This northeastern Belarusian city on the Dnieper River played a key role in the 1812 Napoleonic Wars. Its St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral ranks among Belarus's largest.
Orsha, a city of 102,759 people in eastern Belarus, lies at the meeting point of the Dnieper and Arshytsa rivers. You can explore the red-brick Mill Museum from 1902, walk through the baroque halls of the Jesuit Collegium, or visit the bell tower of the Kutein Monastery from the 1600s. The city's position as a major railway junction, where trains from Moscow and Saint Petersburg pass through to Western Europe, makes it a practical base for exploring Belarus's eastern regions.
Getting to Orsha by Train
Trains connect Orsha to several major cities. The journey from Minsk takes about two hours, while trains from Mogilev and Vitebsk arrive in around one hour. The central railway station serves both the Moscow-Warsaw and St. Petersburg-Odessa lines. Look for the decorative moldings and high arched windows on the station building, which date back to the early 20th century.
The Mill Museum and Its Collections
The Mill Museum occupies a red-brick industrial building from 1902, standing on the bank of an artificial canal that links the Orshitsa and Dnieper rivers. The three-story structure demonstrates early 20th-century industrial architecture with its metal framework and large windows. The ethnographic collection inside spans multiple floors, with exhibits about local crafts, traditional costumes, and farming tools. Through the museum's windows, you can watch the water flow through the adjacent canal.
Religious Buildings and Monasteries
The Kutein Monastery complex contains several 17th-century buildings, including the white-walled Epiphany Cathedral from 1635 and the Church of the Holy Spirit with its baroque domes. Walk around the monastery grounds to see the tall bell tower and stone walls. The recently renovated Trinity Church stands nearby, while Saint Joseph's Church (1780-1808) now functions as a cultural center after surviving the Soviet period.
The Jesuit Collegium
The 17th-century Jesuit Collegium now houses multiple cultural spaces within its baroque walls. Walk through the former school buildings to find the children's library, art gallery, and House of Crafts. The complex includes an old pharmacy and theater space. Napoleon stayed here during his 1812 Russian campaign, and you can see a plaque marking this historical event.
Castle Hill and City Center
From Castle Hill, the original settlement site of Orsha, you can look down at the point where the Orshitsa and Dnieper rivers meet. A five-tower stone fortress once protected this strategic position. Today, a memorial marks the spot where the city began in 1067. The viewpoint gives you clear views of the modern city center and both rivers below.
