The primary trade union organization of the state enterprise “Publishing House “Belarusian House of Press” organized a weekend tour for trade union members to Brest and Belovezhskaya Pushcha.
The city of Brest has a rich, rich and ancient history. The first mention of it dates back to 1019. During its existence, the city has repeatedly changed its nationality, and its life has been permeated by different cultures.
The weekend tour began with laying flowers at the eternal flame of the Brest Hero Fortress Memorial Complex and a minute of silence in honor of the heroes of the dead and the living, who made it possible for us to live to these days. Next, the tour began with Fort No. 5, an additional defensive structure of the Brest Fortress (1842). 20 years after the construction of the fortress, it was necessary to erect additional forts to distance the enemy’s artillery. And in 1871, Fort No. 5 was erected, which has been perfectly preserved to this day.
On the eve of the Great Patriotic War, the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the 44th Infantry Regiment was stationed there. On June 22, 1941, German artillery covered not only the Brest Fortress with hurricane fire, but also the forts housing Soviet military units. The 5th fort was also shelled. Only seven fighters managed to break through to the Brest fortress, but it was already surrounded by enemies. For more than a month, the garrison of the fortress held its defenses in complete encirclement, waging fierce, bloody battles. The Brest Fortress became one of the most persistent epicenters of resistance at the beginning of the Great Patriotic War.
The Brest Fortress is a symbol of courage and heroism in the name of the Motherland. Berlin, the Brandenburg Gate, and the defeated Reichstag are all symbols of the end of the war, and the Brest Fortress became a symbol of the beginning of the war, one of the most tragic pages in the centuries–old history of our patronymic. The heroic deeds of the defenders are characterized by the inscription on the territory of the Memorial Complex: “I am dying, but I do not give up.” The tour was not easy to perceive, but it was very necessary to realize the great feat of our soldiers, to make sure: The words “defender” and “patriot” are filled with great meaning.
Modern Brest lives a peaceful, eventful life. This stage of the tour began with a walk along Sovetskaya pedestrian street, where life boils almost around the clock, shops, cafes, offices, and a cinema are open. You can see a lot of interesting things walking along the street: facades of houses built before 1915, a gazebo from the sun with a trumpeter figurine on the roof, the sculpture “Happy Boot” and a sculpture in honor of Millionnaya Street – a purse with coins, a monument to the Millennium of Brest. Every evening a lamplighter lights lanterns here. The lighting time depends on the time of sunset and is indicated on the clock, which is located at the beginning of Sovetskaya Street. The street especially comes alive in the evening, when it is filled with the sounds of live music, laughter, conversations of young people and lighting.
The second day of the weekend tour began with a walk through the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Protected forest, where the staff of the House of Printing plunged into its history by visiting the Nature Museum, where its unique riches, beauty and charm are captured. By all means, Belovezhskaya Pushcha is one of the national symbols of Belarus, rich in historical and cultural heritage. The ancient forest with many centuries-old trees, thousands of different species of plants and animals is amazing. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is located in the Brest and Grodno regions, and is one of the four national parks of Belarus. The Museum of Nature, a unique exhibition complex dedicated not only to the richness of nature, but also to the local history of the country, as well as the problems of ecology and conservation of the animal and plant world, tells about the animal and plant world of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. In the exhibition halls there are stuffed animals living in the forests of Belarus, which are made so naturally that they seem real. On the eve of the New Year holidays, the staff of the House of Printing could not help but visit one of the most fabulous places in Belarus – the residence of Santa Claus, which opened its doors in 2003. Everyone here believes in a fairy tale, both adults and children, and this is the special magic of this place. The guests of the estate are greeted by elegant characters from fairy tales and legends familiar from childhood. The tour arouses not only great interest from children, but also from adults, a lot of enthusiasm and a desire to visit Belovezhskaya Pushcha again.
The trip to the Brest region turned out to be very eventful, full of positivity and pleasant emotions that energize you for fruitful work and new achievements!
The staff of the Press House expresses its gratitude to the management and the trade union committee of the Press House for their vivid and indescribable emotions, strengthening internal ties in the team, which contribute to better mutual understanding and teamwork in achieving common goals, as well as the opportunity to visit historical and significant places of our beloved Belarus.