Tatsiana and her future husband picked me up at the train station and drove me to Hotel Belarus. The hotel was built in Soviet style but good value for money.
After check-in we walked down Savetskaya Street and had pizza.
I returned the next morning for breakfast at Cafe Sonet. The Panini with ham was a bit disappointing as it just means two slices of toast with ketchup, ham and cheese. I heard the cappuccino should be really great.
Afterwards I continued down the street and explored also the Lights Alley - Gogolya Street to left and right from Savetskaya.
Nearly to the end is the Russian Orthodox Church of San Nikolaiv - a beautiful blue onion domed church. The interior is also nicely decorated and while I was in a couple got married.
Across from the church is the Simni Sad (Winter Garden) showing tropical plants, parrots and fish. I even recognized some plants.
For lunch I went to Jules Verne restaurant- according to the Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor the classiest place in Brest. It has the atmosphere of a early 20th century fine restaurant with leather seats. There was a quite a choice from different countries and very tasty.
I enjoyed some home-made lemonade with the food and afterwards strawberry sorbet and chocolates, so the bill climbed up to half a million Belorussian roubles. But that was no problem I robbed an ATM earlier :-) and became millionaire. Like everyone else here as well. The current exchange rate is 1€ = 16,560 BYR (1$ = 15,102 BYR).
To compensate for this expenditure and the calories I walked three kilometers to the fortress which was built in the mid 19th century. A lot of it was destroyed by the Germans during the Second World War and it never returned into service.
The entrance to the vast complex is a concrete structure forming the Soviet star on some old ruins - when passing you will hear some gloomy music. Follow the long and wide walkway that passes some tanks and leads to the ruins of the White Palace on the right of the citadel.
There the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed in 1918 and meant the end of Russia's participation in the First World War.
Further is the oldest church of Brest - the newly renovated Byzantine Nikolaivsky Church. From inside the old age is more visible and a great chandelier is hanging below the dome.
In the centre of the memorial complex is a soldier's head carved in rock and next to it an obelisk.
If you complete the circle, you will meet the statue of a thirsty soldier crawling towards the river water.
More information on http://www.brest-fortress.by/en.
Be sure to take some hours to walk around the area and the several museums. Best bring some water and snack and a hat in summer, shadow is rare. There are some drinks and souvenir stalls on the walkway and Cafe Citadel lingers in the park next to it, but should be only mediocre.
After check-in we walked down Savetskaya Street and had pizza.
I returned the next morning for breakfast at Cafe Sonet. The Panini with ham was a bit disappointing as it just means two slices of toast with ketchup, ham and cheese. I heard the cappuccino should be really great.
Savetskaya Street
Afterwards I continued down the street and explored also the Lights Alley - Gogolya Street to left and right from Savetskaya.
Nearly to the end is the Russian Orthodox Church of San Nikolaiv - a beautiful blue onion domed church. The interior is also nicely decorated and while I was in a couple got married.
Church of San Nikolaiv
Rules for entering the church
Across from the church is the Simni Sad (Winter Garden) showing tropical plants, parrots and fish. I even recognized some plants.
Simni Sad
Inside the greenhouse it's lush green.
For lunch I went to Jules Verne restaurant- according to the Lonely Planet and Tripadvisor the classiest place in Brest. It has the atmosphere of a early 20th century fine restaurant with leather seats. There was a quite a choice from different countries and very tasty.
Restaurant Jules Verne
Steak in cream sauce with potatoes and asparagus
I enjoyed some home-made lemonade with the food and afterwards strawberry sorbet and chocolates, so the bill climbed up to half a million Belorussian roubles. But that was no problem I robbed an ATM earlier :-) and became millionaire. Like everyone else here as well. The current exchange rate is 1€ = 16,560 BYR (1$ = 15,102 BYR).
1 million Belorussian roubles
To compensate for this expenditure and the calories I walked three kilometers to the fortress which was built in the mid 19th century. A lot of it was destroyed by the Germans during the Second World War and it never returned into service.
entrance through the Soviet Star
tanks - no more in use
White Palace ruins
There the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed in 1918 and meant the end of Russia's participation in the First World War.
Further is the oldest church of Brest - the newly renovated Byzantine Nikolaivsky Church. From inside the old age is more visible and a great chandelier is hanging below the dome.
Nikolaivsky Church
Statue Valour
Thirst Statue
More information on http://www.brest-fortress.by/en.
Be sure to take some hours to walk around the area and the several museums. Best bring some water and snack and a hat in summer, shadow is rare. There are some drinks and souvenir stalls on the walkway and Cafe Citadel lingers in the park next to it, but should be only mediocre.
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