MidLink Visits Vitebsk, Belarus
What is it Like to Live in Vitebsk, Belarus?
Dear MidLink Magazine Readers,
We are glad to write to you again. Now you'll get more
information about our native town, its places of interest, some facts from its history.
Please, ask your pupils to write to us about your native place
because it's very important, interesting and useful to get such
information.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Galina.
All About Vitebsk, Belarus...
Our native town is Vitebsk. It's wonderful. It is situated on the picturesquc banks of the three rivers: the Zapadnaya Dvina river, the Vitba and the Luchsa river.
Vitebsk is one of the oldest settlements in Belarus. It
was founded in 974 by Princess Olga of Kiev on the Western
Dvina. It had sprung up on a busy road "from Varangians to
Greeks" and stood witness to a great number of glorious events
and heroic deeds. Since early times the town had been known as
a "warrior". So it is not by chance that its ancient emblem
featured a horseman holding a spear and shield. Vitebsk people
fought under banners of Alexander Nevski, Ivan the Terrible,
Peter the Great and during the Patriotic War of 1812.
The dramatic page in the town's history is its people's
revolt of 1623 when they overthrew and drowned in the Zapadnaya Dvina the odious Iosafat Kuntsevich who was trying to put
the Unia yoke upon the people.
Reunification with Russia has played a decisive role in
the town's life. Culture, public education, science and health
servise developed at a rapid pace. Vitebsk lived a full life
and its people looked forward to prosperous future.
But there came the Second World War which for Vitebsk people was a very serious trial. Soviet Army soldiers and peop-
le's voluntary detachments did their best to save the town.
Yes, it was captured by Hitler's invaders. Yes, it was captured
but never subdued.
June 26, 1944 is a remarkable date in Vitebsk's history.
On this day troops of the first Baltic and second Belarusian
fronts cleared the town of fascist occupants. The liberated
town lay in ruins and only 118 people survived in the base-
ments. In its centuries long history Vitebsk had never been
devastated like that.
The town's new life began after the liberation. It was
full of enthusiasm. Thanks to the strong will and vogorous ac-
tivities of Vitebsk inhabitants and the brotherly assistance
of all peoples of our Motherland new factories, plants, dwel-
ling houses, schools, hospitals, streets and avenues were bu-
ilt in place of the charred ruins.
Vitebsk today is a magor industrial, scientific and cul-
tural centre of the republic.
Cultural life flourishes in Vitebsk as well. The Belarusian State Academic theatre named after Yakub Kolas is one of
the oldest in the republic. One can also enjoy going to the
Palaces of Culture, numerous cinemas, libraries, clubs and ot-
her public places.
Vitebsk was the native land of Mark Chagall, the world
famous artist, who died in Paris but he always dreamed about
Vitebsk. He was inspired by his native town of Vitebsk, which
he often depicted in his works.
We are proud of our town. We think there is no better
town in Belarus than our native Vitebsk. You are welcome to
visit our town.
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