Jan
10
Grodno Travel & Sightseeing Guide
Filed Under Belarus
A trip to Grodno
The city of Grodno, also known as Hrodna, is located in Belarus on the Neman River, near the borders with Lithuania and Poland. Records indicate that Grodno has existed for over 900 years and due to its location, it administers a considerable Lithuanian and Polish heritage and is the heart of Polish culture in Belarus. The city is renowned for its significant Medical University where a number of foreign students are enrolled. Grodno is also home to a couple of sights including some medieval and Baroque churches, castles and monasteries.
Flights to Grodno
Grodno’s municipal airport (GNA) is located about 10 miles from the city centre, close to the city of Abuhaya. During the days of the USSR, not only Grodno but all the regional centres in Grodno province were accessible by air on a daily basis. However, since the beginning of ‘Perestroika’, regular flights to Grodno have ceased due to fuel restrictions and the locals’ inability to meet the expenses. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Grodno try Thomas Cook.
At present, the most convenient and safest means of transport to get around Belarus is the intercity buses. Every day, between 60 and 85 of these buses depart from Grodno to Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. Grodno’s busy railway station handles some 65 trains daily to and from Moscow, St Petersburg, Minsk, Warsaw and other destinations.
Grodno
Sightseeing in Grodno
One of Grodno’s most impressive landmarks is the Cathedral of St Franciscus Xavier which was built around the 17th century and exceeds 164 feet in height. Other tourist draws include the magnificent Kolozha Church of Saints Boris and Gleb, the city’s oldest monument, as well as the polychrome Orthodox Cathedral. Several monasteries and cloisters are scattered in and around Grodno, above all the 17th century Bernardine monastery and the old Franciscan cloister.
Another uniquely designed structure is the Grodno TV Tower which is over 820 feet tall and has a strange shaped top. Visitors to Grodno should go to see the area’s historical castles like the Red Castle and Mir Castle, or the popular Novogrudok Castle ruins. The city also features the only zoo in the republic and the Belavezhskaya Pushcha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Fun by night – eating, drinking and partying
In Belarus, the restaurants are modest and inefficient but the local dishes are really good, particularly pork creations, fried potatoes and pancakes. Belarusian vodka is also known to be celestial. Those with an inkling for international cuisine will be happy to know Chinese, Italian and Japanese cooking is fast becoming popular.
Nightlife entertainment is somewhat restricted; there are a number of bars such as Bar Metro where you can play pool, Russian billiards and bowl. A couple of descent nightclubs include Epolet, which is probably the best establishment. A different possibility for after-dark amusement is the relatively expensive Drama Theatre which presents various performances, while the surrounding area of the theatre is used as a hang-out spot for the local youth.
Fun by day – shopping and activities
There are various types of shopping available in Grodno; visitors will find department stores, antique shops as well as the popular indoor and outdoor markets. Vulitsa Savetskaya is the main shopping street, with the Magazin being the city’s main department store.
Daytrips
A daytrip for the purpose of historical science is presented in the opportunity to see one of several Struve Arcs in the area in and around Grodno including, but not restricted to, Zelva, Oblast and Ivanovo. The nearly 3,000-km chain of survey towers, spanning 10 countries, was the first method of accurately measuring extremely long stretches of land and helped to determine the exact size and shape of the planet.
On the banks of the Muchovets River in Zditovo stands a monument of Western Polesye architecture. The Saint Nikita Church is a wooden structure built in 1502 with vertical plank walls which has withstood the test of time.
The third-largest city in Belarus, Mahiliou, located at the convergence of several railway lines, is home to a number of impressive religious structures from the 17th century, the Mikalaj Orthodox Church being the area’s most important. Architectural enthusiasts will find that a daytrip to Mahiliou provides more than enough interest for a day of exploration.
Must-see attractions
The centre of Polish culture in Belarus, Grodno, also known as Hrodna, is moderately well known for its international medical university. Home to a limited number of places of interest, Grodno offers a few historically significant castles and monasteries, some medieval and Baroque period churches as well as an abundance of culture and tradition owing to its Lithuanian and Polish heritage.
Possessing more Soviet architecture than any other city in Belarus, Grodno’s most popular attractions are consistent with the ominous, block-like communist period constructions. The 16th century Mir Castle is perhaps Grodno’s most visited place of interest and is one of many UNESCO-protected sites. An imposing structure of Belarusian craftsmanship, the castle comprises guard towers with cannon ports and a drawbridge, and is surrounded by a moat.
Another impressive landmark worthy of a look is the 17th century Cathedral of Franciscus Xavier. Standing at 164 feet, it is not only one of the tallest but also one of the most frequently visited attractions in the city. The Grodno TV Tower is perhaps the only modern attraction within the city. At 820 feet, the structure’s unique design looms above the rooftops and dominates the skyline.
Best time to go
June to August is the best time to visit Belarus. Temperatures during the summer months usually rest around 23°C and occasionally rise for brief periods as high as 35°C with evening temperatures dropping. Spring and early autumn present unpredictable weather. While infrequent, snow flurries and temperatures below 0°C are not unheard of as late as May or as early as September.
Rainy day suggestions
Lido Castle, in the Grodno region, was begun in 1328 and took five years to construct. Despite having been built on an unstable sandy surface, it resisted being overrun during the medieval era and continued to protect its inhabitants against crusaders and Tartar invaders. Even after having been sacked by the Swedes during the North War, Lido Castle remained and offers modern-day visitors a rainy day opportunity to explore is physical history.
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