific skaya Pushcha» are still unknown. research base in Pushcha was It were the Polish and Lithuanian organized from the scratch. In 1957 the official documents where the name national park was reorganized into the appeared for the first time in 1409. State Reserve Hunting Ground where For a long time Pushcha has served the population of the wild animals, as a rich hunting land, but its natural hunted by the high-ranking persons, resources were in fact used in various has been stepped up. The tourists’ ways. As written in the poem «The Song attendance was limited to visiting the about Bison» by Mikolai Hussowski, exposition of the Nature Museum and a Polish-Lithuanian-Latin early the aviaries with the wild animals. Renaissance poet and humanist, In 1991 the leaders of Belarus, «…it is a larder of the soft resin Russia, and Ukraine signed in Viskuli and ship tar, marten furs, honey, residence the accord, called wax and wildfowl». The forest «Belovezhskoe soglashenie» on the has been cut down to provide elimination of the USSR and creation of tar-working, potash and ironwork the Commonwealth of Independent as well as saw-mills with fuel and States (CIS). This event made the raw materials. The forest suffered village of Viskuli world-famous. fires, wood pest invasions, wars… The In September 1991 according borders within Pushcha were changing; to the Resolution of the Council one owner replaced the other… of Ministers the first State National But through the centuries Pushcha Park «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» was has been a protected forestland. At created. Later on it was renamed into the end of the XIVth, the beginning of the State Environmental Protection the XVth century the Grand Duke of Institution «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» Lithuania and King of Poland Jogaila National Park. turned it into a forest reserve. Pushcha December 2009 is a special date in was kept intact thanks to the wisents. the history of Belovezhskaya Pushcha — It was the owners’ desire to preserve it is the month when 600-year anniversary the species from the total extinction of it will be grandly celebrated!

On this page (top to bottom): Asphalt road was laid on the place of one of the The wisent is the largest land mammal of the The strategic roadway -Haynovka passing narrow-gauge railroads, which were constructed on European continent. The body weight of the male through the Pushcha. The fragment of the bridge the territory occupied by Germany during World War I adult is about 600 — 850 kg (sometimes can reach decorated by the molten double eagle. to develop Pushcha industrially. 1 tone), of the adult female — 400 — 600 kg.

2 Welcome to the European oldest forest reserve On this page: Hunting pavilion Viskuli, where in 1991 the leaders of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine signed the accord, called «Belovezhskoe» on the elimination of the USSR and creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). This event made the village of Viskuli world-famous.

www.eng.belarustourism.by/pushcha/ 3 Belovezhskaya pushcha │ Flora and fauna

ushcha is a unique natural site, «The Emperor of Pushcha» is wisent. goldfinches — all of them take their Pwhich comprises 75 forest types; This species was brought to life and to places on the small branches. the quantity of flowers and higher nature practically form non-existence. The collection of mushrooms is plants outnumbers 1000. Plants form They were rooted away in Pushcha incredibly varied — from russula to the various climatic zones from subtropical during the Word War I. In 1919 the large heads of sparassis… to polar region get on here well. last female zooid was killed. Lots of You will probably be astonished Baltic mantle grows 250 km to the efforts were expended to regenerate by the decorative backlighted map west of the borders of its main range; its population. Nowadays there are of Pushcha. There is also a replica bog-loving sedge grows 380 km to the about 400 forest giants — wisents of the monument to the wisent, south of its range. roaming around the boscage. created in honour of the famous Real rarities of the European flora What amazes even more is the hunt of Alexander II, the Emperor of abide here. Among them various kinds diversity of birds. Wood grouse, the Russian Empire also known as of orchids, including lady’s slipper that blackcock, European partridge, Alexander the Liberator. It’s impossible is almost extinct in the Western Europe, eagle owl, gray crane, three-toed to pass by not having a look at the rich double-leafs are hiding in the bosoms, woodpecker… With a bit of luck photo gallery. In 2006 Krasnogorsky you can also encounter asterworths, you’ll see the white-tailed eagle. The Archive of the photographic mountain violets, European aigrette has also become a common documents handed over the copies snakeroots… species of the forest pools. of the pictures of the Tsar Nikolai II The oldest trees in Europe grow in Nature Museum situated in hunts in Belovezhskaya Pushcha to the this forest — about 2000 gigantesque Kamenyuki village of Kamenetsky National park. trees, 600-year old oaks, 350-year old region is really popular — about The museum complex also includes ashes and pine trees, 250-year old fir 200 000 tourists come to see its demonstration aviaries with wild trees. Nowhere in Belarus will you be exhibitions each year. In the hall animals — wisents, elks, European red able to find natural populations of they are welcomed by the «lord of deers, wild boars… European pins and durmast oaks. Pushcha» — majestic wisent. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is a wildlife The exhibition includes more paradise. European red deer, roe, than 1000 show items. Elaborately elk, wild boar, fox, wolf, lynx, marten, made stuffed animals look like living hare… These animals wander freely ones. Mighty wisent, confident and along the paths only they would know. powerful, stanch deer, straining ears listening to the sounds of the forest, wild boars roaming with their striped cubs and lynx with their charming kitten, willowy weasel and swift marten, ermine in its wonderful fur coat, canny fox and gray wolf… Beavers, muskrats, otters — the inhabitants of the ponds… A little bit higher there is a kingdom of birds — prideful eagles, fussy ducks, slender herons and black storks, beautiful wood-grouses and wise owls… Tiny birdies — kinglets, wrens, robin redbreasts, chaffinches and

