Zеĺva: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Culture and History

The Svetoch Museum exhibition on the Second World War in the Zelvenshchina covers the years 1941–1944. The exhibition “Zelvenshchina in the 20th Century” features photographs of Zel’va and documents about people who contributed to the development of the region. The Svetoch Museum prepares and conducts both overview tours and thematic tours. It has also established a temporary exhibition entitled “Annenskaya Fair in the Zelvenshchina.”

Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Zеĺva can include museum visits, architecture and the reservoir in their travel plans.

Zel’va’s architectural heritage includes the neo-Gothic Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built from 1910 to 1913, and the Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, built in 1815 in the pseudo-Russian style. The Church of the Holy Trinity in Zel’va underwent extensive renovation from 1904 to 1909, during which, among other things, a stone bell tower was added. In 1910, it was reconsecrated as an Orthodox church. The surviving building of the Zel’va railway station was originally built at the beginning of the 20th century. Three of the former water mill’s original four floors have survived; it is no longer used for its original purpose.

Events

The Annenskaya Fair began in 1721 in the Zelvenshchina. It was named after Saint Anne because its opening day, 26 July, coincided with her religious feast day. An exhibition at the Svetoch Museum about the Annenskaya Fair displays tokens and coins as well as goods that may have been sold by local craftsmen; it also presents a historical agreement concerning the delivery of Edam cheese to Zel’va.

The historical reenactment festival “Legendary Eras” is also among the documented events held in the town: its sixth edition took place in Zel’va on 11 July. The medieval programme included tournaments featuring mounted and foot-fighting knights as well as archery competitions. Festival visitors could explore camps where participating clubs recreated everyday life in past centuries.

Nature

The Zel’va Reservoir lies on the southeastern edge of the town and has tourist facilities such as a tourist base, a hotel complex, several agrotourism accommodations and a beach. On the “Mir zapovednika Medukhovo” ecological trail in Zelva District, visitors can see rare plant and animal species listed in the Red Book, as well as old oaks, including oaks with seemingly divided trunks.

Geographical Setting

In the wider area around Zel’va, a sign with distance information on the R-90 road between Volkovysk, Zel’va and Slonim points to the Medukhovo ecological trail. Also in the wider area around Zel’va, the Zelva District Tourist Information Centre developed a quiz game in which participants solve tasks at various stations. In the wider region around Zel’va, the green route “Zelvenski Diaryush” was created on the basis of the region’s natural resources and its historical and cultural monuments.

Other destinations: Kareličy, Shchuchyn, Waukawysk, Smarhoń, Slonim, Nawahradak, Lida, Grodno

To the higher-level travel overview: Grodno Region.