Sovetskaya Street, Gomel

What is Sovetskaya Street?

Sovetskaya is Gomel's high street and one of its oldest roads — Belarusian Wikipedia dates the first buildings here to the 17th century at the latest. It begins at Lenin Square, a short walk from the palace park above the river Sozh, and runs north for almost 8 km. Along it you'll find banks, shops, cafés, the philharmonic hall, the circus and the university.

Before 1861 it was Proboynaya, the street that “broke through” town towards the Mogilev road. It was then renamed Rumyantsevskaya after the Rumyantsev counts who owned Gomel, and in 1919 it became Sovetskaya. You'll also see it spelt Savieckaja, the Belarusian form used on newer signs.

Is Sovetskaya Street worth it?

Yes, as part of a day in central Gomel — no, as a sight in its own right. The street was badly damaged in the war, so 19th-century mansions stand next to 1950s blocks and modern offices. What makes it worthwhile is the mix: merchant Gomel, the post-war Soviet rebuild and the city today, all in one hour on foot.

Walk it after the palace and park, or use it as your route between the station area, Lenin Square and the circus. If you have only a couple of hours in town, spend them at the palace and park and the riverside instead.

What to see, house by house

• No. 1 — the former City Duma, late 19th century, right on Lenin Square. A monument to St Cyril of Turov stands nearby.
• No. 9 — the former Russo-Asiatic Bank on the corner of Lange Street, with ornate pre-revolutionary apartment houses around it.
• Nos. 6 and 8 — the Old Department Store and the main post office: the post office is pre-revolutionary, the store dates from the 1930s–50s.
• Nos. 26 and 32 — the Herzen central library and the regional philharmonic, both in historic buildings on the even side.
• Gromyko Square, between Sovetskaya and Pushkin streets — a bronze bust of the Soviet diplomat, a fountain and street sculptures, with arches lit up after dark.
• No. 27 — the circus, a round domed building with the clown Karandash and his dog Klyaksa at the entrance.
• Uprising Square (Ploshchad Vosstaniya) — a T-34 tank, a memorial to the victims of the wartime camp and the new Rokossovsky monument.
• No. 39 — the 1818 Lancaster school, the oldest building on the street. A shoe factory has used it since the 1920s, so there is no museum inside — admire it from the street.
• No. 60 — the Gomel department store, where the historic part ends; beyond it is Skaryna University.

The post-war street

Most of Sovetskaya's buildings were destroyed or damaged in 1941–43. In the 1950s the street was rebuilt with 4–5-storey blocks — turrets, arches and moulded cornices — and many of them are now on Belarus's national heritage list. The best stretch for this Stalin-era look is between Lenin Square and Komsomolskaya Street.

In the 1970s the northern end filled with 9–14-storey housing. That part is ordinary city, so turn back at the department store.

Cafés and paying

Cafés, coffee shops and restaurants line the first few blocks from Lenin Square up to Gromyko Square. Places change often, so we don't name any — just check the menu at the door.

Prices are in Belarusian rubles (BYN). Visa and Mastercard cards issued abroad often work in shops and cafés, but not every terminal or ATM accepts them, so bring some rubles for small purchases and transport — this is unofficial, check with your bank before travelling.

Sovetskaya Street vs the Sozh embankment and the palace park

With one day in Gomel, start with the palace and park and walk Sovetskaya afterwards — it links the centre with the circus and the station side of town.

Gomel's historic places compared

Historic places in Gomel rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Nearby — add to your day

41

St Nicholas Monastery

Gomel, Belarus

40 min · Free · 20 min walk

Yes — add to my route: St Nicholas Monastery

38

Museum of Military Glory

Gomel, Belarus

1 h · 12 BYN, students 7, schoolchildren 4.50 · 29 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Museum of Military Glory

39

Hunting Lodge

Gomel, Belarus

45 min · 10 BYN, students 7.50, children 5 · 34 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Hunting Lodge

40

Gomel Regional Drama Theatre

Gomel, Belarus

30 min · Facade free; plays from 11 BYN · 36 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Gomel Regional Drama Theatre

How to do it right

• Begin at Lenin Square by the drama theatre — the street starts right there.
• The palace park is 5–10 minutes from the start of Sovetskaya; do both on the same morning.
• Come back to Gromyko Square after dark, when the arches over the paths are lit.
• Skip the northern half of the street — past the department store there's nothing for visitors.
• Russian street signs can help: look for «Советская» or the Belarusian «Савецкая».

Questions