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'''Minsk''' ( , ) is the capital and the largest city of Belarus, located on the Svislach and the now subterranean Niamiha rivers. As the capital, Minsk has a special administrative status in Belarus and is the administrative centre of Minsk Region (voblasć) and Minsk District (rajon). As of January 2021, its population was 2,009,786, (not including suburbs), making Minsk the 11th most populous city in Europe. Minsk is the administrative capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and seat of its Executive Secretary.

The earliest historical references to Minsk date to the 11th century (1067), when it was noted as a provincial city within the Principality of Polotsk. The settlement developed on the rivers. In 1242, Minsk became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. It received town privileges in 1499.

From 1569, it was a capital of the Minsk Voivodeship, in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was part of a region annexed by the Russian Empire in 1793, as a consequence of the Second Partition of Poland. From 1919 to 1991, after the Russian Revolution, Minsk was the capital of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, in the Soviet Union. In June 2019, Minsk hosted the 2019 European Games.

Trajeckaje pradmiescie

== Etymology and historical names ==

Independence Square in the centre of Minsk.

The Old East Slavic name of the town was Мѣньскъ (i.e. ''Měnsk''

File:Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral.jpg|Church of Sts. Peter and Paul (Russian Orthodox).

File:Belarus-Minsk-Church of Mary Magdalene-8.jpg|Church of St. Mary Magdalene (Russian Orthodox).

File:Belarus-Minsk-Church of Exaltation of the Holy Cross-8.jpg|Church of Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Roman Catholic).

File:Belarus-Minsk-Holy Trinity Church-1.jpg|Church of Holy Trinity (Saint Rochus) (Roman Catholic).

File:Vsekh svyatykh sobor 1998.jpg|Church of All Saints (Russian Orthodox).

File:Yevfrosinyi Polotskoy sobor, 1995.jpg|Church of St.Yevfrosinya of Polotsk (Russian Orthodox).

File:St Elizabeth Monastery 1997 1.jpg|Church of St. Elisabeth Convent (Russian Orthodox)

File:Красный костёл - panoramio (1).jpg|The Red Church (Roman Catholic).

File:Костёл Святого Иосифа ночью - panoramio.jpg|Church of St.Joseph (formerly Uniate, used as an archive).

File:Miensk-Archikatedralny kaścioł Imia Najśviaciejšaj Panny Maryi-7.jpg|Cathedral of Saint Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic).

File:Belarus-Minsk-Cathedral of Holy Spirit-12.jpg|Minsk Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Russian Orthodox).

The city hall (rebuilt in 2003).

=== Cemeteries ===

*Kalvaryja (Calvary Cemetery) is the oldest surviving cemetery in the city. Many famous people of Belarus are buried here. The cemetery was closed to new burials in the 1960s.

*Military Cemetery

*Eastern Cemetery

*Čyžoŭskija Cemetery

*Northern Cemetery

=== Theatres ===

Major theatres are:

*National Academic Grand Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus National Academic Grand Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus

* Belarusian State Musical Theatre (performances in Russian)

*Maxim Gorky National Drama Theatre (performances in Russian)

*Yanka Kupala National Drama Theatre (performances in Belarusian)

=== Museums ===

Major museums include:

*Belarusian National Arts MuseumNational Arts Museum of the Republic of Belarus

*Belarusian Great Patriotic War Museum

*Belarusian National History and Culture Museum

*Belarusian Nature and Environment Museum

*Maksim Bahdanovič Literary Museum

*Old Belarusian History Museum

*Yanka Kupala Literary Museum

Art galleries include:

*Ў galleryЎ Gallery

=== Recreation areas ===

*Chelyuskinites Park

*Children's Railroad

*Gorky Park (Minsk)

*Yanka Kupala Park

== Tourism ==

There are more than 400 travel agencies in Minsk, about a quarter of them provide agent activity, and most of them are tour operators.

== Sports ==

Dinamo National Olympic Stadium, 2019.

=== Football ===

*FC Dinamo Minsk

*FC Minsk

*FC Energetik-BGU Minsk

*FC Krumkachy Minsk

Dinamo National Olympic Stadium (after reconstruction).

=== Ice hockey ===

*HC Dinamo Minsk

*HC Yunost Minsk

=== Handball ===

*SKA Minsk

=== Basketball ===

*BC Tsmoki-Minsk

=== International sporting events ===

Minsk Arena

In 2013, Minsk hosted the European Junior Rowing Championships at the Republican Center of Olympic Training for Rowing And Canoeing to the north-west of the city.

Minsk hosted the 2014 IIHF World Championship at the Minsk Arena.

In January 2016, the 2016 European Speed Skating Championships were held in the Minsk Arena. Minsk Arena is the only indoor speed skating rink in Belarus.

On 21 October 2016, it was confirmed by the European Olympic Committee that Minsk will host the 2019 European Games.

The 2019 European Figure Skating Championships were held in the Minsk Arena from the 21 to 27 January.

== Transportation ==

=== Local transport ===