Smilavichy
Infrastructure
Town’s coordinates
Smilavichy town settlement, Cherven district, Minsk region, 223216.
Latitude – 53.749413, longitude – 28.0123005.
Point on the Google map
Distance to all other locations of our route in kilometers
Barysaw – 78 km
Zembin – 106 km
Lyubcha – 174 km
Navahrudak – 169 km
Izabielin (Padarosk) – 281 km
Krynki – 341 km
Bialystok – 372 km
Orla – 401 km
Tykocin – 402 km
Local guides and local historians in Smilavichy
For local guides, contact the Chaïm Soutine Space Museum (20 Revalyutsiynaya st., Smilavichy town settlement, Cherven district, Minsk region; Phone: +375 29 769-83-85), or the Stanisław Moniuszko Museum (11A Shkolnaya st., Smilavichy town settlement; Phone: +375 17 142-89-23).
If you need a tour departing from Minsk, call Aida Rusovych (+375 29 774-57-27), who conducts the tour “Journey to the homeland of Chaïm Soutine”, or Yauhen Zubovich (+375 29 317-46-98, +375 17 255-41-44) – “Dukora – Smilavichy”.
Museums in Smilavichy
Chaïm Soutine Space Museum
When you are in Smilavichy, be sure to visit the Chaïm Soutine Space Museum (L’Espace de Soutine) dedicated to the outstanding artist, representative of the Paris school Chaïm Soutine. The museum has three halls. In the first hall “On the Homeland: Smilavichy – Minsk – Vilnius”, there is information about the genealogy of Chaïm Soutine, his family, about the Jewish town of Smilavichy during the period of the painter’s childhood and youth, about his studies in Minsk and Vilnius.
In the “Paris Café” hall, you will feel the atmosphere of Paris streets: the room is styled as a café with a bar counter, several tables and chairs. On the walls you can see reproductions of the works of Chaïm Soutine and his friends, artists of the “Paris School”, natives of Lithuania and Belarus: Chagall, Zadkine, Kikoin, Kremegne, Meshchaninov, as well as Modigliani, Marevna, and others.
The hall “Schraga Zarfin. Returning to the Homeland” is dedicated to another native of Smilavichy and a representative of the “Paris School”. Zarfin’s works are in museums and private collections of many countries, including the National Art Museum. There are also his works in the exhibition of the Smilavichy museum. They were donated to the museum by the artist’s daughter, Mrs. Liliane Dulac-Zarfin in 2013.
When visiting the museum, pay attention to its most valuable exhibits. Among them is a fragment of a 19th century Torah. In order not to miss anything in the museum, you can read about the most notable exhibits at. You can watch a virtual tour here. Please note that visits to the museum are by appointment only.
Address: Children’s Creativity Center, 20 Revalyutsiynaya st., Smilavichy town settlement, Cherven district, Minsk region.
Phone: +375 17 142-32-46, +375 29 769-83-85.
Coordinates: 53.755219, 28.009324.
Link: https://soutine-smilovichi.by
Stanisław Moniuszko Museum
The Moniuszko Museum in Smilavichy is the only one in the world. For a long time, the exposition dedicated to the famous composer existed in the village of Azyorny, Cherven district. It is one and a half kilometers from the Ubel farmstead, where Moniuszko was born. Now all the exhibits are kept in Smilavichy.
Pay attention to the original costumes from the productions of the operas “Galka”, “Pariah” and “Countess” of the 1930s. They were donated to the museum in the 1980s from the Warsaw and Poznań Opera Houses. The museum also keeps sheet music collections of the composer – a real rarity.
Address: Secondary School No. 1 of Smilavichy town settlement, 11A Shkolnaya st., Smilavichy town settlement, Cherven district, Minsk region.
Phone: +375 17 142-89-23.
Coordinates: 53.756546, 28.017684.
Link: http://cherven.museum.by/node/47703
Jewish cult buildings and places of power in Smilavichy
Jewish cemetery. Chkalova st., between houses 19A and 21. This cemetery has existed since the 18th century. Most of the tombstones are made according to the Jewish tradition. Inscriptions are carved in Hebrew; many of the matzebot have images of the Menorah, the Magen David. There are also images that are rarer for Belarus: crossed hands and ablution jugs.
In 2012, matzebot were found at the cemetery, under which the father of the artist Chaïm Soutine-Zalman (Solomon) and the grandfather of another artist of the Paris School, born in Smilavichy, Faïbich-Schraga Zarfin, were buried. More information at.
