Vawkavysk, Belarus

Capital City

At just over 41,000 residents, Vawkavysk is a small, provincial town with a long, complex history and a lot of baggage. The frigid winters and periodic flooding are a constant headache, while the lingering bureaucracy from the Soviet era is a persistent thorn in the side of modern residents. Despite its age and occasional tumultuous past, this Belarusian outpost on the Ros and Vawkawyya rivers is best suited for those seeking a quiet, humble existence close to nature.