Walking tour "Adventures in ancient Polotsk" Excursion in Polotsk

We will walk through an amazing city that will talk to you, and I will just help you hear it. Polotsk is a place where layers of epochs are intertwined so closely that behind each facade there are a thousand stories. Ready to embark on a journey where medieval temples, Jesuit mysteries and the whispers of pagan gods will become your companions?

1.We will see the Sophia Cathedral – the first stone church in Belarus, reveal the secrets of its “plinth”, hear the echo of prayers of the XI century, and also learn where the first temple of Eastern Europe disappeared.

2 Let's take a walk at the Upper Castle. Let’s follow the footsteps of sensational excavations, imagine what it looked like in different periods of history and find out why archaeologists call this place “Belarusian Troy”. 3. Let us plunge into the fate of legendary personalities: Prince Vseslav the Sorcerer, the enlightener of Ephrosyne Polotskaya, the poet Simeon of Polotsk.

3.Explore the earthen rampart of Ivan the Terrible, the fortifications of the XVI century and learn about the events that took place here during the devastating Livonian War.

4.View Borisov stone - a magical artifact of the XII century. Touch the mysterious signs, try to “wake up” ancient spells and make a wish at the boulder, survived the kings, Napoleon and world wars.

5. We will get acquainted with the history of the legendary Jesuit college, the real “Harvard” of Eastern Europe and find out why Polotsk had the most advanced educational system.

6. We will walk along Skorin Avenue and see the monument to the “genius from the shadow of centuries”.

7.Visit Freedom Square, a mirror of the eras. We will see the Stalin Empire, the column-memorial to the heroes of 1812 and the place where the market with the London and Paris hotels once boiled.

8. We will visit the geographical center of Europe and take photos where parallels of fates converge.

9. We will get to the unique monument to the letter “SH” and learn how this letter became a marker of the Belarusian language.

10. Walk through a real street-museum, where each building is a page of history.

Let us reveal the secret of the princely dynasty, remember the tragedy of Rogneda and Yaropolk, and learn how Polotsk became the “gateway to the sea” for all European trade.

The mystery of the Book of Veles – myth or reality? Let’s talk about the pagan pantheon: from the formidable Perun to the mysterious Mokoshi.

We will find out what kind of history lies behind the inscriptions on the Borisov stone and how the process of its extraction from the waters of the Dvina took place.

- Let's check for ourselves whether the legendary Krinichka healer is able to remove the evil eye and give grace. We will find out whether there were actually legendary underground passages described in many historical sources.

Let’s try on the role of a student of the XVIII century: learn about the strict order, discipline and sciences that were studied within the walls of the oldest educational institution in Belarus.

Let us understand why the first printer Francis Skaryna is compared to Leonardo da Vinci.

Let’s solve the mystery of Peter the Great’s visit to Polotsk. Find out where the emperor stayed and what traces of his stay are preserved in the city.

Find out where the island of Polotsk is and who discovered it. We will follow the footsteps of the legendary, but unfortunately, lost temples: St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Dominican and Franciscan churches and learn why the unique temple ensemble no longer exists.

We will find out what unique and sensational archaeological finds were found by scientists in Polotsk. Find out what building once supplied the city with water, and now knowledge.

We will hear the story of a girl who saved hundreds of lives during the war and talk about the tragedy of the occupation of 1941-1944 and the heroism of the liberators.

Hiking route - 3-4 km, sightseeing only outside. For the extended program - with a visit to museums, the Spaso-Euphrosinevsky Monastery, etc. - an additional payment by agreement. Transport to the Savior-Evfrosinevsky Monastery (with a walking format - taxi / public transport at your expense), entrance tickets also, nuances can be agreed in personal correspondence. The tour program adapts to your wishes.