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4. Borisov - Memorial, commemorating the crossing of the Berezina River by the French Army in 1812.

Borisov - Memorial, commemorating the crossing of the Berezina River by the French Army in 1812.

Welcome to Borisov!

It is a fascinating experience to get acquainted with such an ancient town as Borisov. The town is situated 77 kilometers from Minsk. It was founded by Prince Boris Vseslavich in 1102 and lies on both banks of the famous Berezina River which flows only through Belarus at an impressive distance of 600 kilometers and flows into the Dnieper River. Its wooded shores up to 15 meters high have been famous for their beauty. However, the history of the town is filled with storms, sieges, attacks and battles of various scales, the fiercest of which was the battle on the Berezina, near the village of Studenka in November 1812 which claimed thousands of lives on both sides. You will have a look at this site and see the memorial and other monuments, churches and historical buildings during the city tour of Borisov.

Resurrection Russian Orthodox cathedral

Sightseeing includes:

• Resurrection Russian Orthodox cathedral constructed in 1874 in pseudo Russian style in market square, now Olldborisovskaya square. The cathedral continues to impress by its gorgeous exterior and its numerous blue domes;
• Monument to the legendary prince Boris, the founder of the town, son of Vseslav the Enchanter;
• Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the style of classicism;
• Borisov synagogue;
• The remains of  the Borisov Fortress whose wooden ancestor had been on the site from the 12th to the 18th century. 

 Monument to the Army of Napoleon on the historical "Brylevskoye Field"

There is a memorial "Historical "Brylevskoye Field", commemorating the crossing of the Berezina River by the French Army in 1812. Researchers still differently assess the outcome of the crossing. In the presentation of some that was a clear defeat of Napoleon, in the opinion of others, an undeniable testimony of his military genius, that saved the emperor from imminent death and shameful surrender. The two monuments erected here eloquently speak of this discrepancy. On one words of gratitude to the victorious Russian soldiers are inscribed. Another says with dignity: "France remembers her heroes."

Monument to the Army of Napoleon presents a granite block with a cast iron memorial plaque, made in the form of an unfolded scroll, to which a flagpole is attached, crowned with an eagle-topping. There is the French infantry saber and a gun, nested in the twisted lower part of the scroll.

Monument to the Russian army presents an obelisk crowned with a bronze double-headed eagle. It consists  of a podium, a base pedestal, a transition element, a cube and a stele. The steps of the podium lead to each of the 4 sides of the obelisk. There are four pedestals-analogues in the corners of the cross-shaped pedestal. On each pedestal there are marble boards, on which excerpts from the Holy Gospel and the statements of the Russian commander General Field Marshal A.V. Suvorov are inscribed. There are white crosses of the Latin type in the niches of the pedestal.

There are other highly symbolic monuments duly commemorataing courage of the participating parties.

Every year, a costume reconstruction of the crossing is carried out on Brilevskiy Field, in which representatives of historical clubs from  France, Russia, Germany and Poland take part.

Museums

Borisov United museum

The museum exposition consists of six rooms in which visitors can trace the important periods in the history of the Borisov region. Its basis is the theme of the war of 1812. In the updated exhibition you can see the restored uniforms and head dresses, knives and firearms, portraits of Russian and French generals. 6 thousand objects altogether!

Two halls in the museum are dedicated to the history of the Great Patriotic War. The section "Occupation Regime in the Borisovshchina" tells of the first days of the war, the difficult fate of the residents of the town and the region who found themselves in occupation, the emergence of camps for prisoners of war, heroic struggle of partisans and underground fighters of the region.

 The Hall “Writing Monuments - A Mirror of the Epoch” will introduce visitors to the history of writing, the birth of typography and a collection of old books. By visiting the Folk Crafts and Trades section, sightseers can learn about the secrets of weaving, pottery, cooperage and straw weaving.

• Address: Prospekt Revolyutsii 67, Borisov, Minsk district, Minsk region, Republic of Belarus
• Telephone: +375 177 73 25 23

Environs of Borisov

Village of Staroborisov

Staroborisov is a separate village, which is adjacent to the town of Borisov. In Staroborisov, an ancient settlement of the 12th century has been preserved. It was from this site that Borisov began, which was subsequently transferred to a new place where a medieval castle was erected. In the 18th century, the ancient settlement became part of the Radzivils estate. In the mid-19th century, Staroborisov became the property of the royal family of the Romanovs, who erected an impressive residence here. The estate was decorated with a luxurious park, some fragments of which have been preserved. But the residence is almost completely lost, except, perhaps, its most interesting part – a fragment of a wing, which is situated exactly in the center of the settlement.  According to historical writings, Napoleon himself stayed in this estate, and now for more than two centuries this wing bears the name "Napoleon’s House" There is one more event connected with the estate. In August 1941 Hitler came to assess the situation at the front on the spot. It was here, due to unprecedented heroism of Soviet army men and Belarusian citizens defending every inch of their land in the first two month of the war, Hitler decided to suspend the movement towards Moscow.