Minsk – the capital of Belarus

BRAIN STORMING.

1.1 Read the following facts about the continent of Europe where Belarus is situated.

FIRST READING OF THE TEXT.

2.1 Skim the text to get a general idea of the contents.

Some Glimpses of Minsk

Minsk is the capital and biggest city of Belarus on the Svisloch and Niamiha Rivers. It is also the capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). But I don’t want to be too formal speaking about Minsk as the capital and so on. It is my native and best loved city and I just want to tell you what I feel about it.

The contemporary Minsk is situated at the crossroads from the West to the East and from the North to the South, and occupies an ideal central position for visitors who can come to various places of the country.

For those who actually want to see it for themselves, Minsk is a surprisingly charming, calm, clean and safe city. Most locals take a genuine pride in their city which, it must be remembered, was built out of the total devastation of World War II. The city was 80% destroyed during the War and as such was rebuilt in the 1950s. Therefore, Soviet-Bloc style buildings make up a large part of the city centre. There is not a great dealof sightseeing compared with most European capitals. A few days, or a week at most, will be enough to get the best out of the city. Minsk is more a place to stroll around and breathe in the unique atmosphere. It is full of park and green area and is surrounded by a countryside of great natural beauty. Its parks as well as the Botanic Garden are set for the public recreation and free for those who love to walk there.

You may get around by bus, tram, or subway or rent a car. First three are cheap and reliable. The subway is known for being clean and safe. Additionally, each subway station is decorated uniquely.

Not far from the bridge across the Svisloch River is one of the chief glories of Minsk – Trinity Suburb, a delight of every visitor. It is a tangle of narrow streets with little craft and curio shops. Delightful small houses seem to whisper their secrets to each other across the cobbled way. All this and the greenery of the Svisloch riverside make Trinity Suburb one of the most impressive sights in the city.

There are several churches and cathedrals in Minsk which have received expert restoration and become places of worship. Every visitor should see the Holy Spirit Cathedral built in the 17^th century, one of the main orthodox churches of the country with a number of relics. The most sacred is the St Mary Icon, the object of worship for more than 500 years.

Among the recent constructions three are worth mentioning: the Minsk-Arena Complex, the National Library and the Church of All Saints.

The Minsk-Arena Complex is a multi-use indoor arena in Minsk. It is unique in its complexity and functionality not only in Belarus but also in Europe. It includes a multi-sports and entertainment arena for 15,000 spectators, a skating stadium for up to 3,000 spectators and a velodrome at 2,000 spectators.

One of the primary uses of the facility is ice hockey. However, Minsk-Arena is also used for arranging concerts and other mass performances. A lot of world stars have already performed on its scene. It was also the place where the Junior Eurovision Song Contest took place in November 2010.

The National Library of Belarus was founded on 15 September 1922. It is now located in a new 72-metre (236 feet) high building in Minsk. The building has 22 floors, can seat about 2,000 readers and has a 500-seat conference hall. Its main architectural component has the shape of a diamond and is popularly referred to as the “diamond of knowledge”.

The National Library of Belarus is the main information and cultural centre of the country. It has the largest collection of Belarusian printed materials and a collection of bibliographic, graphic, sound and language databases that comprise more than 2 million records. In 1993 the National Library of Belarus started to create its own electronic information resources. Its users also have access to databases of other libraries and academic institutions, including foreign ones.

In addition to serving as a functional library, the National Library is a city attraction. It is the only structure in Minsk with a public observation deck looking over the city. The area in front of the library is used for many public concerts and shows.

Not far from the library is another city attraction – the Church of All Saints. A unique monument of white-stone architecture, the Church has become a symbol of memory of the Belarusians for all those innocently killed. Nearly 50,000 Minsk residents and guests of the capital attended the ceremony of burying the remains of unknown soldiers in the crypt (vault) of the All Saints. The soldiers have become a symbol of all the patriots who, in the different times of the history, fought bravely for the freedom, independence and prosperity of their country.

So Minsk is a city rich in varied memories. It is indeed the city where the past and the present coexist side by side, the former dignified and proud of its history and the latter up to date and confident for its future. Welcome to Minsk!

2.2 C hoose a), b), or c) to complete the sentences.