Overview:

The Palace of the Republic is a monumental building located in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. It was built between 1979 and 1981 in order to commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. The building is 196 meters long, 88 meters wide and 73 meters high and is a famous landmark of Minsk. It is a multi-functional and multi-media palace used for state receptions, concerts, congresses, exhibitions, and conventions. It also houses a cinema, theatre, art gallery, disco, a hotel and several restaurants. The building also includes the National Library of Belarus. Inside the Palace of the Republic is an 18-meter tall monument dedicated to the soldiers who perished in World War II. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Belarus
Prominent Features:

1. The architecture of the Palace of the Republic in Minsk is an eclectic mix of Stalinist and Gothic Revival styles. 2. The building occupies an area of 54,000 square meters and includes two floors and 243 rooms. 3. It is the largest concert hall in Belarus and is capable of accommodating up to 5,000 people. 4. The building is adorned with an ornate façade featuring two tall Gothic towers and stained glass windows in red, green, and blue tones. 5. Inside it has a concert and theater hall with seating for 2,000, a dance hall, an art gallery, and an amphitheater. 6. The main hall has a music dome, with 40 chandeliers cascading from the ceiling. 7. Inside, the walls are adorned with marble, bas reliefs, and mosaics, depicting scenes from Belarusian mythology, culture, and history. 8. An outdoor space in front of the building features a fountain and statues of Belarusian leaders. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Belarus.

History:

In 1987, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Byelorussian SSR, Vadim Žožoŭski, commissioned the construction of a new government building in Minsk, the capital of Belarus. The building was to be a grand palace and symbol of Soviet strength in the city. Construction began in the same year and completed in 1989, at a cost of over 200 million rubles. The Palatskaia Skarža ("Palace of the Republic") is a large, multi-purpose complex that stands in the very center of Minsk and proudly dominates the city's skyline. Its design is reminiscent of the grandest examples of Soviet neoclassical architecture, but was unique to Soviet Belarus. It stands eleven stories high with two 360-degree towers at the top, and combines elements of socialist realism, structureism, and postmodernism. It was widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and impressive buildings of the time. Originally, the Palace of the Republic was to be used as an administrative center for the Belarusian government. It was to house government offices and agencies, as well as feature a conference hall, a congress hall, a concert hall, a theater, shopping, and dining halls. However, after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Palace was converted into a cultural center. The Šabanoŭski National Library occupied the majority of the building, as did the National History Museum of Belarus, several restaurants, and a popular post-Soviet multifunctional activities building. The Palace of the Republic also served as the main venue for the 1998 Summer Universiade, which brought students from all over the world to Minsk. Today the Palace of the Republic serves as one of the most popular tourist attractions in Minsk, attracting visitors from far and wide to admire its grand buildings and detailed architecture. In 2015, the Palace of the Republic celebrated its 25th anniversary, with many Belarusians and foreign visitors gathering in the complex to commemorate the event. Visit one of the famous monuments of Belarus with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Palace of the Republic in Minsk, Belarus is the largest cultural and entertainment complex in Eastern Europe. 2. Originally constructed between 1979 and 1984, the Palace of the Republic is the largest cultural and entertainment complex in all of Eastern Europe, comprised of five stories and an enormous concert hall with two balconies and a stage. 3. The Palace was originally built to house the Congress of People’s Deputies of the Soviet Union, one of the two supreme legislative institutions in the Soviet Union. 4. The grand opening of the palace took place on February 14th 1984, with 10 thousand people attending the event. 5. Inside the palace are multiple stages, movie theatres, an art gallery, a planetarium, a sea aquarium and even a bowling alley. 6. To this day, the Palace of the Republic continues to serve as a center for entertainment, culture and art. 7. The Palace is also home to a massive relief model of Belarus, whose purpose is to demonstrate the country’s historical sites to the visiting public. One of the historical monuments of Belarus, it tells the story of a bygone era