About Belarus

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Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve

It took nature thousands of years to make these wonderful areas so scenic – glaciers that traveled from the north altered the relief creating new mounds, lakes and rivers. To preserve unique nature and rare species of flora and fauna, particularly beavers and birds, Berezinsky Reserve was established in Lepel Region, Belarus, on 30 January 1925. 

Berezinsky Reserve is one of the few areas in Europe where century-old black alder forests and marshlands have been preserved. The reserve is an ideal habitat for many animals that are either extinct or extremely rare in the rest of Europe. Berezinsky Reserve was one of the first natural reserves in the USSR that became a biosphere reserve (1979) – human activity is banned across the most of its territory while in the rest parts it is reduced to a minimum. The reserve is one of the key international ornithology sites. 

In 1994 the European Committee for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources included Berezinsky Reserve in the list of biogenetic reserves, and in 1995 the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe awarded a five-year long Category A European Diploma to the reserve. Up to the date, Berezinsky Reserve has successfully confirmed its right to hold this diploma and its term was extended till 2020.

The Museum of Nature has several exhibition halls that will be very dull unless you are accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, preferably a gamekeeper. He will tell you interesting facts about the behavior patterns of lynx and wolf and will advise you on the steps to take should you walk into a bear in the forest. The museum tour can be concluded by a walk to the open-air cages where deer, bears, wolves and bisons can be seen.

Alternatively, you can hire a bicycle and take a ride along the environmental path or book a half-day tour in the wild to see the migrating pack of bizons in the natural surroundings. A tour to Domzheritsy Village makes a highlight of any tour. Tourists get acquainted with the way of life and traditions of the local population, their cuisine and crafts and enjoy the performance of a folk band.

Environmental education and ecotourism

Berezinsky Reserve develops recreational and environmental tourism. In the reserve there are several itineraries leading into the most exotic places within the reserve. The tours are dedicated to the Berezina water system, the crossing of the Berezina River by Napoleon, ancient Slavic burials and WWII memorials.

Berezinsky Reserve has been working on environmental tourism since 1994. It is based on observation and research of the plants and animals in their natural habitat. For instance, a 10-day long tour will introduce the tourists to about 200 different plants, animals and birds. Small groups up to 10 tourists are taken to the hideouts with a guarantee to see and photograph particular species.

Experts from Switzerland, France and Germany agree that it is very hard to find a territory in Eastern Europe that would feature such a wide range of animals, plants, forests, marshes and meadows and where all this could be studied in the way it was created by nature.

Today Berezinsky Reserve is undoubtedly a highlight of the European natural heritage and one of the major tourist attractions in Belarus. You can have a look at my Berezinsky Reserve tour or proceed to the official website of the reserve.