Rakaw: Hotels and accommodations

Rakaw combines a church designated as a visitor attraction with a private museum gallery and several religious buildings. Those wishing to book a hotel in Rakaw can then continue their search for accommodation.

Culture

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and Saint Dominic in Rakaw is a neo-Gothic basilica made of yellow brickwork, with two towers, three naves, and rose windows. Its foundation was laid at the end of May 1904; construction was completed in 1906. After the Second World War, the church was initially not used and was returned to the faithful in 1990.

The private Yanushkevich Museum Gallery in Rakaw extends over three floors; further exhibits are located in the basement and courtyard. It displays antique furniture, musical instruments, documents, and clothing, as well as an extensive ceramics collection. The museum gallery also displays archaeological excavation finds alongside contemporary art. Visitors were able to sample Rakaw ham made according to old recipes and touch and try out historical millstones and a clay children's whistle.

Religious Sites

The Catholic Chapel of Saint Anne on the eastern edge of Rakaw was built in 1830 and is still visible today. The Church of the Transfiguration in Rakaw has been gradually restored since 1993. Visitors can come to this church to pray there.

A Jewish community existed in Rakaw from the 16th century onward. Today, only the synagogue building at 32 Pionerskaya Street remains; it looks like an ordinary residential building. At the entrance to an old Catholic cemetery in Rakaw, a small chapel and a gate bell tower have been preserved.

Route and Surroundings

Rakaw is a named stop on the regional route “Voloshin’s Gifts.” The listed order of this route is Voloshin, Borok, Rakaw, Ivenets, and Rum.

In the vicinity of Rakaw, along the Minsk–Voloshin highway, there is a state-protected natural monument consisting of glacial conglomerate approximately 150,000 years old.

Other places in the same higher-level area: Ostrovo, Voŭčkavičy, Raŭbičy, Rusaki, Novaye Pole, Kalodziščy, Maladsetschna, Lyuban.

For the higher-level travel overview: Minsk Voblast.