Minsk

The capital of Belarus, Minsk, dates back to 1067. Over time it has been ruled by the Kievan Rus, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Russian Empire. While the vast majority of the city was destroyed during WWII, it came under Soviet control in the aftermath, and they decided to build the city in the Soviet style rather than rebuilding it as it was. As such, some of the highlights of the city are the Soviet architectural marvels, many of which can be found on Independence Avenue. Other Soviet remnants include the train stations, some of which are rather grandiose, and the sickle and hammer (as well as some statues of Lenin) can be found in various places in the city. Part of the Old Town that survived the bombings is still intact, and there are several museums and churches there, as well as cobbled streets and pastel houses.