Discover Antonava: Nature and History

If you are looking for hotels in Antonava, nature, culture and local history can offer different focuses for your trip. Historical themes range from church architecture and medieval burial mounds to the events of 1944. There is also a park, protected areas, and cultural and leisure activities. When planning, consider which focus interests you most; this will help you tailor your choices to the themes you want to shape your trip.

Churches, remembrance and archaeological traces

Antonovo belongs to the parish of St. Elias Church in Velikorita. The church’s history includes a stone church built in 1887 and a brick church consecrated in 1995. The dates and building materials show two distinct construction phases. In Velikorita, the former Elias Church was blown up in 1944 during the German retreat.

A report drawn up no earlier than November 1944 records that on November 2, armed fighters entered the village of Antonovo and fired automatic weapons at a farmers’ meeting. According to the report, the attack killed the chairman of the village council and two activists; Matveyev, the official responsible for grain procurement, was wounded. Medieval burial mounds are recorded in Malorita District, including near Antonovo. They add an archaeological dimension to the historical themes.

Landscape and protected areas

Velikorita Park was established in the 19th century alongside the construction of a new wooden manor house and is a natural monument of local importance. The park’s creation and the construction phase of the manor house therefore took place at the same time. This also gives the landscape theme an architectural history aspect.

The Lukovo biological reserve was established in September 1994 to protect one of the largest populations of lady’s slipper orchids in Belarus. It covers 1,523 hectares and is located in Malorita District, 1.5 kilometers north of the Lukovo Reservoir. Its area, location and conservation purpose give a clear picture of this natural area. The Gusiak biological cranberry reserve has a different focus: it preserves an extensive marsh in its natural state and provides habitat for the cranberry. The Tsar Oak also stands in Gusiak.

The Pogezhin Tsar Oak is considered the oldest common oak in Belarus. It is 46 meters tall and more than 800 years old. Its extraordinary dimensions and great age make it a distinctive nature attraction. When planning your trip, you can compare this individual protected landscape feature with the Lukovo area, where the lady’s slipper orchid population is the main focus, and Gusiak, where the marsh and its habitat take center stage.

Culture, leisure and getting there

The Malorita District Center for Folk Art has a permanent exhibition of traditional Malorita clothing. Visitors can also buy traditional woven and embroidered items there or commission pieces to their own specifications. If you are interested in the exhibition or crafts, check in advance on current access and ordering options.

The Zhemchuzhina sports complex has swimming pools, a children’s pool, a whirlpool and a sauna. Check current public access before visiting. There is an equipped bathing area at the Pogezhin spring; check local conditions before swimming. This lets you consider cultural interests, sports and a swimming stop as separate trip ideas, rather than combining them into a single outing.

The Brest–Kovel railway line runs through Malorita District. If you plan to travel by train, check separately whether passenger services are available on your travel dates. The route is a regional transport connection; for specific travel planning, consult the current timetable.

Discover more destinations: Klejniki, Bjarosa, Kamianiuki, Tscharnautschyzy, Gintsevichi, Wyssokaje, Ivanava, Znamenka

Back to the regional travel overview: Brest Region.