Explore Europe's Unknown Countries with MIR Corporation

  • December 30, 2015
Explore Europe's Unknown Countries with MIR Corporation
Highlights include: visiting art studios and a family-run cheese-making enterprise, admiring UNESCO-listed Brest Fortress, wandering Lviv's UNESCO-listed Old Town Square, exploring St. Sophia Cathedral, the Caves Monastery and the Chernobyl Museum, climbing the much-filmed Potemkin Steps of Odessa, surveying Moldova's ancient monasteries, and sampling some of the world's best red wines. Tours are scheduled for May 8-20, 2015 and August 14-26, 2016, and start at $6,795 per person. For more info, visit https://www.mircorp.com/trip/belarus-ukraine-moldova/.

“Belarus is a great place to catch a glimpse of the old Soviet Union, if you didn't get a chance to visit before its demise,” said MIR Corp Founder Douglas Grimes. “Ukraine, although bigger than either France or Germany, is much less frequented and more unspoiled. Moldova, in spite of its growing reputation as prime wine country, remains one of the most ignored countries in Europe.”

Days 1-3: Minsk, Brest (Belarus)

Begin in Minsk, capital of Belarus, for a fascinating glimpse into the socialist past. At the Great Patriotic War Memorial remember the half of Minsk's population that perished during World War II. Visit an artist's studio for conversation and dessert, and stop at the manor house of Polish and American hero (and friend of Thomas Jefferson) Tadeusz Kosciuszko. In Brest, admire massive UNESCO-listed stone Brest Fortress, built by Czar Nicholas I in the mid-1800s.

Days 4-6: Lviv (Ukraine)

Awaken in beautiful Lviv, founded in the 13th century. Wander its lovely UNESCO-listed Old Town Square, surrounded by 16th-18th century merchant dwellings. Conquered by the Poles in 1349, Lviv feels very Central European.

Days 7-9: Kiev

Fly to the capital, Kiev, and visit some of Ukraine's most important sites, including St. Sophia Cathedral, the Caves Monastery and the Chernobyl Museum. Stroll and shop on the cobbled descent down Andreevsky Street, filled with galleries, shops, cafés and artists' studios.

Days 10-11: Odessa

Drop in to Odessa, climbing its much-filmed Potemkin Steps and exploring its Partisan Caves, where resistance fighters hid during WWII.

Days 12-13: Chisinau (Moldova)

Next is Moldova's capital, Chisinau, a tree-lined city of only 600,000. Survey some of Moldova's ancient monasteries and sample the deep red wines the country is gaining a reputation for.

Visit website: https://www.mircorp.com