Vitebsk region: sights, history and interesting facts

The Vitebsk region is part of Belarus. Its administrative center is the city of Vitebsk, near which flows the Western Dvina and Vitba rivers.

The times of the principalities

It is supposed, even in the Stone Age in the territory of the Vitebsk region our very ancestors could live. The study of identified sites of primitive people gave rise to saying that they belong to the bronze and iron age.

In the pages of the famous chronicle "The Tale of Bygone Years", which was compiled in 862, the Polotsk principality is mentioned on the site of today's Vitebsk. The very first prince of the most ancient territorial unit in this region was Prince Rogvolod, and the role of the administrative center was assigned to Polotsk. Today Vitebsk region, whose sights we will describe in the article, looks, of course, quite differently.

At the turn of the 13th-14th centuries, the rapid development of the terrain began, in terms of trade and culture. Already in the XVI century. On the territory of Orthodox monasteries and churches the first educational institutions are opened. In general, the Vitebsk region is very interesting for historians - all the sights located here can not be seen in one day.

Development after the XVI century

In the second half of the XVI century. In Europe, the power of the Polish Kingdom was gaining strength, which, after uniting with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, formed the Commonwealth. There was an automatic change of power in the early 17th century. And in the Vitebsk lands, with all the ensuing consequences. The dominant position of the Catholic faith was reinforced by the construction of the Dominican church, the creation of the Jesuit collegium and the founding of the Bernardine monastery. By the way, today all of them are the main attractions of the Vitebsk region.

In 1866 the branch of the railway from Orel to Riga, along with both capitals of the Russian Empire, as well as Kiev and Brest, included Vitebsk in its composition. And by 1914 Vitebsk - a huge city on the territory with a well-developed industry. Before the revolution of 1917, almost 8% of the 109,000 citizens living in it worked at various industrial enterprises of this city.

In the period from January to April 1919, Poland used the Civil War on the territory that had sunk into oblivion, the Russian Empire, and occupied part of the country of Belarus together with the current capital Minsk. However, the Vitebsk guberniya remained in the Soviet Russia.

The modern Vitebsk region

Education of the Vitebsk region falls on the middle of January 1938. And on July 11, 1941, German soldiers appeared on the streets of Vitebsk. During the war years, fascists almost to the ground destroyed large settlements.

The modern Vitebsk region is famous for its high level of development of industry and agriculture. Local authorities promote the holding of music festivals, and other cultural events are initiated. The name of the regional center is associated with the famous "Slavic Bazaar." So Vitebsk region, the sights of which we are considering, can be safely considered a cultural center of the country.

Some interesting facts related to the Vitebsk region

The smallest city in this area is Disna, which is located on the river of the same name. From 1921 to 1939, this settlement was considered part of Poland. And since 1959 it has acquired its current status - the city of Disna (Vitebsk region). Its sights are quite diverse. The tourist should visit here:

• Hospital (early XX century.) - ruins;
• The castle (XVI-XVII centuries);
• The estate "Doroshkovichi";
• The Resurrection Church.

Few people know that the basis of the plot of Alexander Pushkin's story "Dubrovsky" was the case, which took place all in the same Vitebsk. The idea of the famous Russian writer and poet was prompted by his good friend Nashchokin P. V. In Pushcha, Pushkin was in Vitebsk when, in 1823, he was going to a 13-month exile to Odessa. And some of the sights of the Vitebsk region are dedicated to this event.

It is common knowledge that a renaissance from Renaissance began from Paris. And Vitebsk, among other things, belongs to the title of the second capital of this direction of art. Unfortunately, few people have heard of this fact.

Today's Vitebsk can be justly proud of the presence of a huge number of objects of historical and cultural value. There are 219 architectural monuments, eight more are related to history and six are to archeology. The Vitebsk region is rich in ancient buildings. Attractions can be viewed for a long time, listening to interesting stories of local residents and guides.

Outstanding personalities of Vitebsk region

Marc Chagall was born and raised in Vitebsk. On Pokrovskaya street, his childhood passed. In the house where the family lived the famous future artist, now there is a museum. All the items in the house that were related to the work of Chagall are now exhibited in the museum.

