Molodechno

[[file:Maładečna banner.jpg|1280px|The Broadway}} Eastern Orthodox Church in Maladzechna, Belarus - Eastern Orthodox Church

Molodechno (Belarusian phrasebook|Belarusian: Маладзечна) is a neighborhood centre in the Minsk oblast' in Belarus. The town has about 100.000 inhabitants.

Molodechno Halal Explorer

During the pre-war perioid Molodechno was mainly a Yahudi Shtetl. After the Shoah hardly anything of this past remained. After the war the shape of the city changed dramatic not only in terms of population, but of structure as well. What we would perceive as the downtown in fact was build only after the war, whereas the historical centre now is a bit in the periphery. Moreover, Molodechno was the centre of the Molodechno Oblast', that was later incorporated into the Minsk Oblast'. Some architetonic remains of this relatively important role as a kind of local capital still can be seen in the town.

Travel to Molodechno

By train it's slightly more than one hour from the capital Minsk and the tickets are, as generally in Belarus, not expensive (about one Euro). There are also buses from Minsk and other towns. Travelling in the region is tricky, because public transport is very poor developed. Usually there would be connections in the morning and in the late afternoon/evening.

How to get around in Molodechno

In Molodechno you have several bus lines. But once the buses run not too often it is easier just to walk and the town is not very big. But if you want to try your luck, here are the timetables for the busstops and here a schema of bus-lines.

What to see in Molodechno

Stalag 342 - Stalag 342

The town was located in different states during its history. All of them left their cultural imprints and you can see the different layers of Russian, Polish, Nazi-German, Soviet and Belarusian legacy. It is not easy to find traces of the former Yahudi Shtetl Molodechno, after the Germans had killed most of Molodechno's inhabitants for being Yahudi this part of history disappeared during the Soviet times. There are some Yahudi houses left and the building of a former synagogue with a vehicle workshop in there now. At least one mass grave is located at the R 28 road that leads to the north (left hand when you leave the town).

Molodechno is famous for the memorial for the Soviet POWs, killed in the German Stalag 342 (ul. Zamkova 18). It's one of the rare monuments of this kind in Belarus. Unfortunately the gates usually are closed, so one can peep inside only through gates and niches in the walls. The pupils of school no. 5 are kind of "in charge" with the monument, doing research and so on, may be it is feasible to get access to the monument by asking in this school (it's next to the monument).

Former Polish barracks from the interwar perioid are to be found in the area of the stadium on ul. Shkalova. One of them is now the regional dramatic theater building.

What had remained of old castle a bit outside the town was destroyed during the Napoleonic war in 1812. There is a small hill left where the complex once was located (northwards on the R 28).

Cantral park of the town is a stunning location for a relaxed walk. The park was greatly updated to the national holiday "Dozhynki", which was held in Molodechno in 2011. There are 2 artificial ponds with fountains. In the bigger pond you can rent a boat or a catamaran. In the park there are many trade tents with cotton Candies, popcorn and none-alcoholic drinks.

The Broadway of Molodechno is the ul. Prytyckoho pedestrian zone. It leads from the train station to the central square with its Lenin monument. This is the most beautiful street in Molodechno. On this street (right hand near to the central square) the Homeland Museum of the Minsk oblast' is situated. The exhibition is quite new and really nice. It covers the period from ancient times until the early 20th century, and has focusses on the different religions of the area (several Christian confessions, Jews, Muslims) and the history of crafts. Unfortunately and the annotations are exclusively in Belarusian. Still, one can get good visual impressions. The entrance fee is about 0,60 Euro. Also in the "Broadway" there is a central bookshop "Spadchyna" (where one can buy some original souvenirs), pizza bar "Pingvin" and "Libava" cafe.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Molodechno

Of course one can get everything one needs in the many shops. A modern supermarket is situated right in the centre on ul. Partizanskaya.

Halal Food & Restaurants in Molodechno

In the pedestrian zone there are several cafés and restaurants. For ex.: bistro "Rodny Kut" in Central Plaza ("Centralnaya Ploshcha"), 3 pizza bars "Pingvin" with local original kinds of Pizzas.

Sleep

There are several hotels in Molodechno. One is the Molodechno hotel (Molodechnenskaya gostinitsa) in the downtown (Tsentral'naya ploshchad' 3) with a nice view. Soviet charm, clean, not too expensive (single room about €20 - 2013). The breakfast contains of three slices of white bread, a bit of Cheese, butter, a tea or a Coffee, and a big heap of warm porridge. Don't expect to get rid of your hunger. When booking in one should insist to get a room on the west side of the building: The east side is extremely noisy because of the traffic and youngsters meeting on the central square.

Also there are many comfortable cottages on the periphery of the town, which you can rent for a holiday.

Cope in Molodechno

Water in Molodechno is of excellent quality, you can drink it from the tap.

Travel Next

From Molodechno you can go by train to Minsk, to Polotsk, or to Lida.

{{isPartOf|Minsk Region