Augustów Canal | Belarus

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The Augustów Canal is a cross-border canal built in the 19th century in Poland and Belarus. The reason for the construction of the Augustów Canal was the Prussian customs restrictions that prevented the transport of Polish goods down the Vistula to Gdansk.

Flags of the World | Belarus

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The flag of Belarus was adopted in 1995 after a referendum and it replaced the flag that Belarus used before annexing to the Soviet Union and after gaining the independence in 1991.

Mir Castle | Belarus

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Mir Castle is a unique monument of Belarusian architecture, it was built by duke Ilinich in early 16th century near the village of Mir. The Mir castle complex is a Unesco World Heritage site.

Belovezhskaya Pushcha | Belarus

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Located on the border between Poland and Belarus, Białowieża Forest is one of the last and largest remaining parts of the immense primeval forest that once stretched across the European Plain.

The forest is home to 800 European bison, Europe's heaviest land animal. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is the Belarus part of this joint Poland/Belarus UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Happy postcrossing! stamp 2014.

Polish bordercrossing near Brest | Belarus

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Brest is a city in Belarus right at the Polish border. As you can see on the postcard, it looks well protected! 

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Polotsk | Belarus

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Polotsk is a historical city in Belarus, situated on the Dvina River. The city was a member of the Hanseatic League, an economic alliance of trading cities. 

Actually I’m not sure the city was a ‘full member’ or just had a Kontor (subsidiary trading post).

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“History of national communications” (issue 2013).

Nesvizh Palace and Park Ensemble | Belarus

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Nesvizh is one of the oldest towns in Belarus. It is located about 100 km from Minsk. For centuries the Nesvizh Palace used to be the residence of the Radziwill family, one of the richest dynasties in Europe. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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“Chronicles of Victory - Defense of Brest Fortress”

The defense of Brest Fortress took place in June 1941. It was one of the first battles of Operation Barbarossa. The Brest Fortress held out longer than expected and, after the Second World War had finished, became a symbol of Soviet resistance. 

Struve Geodetic Arc | Belarus

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The Struve Geodetic Arc is a chain of survey triangulations stretching from Hammerfest in Norway to the Black Sea, through ten countries and over 2,820 km. This helped to calculate the exact size and shape of the planet and marked an important step in the development of earth sciences and topographic mapping. The Struve is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites since 2005.

The 19 topographic points of the Struve Geodetic Arc in Belarus are located in 5 places.

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Postcrossing stamp, issued 2014.

Vitebsk, hanseactic city in Belarus

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Vitebsk is located in northern Belarus, near the border with Russia. The country’s fourth largest city with about 350,000 inhabitants.

Once part of the Hanseatic League, the city was on the end of a trading route from Riga to Polotsk.

The Island of Courage and Sorrow | Belarus

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The (artificial) island of Courage and Sorrow is a memorial, dedicated to the fallen Belarusians who took part in the Afghan war. About 30,000 Belarusians fought in Afghanistan, 771 of them died. In the center of the monument there are figures of mourning women. They symbolize the Belarusian mothers mourning over their sons who did not return from the war.

 

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Slutsk sashes are articles of Belarus manufactory weaving of the second half of 18th — the beginning of 19th centuries. They were called according to the place of origin — Slutsk town.

Minsk Railway Station Square

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Minsk Railway Station Square (1953). Its referred to as Stalinist architecture, a term given to architecture of the Soviet Union under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, between 1933 and 1955.

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From a set of 5 stamps, wild animals (2008): a Hare (right) and a Forest Marten (left).

A monument from Polotsk, Belarus

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Monument to Simeon Polotsky (1625-1680) – the poet, teacher and theologian.

Polotsk is a historical city in Belarus.

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From a series of stamps about garden flowers: Zinnia.

Мінск-Пасажырскі | Minsk Passenger Station, Belarus

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Minsk Passenger Station is the main passenger rail terminal in Belarus. It is located in the centre of Minsk. It was built in 2000.

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Tulips and Lilium: flowering plants growing from bulbs.

Relics transportation of Euphrosyne of Polatsk, Belarus

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100^th anniversary of relics transportation of Euphrosyne of Polatsk (2010).

Euphrosyne of Polatsk (1110–1173) was the granddaughter of a prince of Polotsk, Vseslav. She refused all proposals of marriage and, without her parents' knowledge, ran away to the convent and became a nun.

Later she founded her own convent. She spent her time copying books, and the money she thus earned she distributed amongst the poor. She also built the church of The Holy Saviour. It is considered to be the most precious monument of early Belarusian architecture.

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A postcard from Minsk, Belarus.

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View of Hotel Minsk. Nezalejnasti Square.

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Equestrian sport. From a series of 3 stamps: Horse Racing.

Mir Castle from Belarus

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Mir Castle is a unique monument of Belarusian architecture, it was built by duke Ilinich in early 16th century near village Mir (Grodno Region) instead of wooden feudal farmstead, which existed there in 15th century.

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(left) Chinese Peony: flowering plant, in China it is uses a a medicinal herb in traditional Chinese medicine.

(middle) The Russian mink, listed by the IUCN as Endangered.

(right) Lilium: flowering plants growing from bulbs.

Minsk Football Manege and City View

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(left) Football manege, 20 k. 2, Pobediteley Avenue, Minsk city, Republic of Belarus

(right) Minsk - Capital of Belarus

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Lilium: flowering plants growing from bulbs

and the Russian mink, listed by the IUCN as Endangered

Medieval games in Lida Castle, Belarus

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Lida Castle was one of several citadels erected by Grand Duke Gediminas of Lithuania in the early 14th century to defend his lands against the expansion of the Teutonic Knights.

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Zinnia elegans, an annual flowering plant is the best known Zinnia. Zinnias are popular garden plants with hundreds of cultivars.