"Berestye", archaeological museum: description, features, interesting facts and reviews

The knowledge of modern man about the events that took place several centuries ago, consists mainly of information that has come down to us from written sources, oral stories, and studies conducted by archaeologists. In the latter case, even the discovery of well-preserved antique household utensils or tools is considered a great success. And when you manage to stumble upon a whole medieval city, such a find usually becomes sensational.

In the late 1960s, such a fortune smiled at the group of Professor P. Lysenko. She managed to find a detainer of the ancient settlement of Berestye. The museum, which exhibits finds made by Belarusian archaeologists, was opened in 1972. Here you can see some of the discovered residential buildings. Today everyone who comes to Brest can visit him.

Some information about the town of Berestye

The museum is dedicated to a medieval settlement, which in the following centuries became the city of Brest. More precisely, his Detinets - the inner city fortification structure. In 1969-1981, archaeological excavations were carried out on the territory of the Hospital Island of the Brest Fortress by the staff of the Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences of the Byelorussian SSR . They found several dozen wooden buildings of the 11th and 13th centuries, as well as fences, street pavements, objects of material culture of this period.

Studies have shown that this is a child of the ancient settlement of Barestie, which was founded by representatives of the Dregovichi tribe, and later was an ancient Russian trade center on the border with Poland and Lithuania. Excavations continued in 1988 year. Their total area was 1800 square meters. The Detinets discovered was unique in that all the buildings were preserved quite well. They were concentrated in a relatively small area. These circumstances made it possible to create a unique museum. It is located next to the famous memorial complex. And his visit is often included in the program of organized excursions to the city of Brest.

"Berestye" (Museum): building

In the climate of the Brest region there could be no question of organizing an archaeological museum in the open air. Therefore, above the place of excavation from glass, concrete and anodized aluminum , a pavilion was built. Its area was 2400 square meters. In its outlines, the building resembles an ancient dwelling. It has a gable overlap with a light in the center. In this case the structure looks quite modern. It is of interest to connoisseurs of architecture in the style of constructivism.

Description of excavation

The archaeological museum "Berestye" is unique in that it is possible to see beautifully preserved 28 residential and household buildings. They are at a depth of 4 meters in the center of the pavilion and are illuminated by a powerful lantern fixed under the roof. According to scientists, this part of the Detinets Berestie in the Middle Ages was a handicraft quarter. In addition to the buildings, there were preserved a palisade, 2 street pavements and remains of adobe furnaces.

As a result of the excavations, the original layout of the ancient settlement of Berestye was discovered. It turned out that his dwellings were adjacent to the streets with blind walls. They were built in 3 rows with a distance of 40-60 cm from each other. Represented the ground, square, single-chamber structures, cut down from round logs of coniferous trees. At the same time, the doorways were cut at a certain height from the floor, and the windows - almost under the roof. The foundation of the houses served as linings or remnants of older buildings. The roofs were 2-pitched, covered with chipped boards.

Exposition

Visiting the museum "Berestie" in Brest, you can see about 1,200 items relating to the origins and history of the ancient city, its layout and construction, processing of non-ferrous metals, ironworking, bone-cutting and leather crafts, weaving and spinning, as well as woodworking and pottery. There you can see the exhibits representing the reconstruction of the dweller's dwelling, livestock tools, farming, fishing and hunting. The Berestye Museum also offers an introduction to the unique collection of various locking devices: locks, keys, spring handles and interior locks. The real gem of the exposition is razors - the rarest finds of black metal.

How to get there?

If you want to go to Berestie (the museum is located on the territory of the Hospital Island of the Brest Fortress), you can do it in various ways:

• From the bus station it is easiest to get there by shuttle bus number 5. She enters the fortress from the North Gate. You can also get to the Brest Fortress by bus number 5 (stop "Museum of Railway Technology") and then go to the Hospital Island.
• From the railway station by public transport to the area of the museum will not work. For this reason, you will either have to take a taxi, or walk about 3 kilometers on foot. First you will need to cross the pedestrian bridge, then turn right to st. Lenin. Then go to the intersection with Gogol Street and past the sports complex "Brest" to the Museum of Railway Engineering. Directly behind it is the main entrance to the Brest Fortress, on the territory of which the museum is located.

Mode of operation and ticket prices

From March 1 to October 1, the Berestye Museum can be visited on any day of the week from 10.00 to 18.00. In the remaining months of the year the regime of his work changes: on Monday and Tuesday there are days off. Opening hours in the autumn-winter period: from 10.00 to 17.00.

Ticket price for an adult is 2.2 bel. Rub, the schoolboy - 1.1 bel. Rubles, a student at a university or a student of vocational school and technical school - 1,5 bel. rub. If you translate into Russian rubles, you get 70, 35 and 48 r. respectively. For children under 7 years old, veterans and conscript soldiers visiting the museum is free.

In "Berestie" you can order group, thematic and family excursions. Also the following services are offered: costumed photography, participation in the game "Sharp shooter", video and photography, quest-excursion, etc.

Archeological Museum "Berestie": reviews

Opinions about this attraction from tourists can be heard different. Many reviews recommend during a visit to the museum to order an excursion to find out information about the appointment of excavated wooden buildings. Among the positive aspects of the exposition, visitors note the presence of a large number of interesting artifacts found during archaeological excavations. And from the negative - the cold in the premises in the winter. This is partly due to the need to observe a special temperature regime of conservation.

Now you know where the archeological museum "Berestie" is. Brest is a city where there is no shortage of interesting sights. And each of them deserves the attention of travelers who want to learn more about the history and culture of the Republic of Belarus.