Andrei Halias

Independence Avenue, the main avenue of Minsk, is a symbolic transportation artery of the Belarusian capital, running from the city center to the northeast. It stretches about 15 kilometers, making it one of the longest streets in Minsk and an important part of the city’s infrastructure. The avenue’s history began in 1801 when Zakharievskaya Street was laid out in place of the old city fortifications, named after Minsk’s governor, Zakhar Korenev. This street was the first route that preceded the modern Independence Avenue.

The importance of the highway was already evident in the 19th century when Minsk became part of the Russian Empire and a key point on the trade route between Moscow and Warsaw. Over time, Zakharievskaya Street became a strategically important road, contributing to the development of transport and improving urban infrastructure. In 1892, a horse-drawn railway was introduced on this street, followed by a bus route in 1924, a tram in 1929, and a trolleybus in 1952. All these modes of transport contributed to the city's growth and increased the street’s capacity.

Throughout its more than two-century existence, the avenue has undergone numerous name changes. In the early 19th century, during the French occupation of 1812, the street was renamed "New Town," but after the return of the Russian troops, it was restored to Zakharievskaya. During the Polish occupation in 1919, the street bore the name Adam Mickiewicz, and during the Soviet era, it was renamed Sovetskaya Street. In 1937, part of the avenue was renamed Pushkinskaya Street. During the German occupation in World War II, it was called Hauptstraße, and after Minsk's liberation, it was renamed Sovetskaya again. After the war, large-scale reconstruction of the city began, and by 1952, a new avenue had been designed on the site of the destroyed streets of Sovetskaya and Borisovsky Trakt, which was named Stalin Avenue.

The architectural appearance of Independence Avenue was shaped mainly in the post-war years. Under the leadership of famous urban planners such as Mikhail Parusnikov and Vladimir Korol, the avenue acquired the features of triumphant socialist architecture with elements of neoclassicism. Despite the severe destruction Minsk suffered during the war, the architects managed to preserve individual buildings, such as the building of the Minsk Agricultural Mutual Insurance Society, and successfully incorporated them into the overall ensemble of the new highway. Thus, the part of the avenue from Independence Square to Victory Square was built in the classical style, giving it the status of a unique architectural ensemble.

The avenue acquired its modern form and name in 2005 when it was renamed Independence Avenue in honor of Belarus's sovereignty. By this time, the avenue had already become one of the city's and the country's most important symbols, and its architectural and cultural features were recognized internationally. In December 2016, international experts proposed including Independence Avenue in the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique example of post-war urban development.

Independence Avenue is not only a historical highway but also the center of Minsk's cultural and public life. It houses key administrative and public buildings, such as the President's Administration, the National Bank, the <a href="https://findit.city/en/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/83/description">Palace of the Republic</a>, the <a href="https://findit.city/en/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/81/description">Palace of Trade Unions</a>, the Main Post Office, and others. The buildings along the avenue are striking examples of Stalinist Empire style—one of the main architectural styles that dominated during the Soviet period. The avenue is also known for its scale—its width varies from 48 to 70 meters across different sections.

In the 1960s and 70s, the avenue became Minsk’s cultural center. Youth called it Broadway, and many scenes from the popular film “Hipsters” were filmed on Independence Avenue. It has always been a place of cultural life, and significant events gathered thousands of residents and guests. Today, the avenue is an integral part of Belarus's historical and cultural heritage, preserving the spirit of past eras and continuing to develop within the modern urban environment.

Independence Avenue also performs important transport functions. The Moscow line of the Minsk Metro runs beneath it, connecting different parts of the city. In addition, buses, trolleybuses, and trams regularly run along the avenue, providing excellent transport accessibility to all its key locations. Numerous shops, restaurants, cafes, office buildings, and cultural institutions line the avenue, making it a popular place for walks, shopping, and business meetings.

Thus, Independence Avenue is not only an important transport artery but also a cultural symbol of Minsk, reflecting its rich history, architectural heritage, and dynamic development.

独立大道，明斯克的主干道，是白俄罗斯首都的象征性交通动脉，从市中心向东北延伸。它的长度约为15公里，使其成为明斯克最长的街道之一，也是城市基础设施的重要组成部分。大道的历史始于1801年，当时在旧城防的原址上铺设了扎哈尔耶夫斯卡亚街，以明斯克总督扎哈尔·科尔涅耶夫的名字命名。这条街道是现代独立大道的前身。

这条大道的重要性在19世纪已经显现，当时明斯克并入俄罗斯帝国，成为莫斯科和华沙之间贸易路线上的重要节点。随着时间的推移，扎哈尔耶夫斯卡亚街成为一条战略要道，促进了交通的发展并改善了城市基础设施。1892年，街上开通了马车铁道，1924年开始有公共汽车运行，1929年开通了有轨电车，1952年开通了无轨电车。所有这些交通工具都促进了城市的发展，并提高了街道的通行能力。

在其两百多年的历史中，这条大道经历了多次更名。在19世纪初，在1812年法国占领期间，街道被改名为“新城”，但在俄罗斯军队返回后，又恢复了扎哈尔耶夫斯卡亚的名字。在1919年波兰占领期间，这条街道以亚当·密茨凯维奇的名字命名，在苏联时期则被称为苏维埃街。1937年，部分街道被改名为普希金街。在二战德军占领期间，街道被称为 Hauptstraße，在明斯克解放后，又重新命名为苏维埃街。战后，城市开始大规模重建，到1952年，在被毁坏的苏维埃街和博里索夫公路旧址上设计了一条新大道，命名为斯大林大道。

独立大道的建筑风貌主要是在战后形成的。在米哈伊尔·帕鲁斯尼科夫和弗拉基米尔·科罗尔等著名城市规划师的领导下，大道具有了带有新古典主义元素的社会主义建筑风格的特征。尽管明斯克在战争中遭受了严重破坏，建筑师们仍然成功保留了个别建筑，如明斯克农业互助保险协会的建筑，并巧妙地将它们融入新的主干道整体风格中。因此，从独立广场到胜利广场的一部分街区以古典风格建造，赋予了它独特的建筑群地位。

该大道在2005年获得了现代形式和名字，以纪念白俄罗斯的主权，当时它已经成为城市和国家的重要象征之一，其建筑和文化特征得到了国际认可。2016年12月，国际专家建议将独立大道列入联合国教科文组织世界遗产名录，作为战后城市建设的独特例子。

独立大道不仅是一条历史悠久的主干道，还是明斯克文化和公共生活的中心。这里汇集了关键的行政和公共建筑，如总统行政楼、国家银行、<a href="https://findit.city/cn/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/83/description">共和国宫</a>、<a href="https://findit.city/cn/belarus/minsk/leisure/tourism/sights/81/description">工会宫</a>、中央邮局等。沿街的建筑是斯大林式建筑风格的鲜明代表——这是苏联时期占主导地位的主要建筑风格之一。大道也以其规模而闻名——不同路段的宽度在48到70米之间。

在20世纪60-70年代，大道成为了明斯克的文化中心。年轻人称它为百老汇，许多流行电影《追风筝的人》的场景都是在独立大道上拍摄的。这里一直是文化生活的中心，重要的事件吸引了成千上万的居民和游客。如今，大道是白俄罗斯历史和文化遗产的不可或缺的一部分，保留了过去时代的精神，并继续在现代城市环境中发展。

独立大道还具有重要的交通功能。明斯克地铁莫斯科线在其下方穿过，连接着城市的不同地区。此外，公共汽车、无轨电车和有轨电车也定期沿