As evidenced by archival documents, in 1896 a Frenchman Fernand Guillen, on the basis of a contract concluded with the city government, undertook to build an electric road for tram cars. Thanks to this circumstance, two years later an unusual form of public transport was already running around the city. The Museum of History keeps the memory of a unique event - the first tram, which is considered the pride of Vitebsk.

In July 1895, O. M. Dreznitskaya, a resident of Vitebsk, successfully landed with a parachute, making her famous, becoming the first female parachutist.

In the early 80-ies of the XIX century. Vitebsk photographer Sigismund Yurkovsky came up with the brilliant idea - to equip the camera with an instant shutter. This was truly a revolution in the field of creating photographs.

Interesting facts of wartime

The wars left an indelible mark in the history of Vitebsk and the region. So, for 3 months Vitebsk was in the zone of occupation of the Napoleonic army during the Patriotic War of 1812. The governor's palace, which was at that time on the Assumption Hill, Napoleon chose to place a military stake. In this Belarusian city the French emperor on August 3 had to celebrate his next birthday.

The period of the Great Patriotic War for Vitebsk was one of the most difficult. Almost all residential buildings were destroyed (93%), and out of 167 thousand citizens only 118 were able to survive. Nevertheless, after the defeat of the German fascist invader, the city was rebuilt.

Military monuments, which the Vitebsk region is famous for, are sights that can not leave anyone indifferent.

Ilya Repin Museum and St. Sophia Cathedral

In 16 km from Vitebsk there is a museum-estate of Ilya Repin "Zdravnevo". Until 1892 the estate was called Sofiyivka. She was redeemed by the artist-foreman with funds received after the sale of the famous painting to Emperor Alexander III, which depicts the scene of the compilation by the Zaporozhian Cossacks of a written response to the Turkish sultan. In this estate Ilya Repin was inspired to create more than 40 of his masterpieces, including "Moonlight Night", "Autumn Bouquet", "In the Sun", etc.

And along the avenue of limes, which planted the artist, still have the opportunity to walk visitors to the manor.

In Polotsk on Zamkova Street there is the Sophia Cathedral (or Sophia of Wisdom of God), protected by UNESCO. It belongs to the earliest temples of Orthodoxy, and in Belarus it is considered the first temple built of stone. Approximately in the XI century. Prince Vseslav the Wizard gave instructions to build a temple, symbolizing the power of Polotsk. The prototype was the elder brother of the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

The city of Hlubokoe and the temples in Lepel

And in 187 km from Vitebsk the beautiful city of Glubokoe (Vitebsk region) has settled down. Sights of this area will please everyone who appreciates old buildings:

• Mill (1911);
• Monastery of the Carmelites (XVII-XIX century);
• Cathedral in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1639-1654);
• Church of the Holy Trinity (1628).

Five more lakes are located on the territory of the city. Tourists should visit the deep-sea historical and ethnographic museum.

And connoisseurs of churches must see the sights of Lepel (Vitebsk region):

• The chapel of St. George (1900);
• Chapel-supermodel (XIX century);
• St. Paraskeva's Church Friday (1841-1844);
• Church of St. Casimir (1857-1876).

This town is located 110 km from Vitebsk. The area is rapidly developing - here all are built new buildings, schools and kindergartens.

Fascinating natural scenery

The Republican landscape reserve "Yelnya", located in the Miory district, is famous for glacial lakes and ancient upland bogs, with contemplation of which the tourist is breathtaking. The most ancient (it is not less than 9000 years old) bog called "Yelnya" occupies 20 thousand hectares.

In the autumn period, gray cranes and geese fly in large numbers here. The local places are very rich in cranberries. Berries are so popular here that every year they even hold a special ecological festival in her honor.

Here is the list of the best attractions in the Vitebsk region, which every tourist who visits Belarus should see:

1. The Holy Dormition Cathedral (Vitebsk).
2. Cathedral of Hagia Sophia (Polotsk).
3. Town Hall (Vitebsk).
4. Museum of Belarusian Printing (Polotsk).
5. Monument to the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812 (Polotsk).
6. Pushkin Bridge (Vitebsk).
7. The house of Peter I (Polotsk).
8. Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Glubokoe).
9. Museum of Traditional Culture (Braslav).
10. The memorial complex "Rylenki".

This is the minimum list of what is worthy of every tourist's attention.