Saint Sophia Cathedral, Vitebsk Region, Belarus
4.5 (127 reviews) Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #2 in Polotsk Speciality Museums • Churches & Cathedrals
Once a Cathedral, Now a Museum
Located in lovely high grounds overlooking the river this is a must-visit sort of place. Both the exterior and the interior are well maintained and a guided tour is necessary to appreciate it's colourful history. The interior is stunning and the old pipe organ, which is still functioning, is stunning. The Cathedral is now mostly used as a concert hall. Outside, the gardens have a history of their own including the Boris Stone.
Address
Zamkovaya St., 1, Polotsk, Belarus.
Mobile
Website
http://www.sophia.polotsk.museum.by
Current local date and time now
Monday, May 13, 2024, 21:18
User Ratings
4.5 based on (127 reviews)
Excellent
64%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Reviews
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5George P 5:00 PM Jul 21, 2018
Impressive
The cathedral had accumulated and demonstrates well the complicated history of Polotsk and Belarus, as well. It looks Catholic. For many centuries it was Catholic. But, it is named after Saint Sophia like Orthodox cathedrals in Constantinople, Kiev, or Novgorod. From the Soviet time, the cathedral is a museum. A picturesque mixture of different styles and traditions as everything around in Belarus! Come here on Sundays while it works as a concert hall with Organ Evenings. In other days, the cathedral which is located on a hilltop gives breathtaking views both bottom-up and top-down - at the Dvina river.
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4taqqie 5:00 PM Aug 17, 2019
Iconic place
Guess you can't get around visiting this place in Polotsk. It's been beautifully renovated (the original was demolished more than once if I understood correctly) and has great views. From here you can descend to the river for a nice stroll to the centre of town.
