Minsk is one of the oldest European cities, with a great cultural heritage and rich traditions. Today Minsk is the industrial and cultural center of Belarus.

<center>https://www.smileplanet.ru/upload/iblock/fa8/vorota-minska.jpg
[sourse](https://www.smileplanet.ru/belarus/minsk/)</center>

The city has its own National Library. This is a beautiful 25 - storey building with a viewing platform and the Museum of the Book. The library is located in the park zone of the Slepiansky water-green system, and before its facade a bronze sculpture of the Belarusian printer, Francis Skaryna, is installed.

<center>http://minskflat.ru/sites/default/files/National%20Library.jpg
[sourse](http://minskflat.ru/node/52)</center>

In Minsk there are many theaters, the most memorable is the national academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater.

<center>http://luchshie-kurortyi.ru/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Bolshoy-teatr-v-Minske.jpg
[sourse](http://luchshie-kurortyi.ru/evropa/kuda-luchshe-poehat-otdyihat-v-belorussii.html/attachment/bolshoy-teatr-v-minske)</center>

Walking around the city, you can see the Minsk City Hall, listen to the chimes on its tower, which every hour within 19 seconds beat the melody of the chorus "Songs of Minsk", composer Igor Luchenka.

<center>http://www.tourprom.ru/site_media/images/upload/2015/12/1/poiphoto/ratusha_1.jpg
[sourse](http://www.tourprom.ru/country/belarus/minsk/attraction/minskaya-gorodskaya-ratusha/photos-minskaya-gorodskaya-ratusha/)</center>
 
In souvenir shops in Minsk you can choose amazing products from willow vines, there are also woven baskets and pots, caskets and even bast shoes, I did not accidentally put them in a collage. Remarkable and products made from straw.

<center>http://woman-l.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/izdeliya-iz-solomy.jpg
[sourse](http://woman-l.ru/podarki-i-suveniry-iz-minska/#kcmenu)</center>

There are many beautiful squares and avenues in the city, I really liked Independence Square. This is the largest square of the city where the buildings of the Government House, the Belarusian State University, the Church of St. Simeon and St. Helena, which is also called the Red Church and many others, are located.

<center>http://belarus.svobodno.su/images/entertament/25/266-0.jpg
[sourse](http://belarus.svobodno.su/places/attraction/hramy-chasovni-i-monastyri/minskaya-oblast/minskiy-rayon/minsk/kostel-svyatyh-simeona-i-eleny-v-minske.html)</center>

Under the Independence Square is located and 3 - storey shopping center "Capital", in which you can buy beautiful Minsk souvenirs.

<center>http://img1.restbee.ru/evropa/belarus/minsk/plloshhad-nezavisimosti.jpg
[sourse](http://www.restbee.ru/world/europe/belarus/minsk)</center>

There are a lot of interesting museums in the city: the museum of the history of Belarusian literature, the Yanka Kupala literary museum, the museum of boulders, the museum of folk architecture and life, modern fine art, the museum of the history of Belarusian cinema and many others.

<center>https://s27.postimg.org/6k9kyp4f7/singa.png</center>