Coordinates: 53.748910, 27.999834.
Memorial at the place of execution of Smilavichy Jews. Praletarskaya st., between houses 2 and 4A. In 1965, in Smilavichy, in the tract near the former Salamyanka street (now Praletarskaya street), a stele was erected in memory of the victims of the Jewish genocide: “Here lie the ashes of 2,000 Soviet citizens of Smilavichy, shot by fascist executioners on October 14, 1941.” A separate monument is erected on the grave of the Razousky family, killed on October 14, 1941. You can read more about the tragedy of Smilavichy Jews here and here.
Coordinates: 53.748533, 28.004010.
Architectural units and other interesting places in Smilavichy that can be seen on the way
Moniuszko estate and park complex. Maxima Gorkaha st. At different times, the Smilavichy estate belonged to Kezgailas, Sapegas, and Zavishas. In the 18th century, it became the property of the Grand Hetman of Lithuania Michal Kasimir Ahinsky (Michał Kazimierz Ogiński) (1730-1800).
The estate and park complex was formed in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1791, the estate passed to the Moniuszko family. The construction of the palace was conducted by Stanisław Moniuszko (grandfather of the famous composer) and his sons. Kazimir Moniuszko laid the botanical and fruit gardens. The construction of the complex was completed by Lyavontsiy Vankovich, married to Paulina Moniuszko.
In 1973, according to the reconstruction project, a vestibule with a wardrobe was added to the entrance to the new building, and a stairwell on the eastern side. An agricultural college was hosted in the palace building; now it has been purchased by a private investor. Repair work has started here. The old part of the palace, built by Stanisław Moniuszko, is in a neglected state.
Coordinates: 53.750161, 28.017204.
Transport to Smilavichy
Bus
See the schedule of buses from Minsk to Smilavichy and from Smilavichy to Minsk at (https://114.by/bus/route/minsk-as-avtozavodskaja/smilovichi-ak).
Minibus
See the schedule of minibuses from Minsk to Smilavichy and back here (https://minibus.biletyplus.by/marshrutka/minsk/smilovichi).
Taxi
It is about 30 kilometers from Minsk to Smilavichy, you can go there by “Yandex-taxi” or by private taxi. To return to Minsk, call the following numbers of Smilavichy taxi: +375 44 783-15-98, 8880, 7769, 7166.
Food (cafés and shops)
There are several cafés in Smilavichy, and the distance between them is within walking distance, so you can look for a place to your taste:
“Novoe Mesto” restaurant
Address: 1B Revalyutsiynaya st., Smilavichy town settlement, Cherven district, Minsk region.
Phone: +375 29 613-03-83.
Coordinates: 53.752761, 28.009012.
“Coffeehouse” café
Address: 21 Maxima Gorkaha st., Smilavichy town settlement, Cherven district, Minsk region.
Phone: +375 29 617-17-23.
Coordinates: 53.753310, 28.017178.
“Café u Mosta”
Address: 3 Studentskaya st., Smilavichy town settlement, Cherven district, Minsk region.
Phone: +375 29 569-05-78.
Coordinates: 53.752293, 28.018705
“Upletayka” café
Address: 1 Maxima Gorkaha st., Smilavichy town settlement, Cherven district, Minsk region.
Phone: +375 25 711-56-53.
Coordinates: 53.752442, 28.010189.
“Cheburechnaya” café
Address: 1 Dzyarzhynskaha st., Smilavichy town settlement, Cherven district, Minsk region.
Phone: +375 17 145-33-48.
Coordinates: 53.751569, 28.010054.
Rest (hostels, hotels, etc.)
We did not spend the night in Smilavichy, but we know that there are the following hotels here:
“Novoe Mesto” hotel, café, restaurant
Address: 1B Revalyutsiynaya st., Smilavichy town settlement, Cherven district, Minsk region.
Phone: +375 29 613-03-83.
Coordinates: 53.752761, 28.009012.
Link: https://novoemesto.by
“Semiorochka” hotel, café
Address: 1А Mahilyowskaya st., Korzuny village, Smilavichy rural council, Cherven district, Minsk region (Route M-4 Minsk-Mahilyow 34th km).
Phone: +375 29 339-14-22.
Coordinates: 53.758761, 27.993543.
Link: https://semerochka.by
(Infrastructural information was prepared by: Victoria Lapanik, Ksenia Tereshkova)
