Zyabki lies on the northern side of the Dolgoe Nature Reserve. Lake Dolgoye and the area’s history give a stay two clearly defined focal points: nature by the water and historical traces in the settlement. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between the similar-sounding names: Dolgoe refers to the nature reserve, while Dolgoye is the lake.

Lake Dolgoye and the Dolgoe Nature Reserve

The Dolgoe Hydrological Nature Reserve was established in 1979 to protect Lake Dolgoye and the adjacent natural areas. The lake reaches a maximum depth of 53.6 metres. It is long and narrow, forming a corridor about 400 metres wide. These specific measurements give the landscape an added dimension.

The species counts also illustrate the nature reserve’s ecological value: 517 plant species, 25 mammal species, 86 bird species and 17 fish species have been recorded there. In addition, there are 13 species of wild plants or fungi and seven animal species listed in the Red Book of Belarus. For travellers interested in nature, the focus is therefore not only on the lake, but also on the diversity of its plant and animal life.

Seven tourist routes and an ecological learning trail have been developed in the nature reserve. The rules on motorised vehicles are also important when planning a water trip: they are prohibited in the nature reserve unless its regulations provide for an exception. Before setting out on a specific trip, check the latest information about the route and its use.

The Shosha–Mnyuta water route leads to Lake Dolgoye and uses an equipped rest area on the lake’s northern shore. An account of a paddling trip from 2013 describes this route; conditions today may differ. Along the lakeshore used for a documented water route, a 2020 expedition report describes stretches of mixed and deciduous forest, fishing spots suitable for overnight stays, and clear water. These conditions may vary by season. If you are planning a water route or an overnight stay, check the current conditions.

Mill, railway station and local history

The historic mill is a four-storey brick building, constructed in the early 1920s to a German design, together with a granary and a forge. The preserved brick railway station is also part of the local landscape. The roads from Polotsk to Vilnius—the old Algirdas Road—and the highway connecting Ushachy with the Polotsk–Glubokoye–Vilnius road also pass through Zyabki. The mill and railway station offer distinct architectural points of reference for the area’s history.

The first tank attack by the Red Army in history took place at Zyabki railway station on 4 July 1920. Trenches from 1919, associated with this attack, have also been preserved in the landscape around Zyabki. Near Lake Dolgoye, burial mounds attest to the area’s long history of settlement. The historical themes thus span early settlement, surviving traces and a precisely dated event of the 20th century.

Another cultural point of interest is in Prozoroki, about five kilometres from Zyabki: the Ignat Buynitsky Museum is located in the village school and is dedicated to the founder of professional Belarusian theatre. Along with the mill, railway station and historical sites near Zyabki, it adds a connection to the history of theatre to the local story.

Plan your accommodation and stay

There is rural accommodation in Zyabki on the shore of Lake Dolgoye. This gives visitors a specific location to consider when looking for an overnight stay near the lake. Local plans can therefore focus on two different themes: the landscape and routes around Dolgoe, and the mill, railway station and historical events in Zyabki.

The “Dolgoe” rural accommodation near Zyabki is associated with swimming from a jetty on the lake, trips in a rowing catamaran, fishing and walks. Excursions to a historic estate reserve, the Clock Museum and the site of the 1920 tank battle near Zyabki station are also available. If one of these activities is important to your trip, check its current availability in advance.

Discover more destinations: Pastavy, Moiseevo, Lepel District, Hlybokaye, Hili, Puśki, Sharkaŭshchyna, Zastadollie

For the regional travel overview: Vitebsk Region.