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The city was founded in 862. Being well-fortified and rich, Polotsk became the centre of a large and strong principality. It was especially strong during the reign of prince Vseslav. Polotsk soldiers participatied in the battle on the Neva (1240), in the Grunvald battle (1410), in the battle on Tchudskoie lake (1242). Despite of war tornadoes passed over the city, there are remarkable monuments to the past in Polotsk.
A city tour begins at the historical centre - the Upper castle with the most beautiful temple - the Sofiyski cathedral (the 11th century). Spaso-Efrosinievskaya church had been constructed by the order of Polotsk princess Predslava (whose Christian name was Efrosinia Polotskaya). Polotsk architect Ioann had made it. The temple has been well preserved up to nowadays. It is a bright model of the original Polotsk School of architecture. The Lower castle with the earth wall of Ivan the Terrible is also worth to be seen.
Polotsk is one of the historical centres. You can see a house, in which Peter I the Great stayed on his way to Vilno with his army during the Nothern war in 1700-1721. He had lived in Polotsk for about a month.
Many places in Polotsk are connected to the War of 1812. One of them is a so-called Red bridge. It is named so because there was the most fierce fight between Russian and French armies on it. Many people were killed there, and the bridge became red with shed blood.
Inhabitants of Polotsk are proud of many of their countymen. They are especially proud of the remarkable figure of Belarusian culture Francisk (Georguiy) Skoryna, pioneer of printing.
The city has many monuments devoted to the heroes killed during the Great Patriotic War. |
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