Lida - the cultural capital of Belarus

Lida is a city located  in the northwestern part of Belarus, near the border with Lithuania, not far from the Polish border. Lida was the seat of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania: the founder Gediminas, after his death his son Olgerd and his sons Jogaila and Vytautas. Many times besieged by the Teutonic Knights' army, it was conquered only once. This was possible thanks to the powerful castle, built on a quadrangular plan. The walls with two Gothic towers can still be admired today. 

The origins of this fortress date back to the first half of the 14th century. The castle was part of the border of the Lithuanian state. In the 18th century, its importance declined significantly, until it was finally abandoned and began to fall into ruins.  The present shape of the castle  was restored by a renovation that took 20 years and was only completed in 2010. Today, under the high walls, knightly tournaments are held and various exhibitions are organized inside. There is a museum in one of the preserved towers. 

While in Lida it is impossible to miss the beautiful baroque parish church of the Elevation of the Holy Cross from 1770.   This Catholic church has been continuously operating until today. Inside there is a painting of Our Lady of the Rosary, which, according to local legends, was brought to Lida by the Franciscans already in the 14th century.  Interestingly, in the church there is a tomb  of priest Stanislaw Rojek, considered a hero . The priest, who died in 1996, led the local parish throughout the communist period, despite constant persecution by the authorities and the KGB.

The former Piarist church and the wooden church in Slobodka, which dates back to the 1930s, are also worth a visit. The city of Lida has been proclaimed the cultural capital of Belarus 2020. 

For Poles, an important place  is  here also a parish cemetery, where Polish airmen are buried.

The city also has a brewery established during the years of the Second Republic. It is worth trying the local beer, which is served in jars.

Lida is a city with a rich, centuries-old history, full of peculiar places and corners. When visiting Belarus it should be a mandatory point on the tourist map.

Our coaches leave daily from e.g. Bialystok and fares are very attractive.

Lida bus stop is located at Bus station, 1 Kniazia Gedymina Boulevard.

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