MINSK, 30 May (BelTA) – Some 350km of the EuroVelo 2 Capitals Route will pass through Brest Oblast and Grodno Oblast of Belarus, BelTA learned from the Minsk Cycling Community.

The EuroVelo 2 bicycle route was dubbed Capitals Route because it passes through six European capital cities. The Capitals Route starts in Galway in the West of Ireland and goes through the territory of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and Belarus and reaches its easternmost point in Moscow. About 600km of the 5,500km long route passes through Belarus. At first the developed route included a section from Lubcha to Minsk. Later the route was expanded to include entire Brest Oblast and Grodno Oblast – from Kamenets to Lubcha.

The new section passes through the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park and six districts: Kamenets District, Pruzhany District, Ivatsevichi District, Slonim District, Baranovichi District, and Novogrudok District. The itinerary features the most beautiful sites of this cycling section.

Tourists will be able to see the Kamenets Tower, a fine example of the 13th century defensive architecture. In Pruzhany District cyclists can have a stroll around the cozy small town of Pruzhany and visit a unique wooden belfry made without a nail in the village of Shereshevo, an 18th century Catholic church in the village of Lyskovo and a palace and park ensemble of the Sapega family in the settlement of Ruzhany.

Kamenets Tower

The biggest draw of Ivatsevichi District is the Kossovo Castle which restoration is nearing completion. Visitors are also recommended to drop by Tadeusz Kosciuszko's estate located nearby. Slonim, one of Belarus' oldest towns, is famous for its Jewish heritage. Tourists interested in religious architecture and pilgrims will certainly appreciate the Saint Ascension monastery in Zhirovichy located in Slonim District.

Slonim

It is also worth visiting the village of Molchad in Baranovichi District to see 19th century buildings, including a tavern, a drugstore, a bakery and a former synagogue. Do not hesitate to make a detour to the village of Bolshaya Svorotva, where you will see Belarus' only triangle church. One of the biggest draws along the Belarusian section of the route is the Hreptovichi estate in the village of Shchorsy, Novogrudok District. The route ends in Lubcha famous for its 16th century castle.

Safety and comfort are the underlining principles of the route. The developers chose the most comfortable and convenient sections. Direction signs with pictograms will be installed at every turn to make navigation easier for foreigners. The itinerary is already available on the website eurovelo.by. The map features places of interest and service facilities.

The EuroVelo 2 route in Belarus is developed by the Minsk Cycling Community as part of the Urban Cycling in Belarus project supported by the European Union.