Historic background

Brest was founded over a thousand years ago. The city has withstood numerous invasions, floods, and several major fires. Its name has changed several times over the course of ten centuries. In the early 19th century, a spacious fortress replaced the old city. A new city, with a pragmatic street layout, was started from scratch by Russian developers 2 km east of the former location. The arrival of two railroads in 1870 ensured Brest's prosperity.

As late as 1911, Brest had 36 streets and lanes with a total length of 30 km. Houses had no numbers; instead, addresses used the house owner's name. Paved streets accounted for 40 percent of the city's roads. The city's land area, officially endorsed in 1911, was about 6 square kilometers. The city's boundary was marked by the railway lines, the river, and the Brest Fortress.

In August 1915, when the city was seized by Kaiser Germany, it lay in ruins. There are many German postcards showing the ruins of Brest. Nevertheless after the end of the war the city was rebuilt and even expanded its land area up to 19,7 sq. km in the 1930s. The Polish government provided money to turn the town into the region’s major city. Most streets were paved.

During World War II, the Brest Fortress and the city were severely devastated. It took over 20 years to rebuild the city. The population of Brest steadily increased throughout the late 20th century. In the 1970s, Brest and its suburbs entered a vigorous period of growth and development. Steady growth and housing development eliminated the farmlands that once covered much of the area. New suburban and industrial areas spread out eastward toward Minsk and southward toward Ukraine.

Today's building boom is boosting the population in new residential areas. The city is sprawling eastward along Moscow Street, which is the longest street in Brest (9.3 km) and its main traffic artery. This street extends eastward to the transcontinental highway, running from Paris to Moscow, and westward to Masherov Avenue.

Today, Brest covers a land area of 145 square kilometers with its extensive network of 775 streets, both large and small. The city is known for its modern architecture and design, as well as its beautiful blend of tree-lined streets, parks, gardens, and neighborhoods. This is why we call Brest "a green city". However, like all large urban areas, Brest faces challenges such as pollution, overburdened transportation systems, and a changing economy. Brest has made some progress in addressing these issues, which can be seen even during a stroll across the city. How about we go for a walk with me?

It's impossible for one person to describe all the streets of Brest. That's why I have chosen to focus on some major streets, mostly in the downtown area, which were laid out in the mid-19th century.