Boulder Museum (Park of Stones)

The Boulder Museum, located in the Uruchye neighborhood of Minsk, is one of the most unusual attractions in Belarus and all of Europe. Opened in 1985, this unique open-air park has collected over 2,000 boulders from across the country. Despite its unofficial status, the museum has become a popular spot for relaxation and walks among both locals and tourists.

History and Concept of the Museum

The idea for the Boulder Museum emerged in 1975 thanks to the efforts of Belarusian academician Gavril Ivanovich Goretsky. With active support from scientists and enthusiasts from the Institute of Geochemistry and Geophysics of the Academy of Sciences of the BSSR, this unique museum was established in Minsk in 1985. In 1989, it was recognized as a monument of nature of republican significance. The museum is located on the eastern outskirts of Minsk, between Akademgorodok and the Uruchye-2 neighborhood, on the site of a former river floodplain. The site preparation involved draining swampy areas and conducting earthworks to create a landscape that represents a miniature map of Belarus.

Exhibition

The museum’s exhibition consists of six thematic zones, each revealing different aspects of the stone collection:

• Map of Belarus The central hall of the museum is a scaled-down map of the country at a scale of 1:2500 km. Here, massive boulders represent major cities, regional centers are marked by blue spruces, and rivers are depicted by paths lined with small stones.
• Nourishing Provinces This zone showcases stones symbolizing the Fennoscandian Province, the source of the glaciers that brought the boulders to Belarus. The exhibits illustrate the geological processes that shaped the region's landscape.
• Avenue of Boulders A long chain of large boulders connects the Uruchye-1 neighborhood with Akademgorodok. This section of the museum features majestic and diverse forms of boulders, creating a natural transition between city districts.
• Shape of the Boulders This zone focuses on stones with unusual and whimsical shapes, emphasizing the artistic aspects of geology and showcasing the diversity of natural forms and textures.
• Petrographic Collection The boulders in this zone are arranged in a circle divided into sectors by rock type: igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary. This allows visitors to better understand petrographic diversity.
• Stone in Human Life This zone features stones connected to human activity, such as historical and pagan stones. Among the exhibits are "Stefan Batory's Cross" and the "Ded" stone, illustrating the use of stones in culture and religion.

Significance and Uniqueness

The Boulder Museum is not only a geological collection but also a cultural heritage site. Within the park, you can see unique exhibits such as a stone with ancient runes and boulders with historical inscriptions. All the stones in the exhibition were brought from the places they represent on the miniature map of the country. Special attention should be given to the fact that the museum's exhibition includes stones that once served as sacrificial altars and were believed to have special magical powers. Despite some controversy surrounding the relocation of such stones, the park-museum has become an important center for the scientific study and preservation of Belarus's geological and cultural heritage.

Visiting and Infrastructure

The Boulder Museum park is open year-round, 24 hours a day, and admission is completely free. It is an excellent place for walks, relaxing with children, and outdoor games. The park features benches, large green lawns, and shady areas for resting. However, it's worth noting that in the summer, insects such as ants may be present, and there are no stalls or kiosks selling water in the park. The Boulder Museum in Minsk is an amazing place where nature and history intertwine in a unique format, offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy not only scenic landscapes but also to immerse themselves in the study of Belarus's geological and cultural aspects.