Braslaw Between Lakes and Culture

Braslaw lies on a narrow strip of land between several large lakes, at the centre of the main group of Braslaw Lakes. Its location puts a clear emphasis on landscape and water. Braslaw and the Braslaw District also offer cultural attractions. When planning your trip, you can therefore focus on three different aspects: lake views, activities on or around the lakes, and regional history.

Lake scenery and viewpoints

Mount Mayak has an observation platform at 174 metres above sea level. From there, you can see Lake Snudy and Lake Strusto, Braslaw Castle Hill, wooded hills and the surrounding church towers. The viewpoint brings together expanses of water, wooded scenery and landmarks. If you would first like to take in the surroundings from a single location, the platform offers a different option from a trip that takes in several lakes in succession.

By the water and on the lake

The Braslaw settlement stretches along the shore of Lake Drivyaty, where there are sandy beaches and boats and catamarans for hire. The “Braslaw Round Trip” is a boat journey across Lakes Nedrovo, Potech, Derbo, Nespish, Voiso and Strusto. The Braslaw Lakes National Park organises special tours for hunters and anglers, yacht trips, and sightseeing excursions to attractions in the surrounding area. The options therefore vary in focus, from spending time on the lakeshore to travelling on the water or taking excursions to places of interest. If you have a particular trip in mind, check what is currently available in advance, as operating arrangements may change.

Routes through the landscape

There are designated cycling and hiking routes in the Braslaw Lakes area that let you explore the landscape. A nearby ecological trail, “Sloboda-Ozovaya Ridge,” is 12 km from Braslaw and passes through a natural landscape shaped by a glacier in the Poozerie region. Its distance helps distinguish the trail as a separate destination from the routes in the lakes area. As route conditions can change, it is worth checking them before setting out on a hike.

On the Rustyagovsky Trail, tourists can search for treasure using old maps and discover rune carvings. Programme details may change, so check them in advance if you plan to make this a fixed part of your trip. This activity differs from the cycling and hiking routes in its focus on searching and discovery.

Churches, museums and history

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Braslaw is a neo-Romanesque architectural monument listed in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values of Belarus. Construction began in 1824; in 1897, the church was extended and remodelled in the neo-Romanesque style. Its distinctive masonry is known as “Braslaw mosaic”: decorative small stones are set between larger stones. The two construction dates and the distinctive name for the masonry offer different ways to look at the church—its development over time and the design of its materials.

The Braslaw District Museum Association offers insights into the history, distinctive culture and landscape features of the Braslaw region. It brings together a local history museum and a museum of traditional culture. Historical and cultural attractions in the district include the Maskovichi hillfort and the churches of Braslaw. The hillfort is therefore a destination at district level, while the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is specifically located in Braslaw.

Discover more destinations: Moiseevo, Pastavy, Lepel District, Perevoz, Verkhnedvinsk, Vorcy, Lisna, Zastadollie.

See the regional travel overview: Vitebsk Region.