Introducing Brest

Brest, snug up on the border with Poland, has a more Western feel than elsewhere in the country, excluding Minsk. In addition, it has very much its own vibe going on. Locals boast that within Belarus, Brest is a world apart.

Located on one of the busiest road and rail border points in Eastern Europe, some sections have the bustle associated with a border town, but mostly the pace is laid-back and comfortable. This, along with the relentless friendliness of the locals, some great places to eat and lovely, tree-lined streets of wooden houses, gives the city a breezy charm unique in Belarus. As a bonus, here is one of the wonders of the Soviet era - Brest Fortress.

First mentioned in 1019 and originally known as Bereste, Brest was sacked by the Tatars in 1241 and tossed between Slavic, Lithuanian and Polish control for decades until it finally settled under the control of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Uniate Church was set up here in 1596 at the Union of Brest, forming a branch of Orthodox Christians who were faithful to Rome as a way of drawing together the largely Slavic populace and their Polish rulers. The peace was short lived, as Russians invaded in 1654 and a series of wars levelled Brest.

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (as the city was named until WWI) was negotiated here in March 1918, buying time for the new Soviet government by surrendering Poland, the Baltic territories and most of Ukraine and Belarus to German control. As a result, Brest was well inside Poland from 1919 to 1939, and became the front line when Germany attacked the USSR on 22 June 1941. Two hugely outnumbered regiments in Brest's fortress held out for almost a month - a heroic defence for which Brest was named one of the former Soviet Union's 11 'Hero Cities' of WWII.

Brest puts on its party best every July 28, its City Day. Belaya Vezha, an internation- al theatre festival is held every October to November.