Khatyn Memorial
Хатынь
A national memorial to a village burned down in 1943. Its bells toll every 30 seconds, an effect that is deeply moving.
Khatyn village was burned down by Nazi troops in March 1943. 149 villagers were killed, including 75 children. The memorial complex, completed in 1969, marks the site's 26 households with concrete chimneys, and a bell at the top of each chimney tolls every 30 seconds. Other features include the 'Unbowed Man' statue of a survivor and the 'Village Cemetery', which symbolises the 186 Belarusian villages destroyed during the war. Admission is free. The memorial lies about 55 km from Minsk. You need a car or a day tour to get there, and it is often combined with a visit to the Stalin Line.
Opening hours
Daily 10:00–18:00 (outdoor area all day)
Nearby sights
- Mound of Glory
- Kurapaty
- National Library of Belarus
- Independence Avenue
- Maly Trostenets Memorial
- Komarovsky Market
- Victory Square
- Gorky Park