Sergey29.07.2026
A very good hotel. The restaurant is superb — look no further. Try the borscht; words cannot do it justice. The venison is outstanding. 
Ars Magna Organi in Pinsk: the splendour of organ music
30.05.2025In the heart of Pinsk, where time slows and the brick walls of its churches hold the whispers of centuries, the majestic voice of the king of instruments comes alive. From 25 May to 28 September 2025, the city hosts Ars Magna Organi — a festival where music bridges the ages.
Beneath the vaults of the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary rests a remarkable giant: the organ built by Wojciech Grodzicki in 1836, 189 years old at the time of this festival. Its pipes have survived war and neglect; today, they seem to give voice to time itself.
— “It is older than your great-grandmother,” locals joke — and there is truth in the joke: the instrument dates back to the days of the tsars.
— It is the only organ in Belarus that you can step inside, as though entering the bronze lungs of an ancient dragon.
A festival like a theatre of eternity
The opening is more than a concert — it is a mesmerising experience:
— Bach cantatas performed by the Minsk Chamber Soloists seemed moving enough to bring tears even to the stone statues on the façade.
— Every note echoes history, from Baroque fugues to jazz improvisations. Yes, an organ can do that too!
Why does it touch the soul?
— “It is not music, it is prayer,” say the elderly women at the entrance, making the sign of the cross before the stained-glass windows.
— The cathedral's acoustics make sound almost tangible, as if the air itself were alive with vibration.
— In the evening, light through the pointed windows catches dust motes that seem to dance in time with the music.
An epilogue for romantics
The festival runs until 28 September, but its echoes will remain in the city. For Pinsk is a place where:
“Stone breathes, the organ sighs,and the River Pina retells the melodiesthrough the lips of evening waves…”
ℹ️ Where to find the magic
— Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 18 Lenina Street.
ℹ️ Where to stay
— Grand Pinsk Hotel, 27 Lenina Street: spend the night in the musical heart of Polesia. Our city-centre hotel is just steps from the Cathedral of the Assumption, the festival's main venue. After the concert, return to rooms whose classic interiors reflect the spirit of old Pinsk.
P.S. Organ music is where you lose track of time. Grand Pinsk is where you find it again.
— Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 18 Lenina Street.
ℹ️ Where to stay
— Grand Pinsk Hotel, 27 Lenina Street: spend the night in the musical heart of Polesia. Our city-centre hotel is just steps from the Cathedral of the Assumption, the festival's main venue. After the concert, return to rooms whose classic interiors reflect the spirit of old Pinsk.
P.S. Organ music is where you lose track of time. Grand Pinsk is where you find it again.