Discover Stowbtsy District

Literary and family history, historic churches, memorial sites and distinctive natural settings shape the themes to explore on a trip to Stowbtsy District. Whether you are interested in Jakub Kolas’ life, architecture or landscapes, each destination offers a different focus.

Literary and Family History

The Smolnya branch of the State Jakub Kolas Literary Memorial Museum opened in 1967. Its literary exhibition presents Jakub Kolas’ childhood and youth, as well as his later life and work. The Smolnya estate preserves the poet’s letters to his fellow countrymen, photographs, documents and rare editions of his works. In this way, biographical themes come together with materials that show different aspects of his life and work.

In Akinchitsy, the focus is on family history: the memorial estate is associated with Mikhail Mitskevich, Jakub Kolas’ father. He lived there with his family from April 1, 1881, to April 1, 1883. The estate has been reconstructed with a forester’s lodge, a residential house, a barn, a well and other farmyard features. On display are replicas of items owned by the Mitskevich family, as well as peasant household items from the late 19th century. In Albuc, a literary memorial exhibition is based on Jakub Kolas’ poem “New Land”; it also includes beekeeping and fishing equipment.

Churches, Memorial Sites and Remembrance

In Novy Sverzhen, the construction dates of two churches are just two years apart: the Church of Saints Peter and Paul was built in 1588, and the Church of the Assumption in 1590. In Rubezhevichi, the Church of St. Joseph dates from 1906 to 1910. Also there is the “Memory in Stone” memorial, where 46 erratic boulders are arranged around a stone cross. The church architecture and memorial offer different ways to explore the district’s history and culture of remembrance.

A private museum of Jewish everyday life opened in Rubezhevichi on February 20, 2018. If you plan to include this museum in your itinerary, please check visiting arrangements in advance.

Another exhibition on the history of the Dzerzhinsky family is housed in the restored two-story manor house at the Dzerzhinovo estate. It comprises six halls. As the exhibition layout may change, check the latest information before your visit if this particular exhibition is key to your plans.

Natural Landmarks and Landscapes

The Lastok estate and its surroundings are a natural monument with deposits of the Paleo-Neman and Proto-Neman. The estate’s residential house and barn have survived to this day. In Dzerzhinovo, the museum estate is located in a forest within the Naliboksky Landscape Reserve, in the valley of the Usa River. The estate and an adjacent area of 80 hectares have been a natural monument of republican significance since 1963. Thus, geological deposits are the main feature at Lastok, while Dzerzhinovo is defined by its forest and river-valley setting. If the protected-area designation is relevant to your specific plans, check it in advance.

History and an Excursion at the “Great Principality of Sula” Park

The interactive park dedicated to medieval history is located on the banks of the Sula River. Visitors can take a guided excursion route by horse-drawn railway. At the park bakery, they can sample fresh bread; the grounds are a pedestrian zone. The combination of a historical theme, a guided ride and bread tasting gives the park a distinctive character among the district’s excursion destinations. For specific plans, it is worth checking the latest information about the horse-drawn railway, bread offerings and park rules.

The late-19th-century watermill in Novy Sverzhen is also an accommodation option: it has been rebuilt and restored and houses a small agritourism guesthouse. If you are considering this option, check current availability before booking.

Discover more destinations: Salihorsk District, Minsk District, Pukhovichi District, Myadzyel District, Maladzechna District, Dzyarzhynsk, Barysaw District, Kapyl District

For the regional travel overview: Minsk Region.