On this page (top to bottom, left to right): Nature Museum is situated in Kamenyuki village. A wart (an outgrowth on a trunk), found about Environment close to natural was created for the It contains more than 1000 exhibits, such as stuffed 20 years ago, resembles the head of a wisent. wisents, inhabiting demonstration aviaries. animals and birds, photographic documents and others.

4 Welcome to the European oldest forest reserve On this page (top to bottom, left to right): Oaks like this generally occur on the open territories, The population of roe deer is subject to fluctuations A wild boar is one of the most numerous species of not in the forests. This tree is 300 years old. Its girth is 1,5m. and depends on the winter conditions and the quantity hoofed mammals, inhabiting Pushcha. One of its main branches was broken by the storm. of big predators (wolves). That’s how this big cavity was formed.

www.eng.belarustourism.by/pushcha/ 5 Belovezhskaya pushcha │ The Residence of Ded Moroz

n ancient forest with widely Diligent helpmates assist the grey­ Aramified fur trees, slender pine beard to sort the numerous letters. trees and secret wild paths is filled Here is the address for the kids, with birds’ twitter. That’s where the wishing to write to the Ded Moroz: residence of Ded Moroz, the traditional 225063, Brest region, Kamenets district, character in the culture of the Slavs Kamenyuki Post Office. The message who plays a role similar to that of will find its way even if it only has the Santa Claus, and his enchanting words «To Ded Moroz, Belovezhskaya granddaughter Snegurochka Pushcha» written on the envelope. appeared on December 25, 2003. Here the magic begins! An old kind man with spade beard comes out to the carved stoop holding a hoodoo crook with Snegurochka standing nearby, dressed in blue. The children enter the fairytale and the adults are brought back to their childhood… Ded Moroz lives in Pushcha the whole year round, but Snegurochka fearing to melt travels in summer to the North Pole, to pay a visit to her Grandma — Mother Winter. Most travelers come to visit the residence during the New Year Holidays to see, probably, the highest natural New Year tree in Europe (about 40-meters high), glowing with thousands of colorful lights. Next to the residence there are wisent feeders, where wild animals come to have a snack in winter. The animals feel very comfortable; it seems they understand that here they are safe. Hospitable innkeepers treat their dear guests to the extraordinary aromatic tea, made with the Pushcha herbs, hot and tasty pancakes with butter, honey, fried bacon with onion and many other pleasures of the table. The letters are treasured in the gross trunks of Ded Moroz, the walls are decorated with the paintings, and the racks are full of the presents sent by the children.

On this page (top to bottom, left to right): Snegurochka comes to Ded Moroz in winter. The special point of interest of the residence is You can visit the residence of Ded Moroz and a giant natural fur tree, adorned with 500 lanterns. meet him all year round. Each year the belarusian Ded Moroz receives Its height is 40 meters and this is probably the highest A fairy throne, decorated with sparkling lights has more that 7000 letters. The youngest sender is 3 just New Year tree in Europe as well as in the whole found its place at the residence. years old and the oldest is 65! world.

