A Dive into the Centuries: How Minsk Guides Uncovered the Secrets of the National Historical Archives of Belarus

May 2026 was a time of unique discoveries for Minsk tour guides. On May 13 and 20, the National Historical Archives of Belarus opened its doors to members of the Belarusian Society of Tour Guides and Guide-Interpreters.

Amid the tourism boom in Belarus, it’s more important than ever for professionals to update their knowledge. It was in search of new, unique facts and «living» stories that the guides set out for the country’s main repository of memory.

The visit’s program was packed with activities. Aksana Zenko, Head of the Research, Publication, and Exhibition Sector, gave a captivating lecture on how documents from the National Historical Archives of Belarus can transform an ordinary tour into a true historical investigation.

An exclusive exhibition of rare publications from the time of the Central Historical Archives of the BSSR and the modern archive was held especially for guests.

The most exciting part of the program was a visit to the heart of the archive, closed to the general public. Sergei Ryndin, Deputy Director of the National Archives of Belarus, Aksana Zenko, Head of the Research, Publication, and Exhibition Sector, and Olga Volkova, Leading Researcher of the same sector and PhD in History, led the guests through the labyrinthine archives.

The guides were fortunate to see firsthand unique, particularly valuable documents that have survived centuries.

The meeting turned into a lively discussion. Inspired by what they saw, the guides literally bombarded the archivists with questions. This visit gave the guides a powerful boost of inspiration and new historical case studies, which they will soon share with tourists on the streets of Belarusian cities.

1. Aksana Zenko, Head of the Research, Publication, and Exhibition Sector of the Document Utilization, Information, and Publication Department, delivering a lecture.

2. Employees of the Belarusian Society of Tour Guides and Guide-Interpreters