Location on the map: Lida city

We are in a city with an interesting history, our own specialty drink and a very beautiful female name Lida. Not a sophisticated traveler will want to go here just because of one name. So many beautiful girls named Lida are promised by the city. But erudites know that this female name appeared almost 10 centuries later than the city itself was founded, which means "a place freed from the forest"in Lithuanian.

Let's start with one of the oldest castles in Belarus – Gediminas Castle, which has been standing on Lida land for almost 7 centuries. Lida Castle is a monument of defensive architecture dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries.

Construction was started in 1323 on behalf of Prince Gedemin. The structure was part of the line of defense against the Crusaders. During its history, the castle has withstood many battles and sieges. In the 18th century, it lost its strategic importance and began to gradually collapse. By the way, according to its prototype, the Lida headman Yuri Ilyich built Mirsky Castle.

The castle itself in Lida was renovated by 87 % in 2010. It is open to tourists all year round and attracts thousands of visitors. In summer, theatrical performances and jousting tournaments are traditionally held here. And in the winter, a skating rink will be set up in the courtyard.

Farny Church in Lida is a church that houses the oldest Catholic icon in Belarus. At first, while still being wooden, this temple was located near the castle.

One of the first Catholic shrines of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the church was founded in 1387 with donations from King Jagiello. The current Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was built in 1770. The project of the building was entrusted to the talented shoulders of the outstanding architect Johann Christoph Glaubitz, who became the founder of the architectural style "Vilna Baroque". He also designed the interior, which today is decorated with frescoes on the vaults and walls, as well as altars in imitation marble, sculptures and ornamental modelling in the Rococo style. The shrine preserves in its walls the face of the Mother of God with the baby, which was brought to Lida by Franciscan missionaries. Next to the church there is a monument to the first printer Francysk Skaryna.

You cannot come to the city and not visit the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, which is the former Church of St. Joseph.

The construction of the stone temple lasted for a quarter of a century. The money for its construction – 5,000 rubles – was donated by the Russian Emperor Paul I. Made in the style of late classicism, the church was covered with a hemispherical dome with an octagonal lantern. The decor of its facades, as well as the interior, give the building presentable appearance.
 
After a fire in the first half of the 19th century, the church suffered a difficult fate. It was restored only 20 years later and handed over to the Orthodox Church. Later, the Catholics still returned it to themselves. Subsequently, it housed a planetarium and a local history museum. At the end of the 20th century, the building became an Orthodox cathedral.

Travel with us and welcome to Belarus!