6 Welcome to the European oldest forest reserve On this page (top to bottom): Besides the carved wooden two-storied house of the Next to the residence there is a feeding ground where When you come to the residence, visit the specially Ded Moroz, on the territory of the residence you will find there is a chance to meet wild animals, like the huddle equipped forest clearing to taste the pancakes with lots of entertainment: Snegurochka’s lodge, treasure trunks, of wisents in winter. honey, jam or pork rinds. miraculous well, windmill, various sculptures and others.

www.eng.belarustourism.by/pushcha/ 7 Belovezhskaya pushcha │ Travel itineraries

cenic landscapes, fresh air, rare MAIN TRAVEL ITINERARIES IN THE Kamenyuki — Pashutskaya Buda — Sanimals and plants, existing in BELOVEZHSKAYA PUSHCHA: sq.830 — Kamenyuki (Length — 16 km). their natural environment, century- Duration — 2,5 hours. old trees… These impressions warm * Travel Itinerary № 1 «Travelling Short description. On this route you the hearts of everyone who has ever Round the Belovezhskaya Pushcha» will see: wisent-head wart on the birch visited Pushcha. But prepare yourself to (type — automobile). Variants: short tree, giant trees — fur tree, pine tree, be amazed by some other places of (50 km — 2 hours), long (120 km — oak, former narrow gauge line, natural interest like the early men sites, guiding 4 hours). landmarks «Lavy» and «Yazvy», animal barrows along the roads, barrows- Short description. If you choose this crossing. monuments. Pushcha is the guardian route you’ll see: 600-year old oak, the of many secrets and legends. oldest pine tree in the country (about The Travel Itinerary «The Route of the 400 years old), and various types of * Travel Itinerary № 4 (type — Tsar» goes along the strategic military forest ranges, special plants, Lyadskoe bicycle): highway, which was laid throughout the lake, where you can adore different Kamenyuki — sq. 828 — sq.805 — Pushcha in the beginning of the XXth species of birds and notice the traces Kamenyuki (Length — 10 km). Duration — century. The road was opened in 1903 of beavers’ work. Nature lovers, keen 1,5 hours. by Alexandra Fedorovna, the spouse of on its mysteries and history will be Short description. On this route you the Tsar Nikolai II. Ten bridges, situated on attracted by the ancient burial barrows, will see: guest meadow, summerhouse the Belarusian part of Pushcha are now the pagan stone of oblation, the oak- on the place of the former isolated decorated by the metallic double eagles, «healer», sanctuary oak-wood full of farm, petiolate oak, old pine tree which were destroyed during World War I. giant oaks, feeding places for wisents forest. Only walking by foot, the way the and other herbivorous animals, quiet pilgrims walk, you will come to the stone rivers, the piece of forest included into that holds the footprint of the Holy the World’s Nature Heritage List and the * Travel Itinerary № 5 (type — Mother. Strolling through the woods she residence of the count Tyshkevich. bicycle): was feasting her eyes on the nature and Kamenyuki — sq.805 — sq.807 — suddenly a grit hit into her shoe. She sq.744 — outpost 3 — Kamenyuki put her foot on the stone to shake the * Travel Itinerary № 2 «Going to Ded (Length — 19 km). Duration — 3 hours. grit out of her shoe. That’s how the print Moroz» (type — automobile/walking). Short description. On this route you appeared. Duration — 2 hours. will see: red oak, wisent-head like wart Hospitality and cordiality are the Short description. On arriving to the on the birch tree, natural landmark national traits of the Belarusians. Even residence you will meet Ded Moroz «Turlyuj», feeding ground surrounded the most demanding gourmets will be and Snegurochka (only Ded Moroz by the giant oaks, frontier outpost, delighted at the food they are treated in summertime), have a look at the aviaries with animals. to in the restaurant of Belovezhskaya miraculous well, fairy windmill, 40-meters Pushcha. In the menu you will find high fur tree, get acquainted with sauced venison, Belovezhskie deer various fairy-tale characters, carved * Travel Itinerary № 6 (type — liver sausages, braised wild boar meat, in wood, make a wish for yourself and walking): jugged chanterelles, unbelievably tasty your dearest ones. In wintertime you «Sanctuary Oak-Wood» (Length — mushroom soup, full-bodied cranberry may have the chance to meet the 2,1 km). fruit infusion with the cranberry fresh, full whole huddle of wisents at the feeding Short description. On this route of vitamins. ground. you will see: watering place, stove Another in-house treat is for burning off the charcoal, mount «Pushchanskaya» vodka, brewed Grabovaya, Y-shaped durmast oak, according to the ancient recipes, * Travel Itinerary № 3 (type — collar pine tree, hunting tribe, durmast carefully kept by the local handymen. bicycle): oak-wood.

