Sula History Park-Museum

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Interactive History Park‑Museum Grand Duchy of Sula, located in the village of Sula in the Stolbtsy district of Minsk Region, Belarus, invites visitors on an immersive journey through Belarusian history. Situated approximately fifty‑five kilometres from Minsk in the direction of Dzerzhinsk, this unique historical complex offers a wide variety of exhibits, interactive experiences, traditional cuisine and even themed accommodation. Every detail is designed to engage visitors of all ages in learning about the land’s past in a hands‑on and inspiring way.

About the Museum

The museum occupies the restored grounds of the former Lenski noble estate, which had belonged to four generations of the Lenski family from the eighteenth century until 1939. After decades of decline, beginning in 2006 a carefully managed restoration was undertaken, leading to the opening of the Interactive History Park in 2012.

Although many of the displays are newly constructed reconstructions, the site also includes faithfully rebuilt eighteenth‑ and nineteenth‑century structures: the Lenski manor house in classical style, the family mausoleum‑chapel, the former stable now housing the “Royal Assembly,” a nineteenth‑century distillery still producing traditional star‑ka, and ancillary buildings such as a mill and cold‑storage house.

Visitors may explore both independently or through guided tours. The park offers educational programmes on Belarusian history, opportunities to try activities like archery, craft‑making, bicycle rides, boat trips along a Viking drakkar, and even more adventurous experiences such as helicopter flights, horseback riding, quad‑biking, fishing, and rail rides drawn by horses. Dining venues serve Belarusian national cuisine, and a spa complex is also available on site.

Accommodations include five hotels each styled to evoke historical eras—from a Varangian wooden house reminiscent of medieval Scandinavian dwellings to a boutique hotel inspired by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania era—allowing guests to stay overnight and fully immerse in the atmosphere.

Interesting Facts

The park includes a working nineteenth‑century copper still in the Sula distillery, where visitors can taste and purchase starka, a traditional Slavic drink still produced there.
On the Varangians’ Harbour, one may board a full‑size Viking drakkar to travel the improvised route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” as part of a living history experience.
A large cromlech installation and other Stone Age structures recreate ritual sites from the neolithic and megalithic periods, offering insight into ancient human settlements in the region.
The exhibit sites include a Slavic cult area with reconstructed pantheon, sacred stone, bonfire, and the hut of a legendary priestess or “vedunya,” adding atmospheric and photographic appeal.
The medieval quarter features a reconstructed castle tower, working workshops for pottery, blacksmithing, stone carving and water mill demonstrations that invite visitors to try hands‑on activities like forging arrowheads or making pottery shards.
The “Hall of Noble Glory” collects over two thousand coats of arms of Belarusian noble families, displayed in the restored Lenski estate’s Royal Assembly hall.
A puppet theatre called “batleika,” rooted in Jesuit tradition of the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, provides daily performances with historical characters engaging both children and adults alike.

Photo Gallery

Physical Location

Contact Details

Phone: +37517 275 0439

Website: topbelarus.com/en/museum/the-park-museum-of-history-sula/

Conclusion

The “Grand Duchy of Sula” park‑museum offers a richly layered experience that blends historical authenticity with interactive learning and leisure. Visitors not only observe reconstructed historical scenes, but also can participate in archery, craft workshops, boat voyages, puppet theatre and other immersive activities. The opportunity to stay overnight in themed accommodation and dine on traditional cuisine enhances the full sensory immersion. Whether one is planning a family weekend, a corporate retreat, or a cultural excursion for foreign guests, the park‑museum creates an engaging environment that brings the diversity of Belarusian heritage to life. A visit here is not just sightseeing—it is a journey through time that connects you personally with the past of this land.