8 Welcome to the European oldest forest reserve Important dates in the history of hunting; including Pushcha into Grodno 1929 — two wisents (Borus and Belovezhskaya Pushcha government, which coat of arms is wisent Bizerta) were bought (by V. V. Semakov) 1864 — replenishing of the European 1932 — the first wisent world herd book 983 — the first mentioning of Pushcha in Red deer population; the introduction was started; the forestry «Reservat» was the Ipatiev Chronicles related to the of first 18 specimens from Germany turned into the Belovezha National Park staying of the Kiev Prince Vladimir Svya­ 1878 — extermination of the brown 1939 — creation of the toslavovich the grand prince of Kiev there bear «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» reserve 1538 — Sigizmund, the King of Poland 1884—1885 — extinction of the beaver 1944 — Pushcha was divided into the and Grand Duke of Lithuania, issued a 1888 — the Pushcha was handed Polish and Belarusian parts piece of legislation on the protection of over to the Royal family in exchange 1946 — five wisents were bought from the forest for the territories in Orel and Simbir in Poland 1557 — the Forest Charter was issued; governments 1949 — the construction of the Nature establishing of the industrial forest usage 1889—1897 — construction of the Museum and the taxidermic studio was 1558 — the first description of Pushcha palace in Belovezha started; 5 more wisents were bought in and the hunts conducted there 1903 — the monograph Poland and the wisent nursery was built 1610 — extinction of the European «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» by G.Kartsev 1951 — the Regulation on the wisents was issued; opening of the Belovezha «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» reserve 1640 — Wladyslav, the King of the strategic roadway (today Pruzhany –Be-­ was adopted under the jurisdiction Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth issued a lovezha) of the USSR Council of Ministers Head decree prohibiting felling of the live trees 1913 — creation of the museum Administration of the Reserves 1705 — extinction of the European under the Administration of Pushcha 1953 — the first breeding of the wisents red deer 1919 — Pushcha was given to the was set free on the Belarusian part 1710 — extinction of the tarpan, a Polish proprietorship; extermination of 1957 — «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» subspecies of wild horse. the last wisent reserve was turned into the Reserved 1802 — Alexander I, the Emperor 1921 — creation of the special Hunting Ground; the decree on its of Russia from 1801 to 1825, issued forestry «Reservat» on the basis of the regulation was issued a decree on prohibiting the wisent remaining forest renges 1957—1960 — construction of the hunting government residence «Viskuli» 1958 — the first collection of the State Reserved Hunting Ground «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» transactions was released 1979 — the National park Belovezhsky (Polish part) was included into the UNESCO World Heritage list 1991 — the leaders of Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine signed in Viskuli the accord on the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS); State Reserved Hunting Ground «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» was reorganized into the national park. 1992 — part of the National park «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» was included into the UNESCO World Heritage list 1993 — the National Park «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» became recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO 1997 — the National park «Belovezhskaya Pushcha» and the Belovezhsky National Park was awarded a European Diploma by the decision of the Council of Europe 2003 — Ded Moroz residence in Belovezhskaya Pushcha was opened 2006 — the joint resolution of the Belarusian and Polish scientists was adopted, according to which 1409 should be taken as the date of Pushcha reserve status forming. In 2009 Pushcha is celebrating is 600- year anniversary.

УП «Национальное агентство по туризму», концепция, 2009 По заказу Министерства спорта и туризма Республики Беларусь ISBN 978-985-6871-23-1 1 © УП «Национальное агентство по туризму», составление, 2009 УП «Национальное агентство по туризму», 2009 Формат 60х90 /8. Усл. печ. л. 4. Уч.-изд. л. 4,99 © УП «Национальное агентство по туризму», текст, 2009 Беларусь, г. Минск, пр-т Победителей,19, тел. : +375 17 226-91-17 Заказ № 276. © УП «Национальное агентство по туризму», фото, 2009 ЛИ №02330/0133480 выдана 30.03.2005 Министерством информа- Тираж 8000 экз. © ОДО «Вытоки-люкс», перевод на английский язык, 2009 ции Республики Беларусь Отпечатано в СООО «Эволайн». ЛП № 02330/0494251. Belovezhskaya pushcha

This and other editions can be obtained at the TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES of THE BELARUSIAN NATIONAL TOURISM AGENCY

Address: Minsk, 19 Pobediteley ave. 220004, Тel. +375 17 226 9900 [email protected]

Address: Vitebsk, 18 Pravda str. 210015 Тel. +375 212 358 150 [email protected]

Address: Gomel, 61 Sovetskaya str. 246003 Тel.: +375 232 774 050 [email protected]

To find out the other places of distribution please e-mail us to [email protected] or call +375 17 226 9900

visit our web-site www.belarustourism.by