History of Mogilev in photos

In the east of Belarus is the city of Mogilev, which in the middle of the twentieth century claimed to be the capital of the Byelorussian SSR. Nowadays the population of the city is more than 380 thousand people. Geographically, the city is divided into two parts of the Dnieper River flowing here: the Dnieper and the indigenous part. The river remains navigable from 110 to 230 days a year. The history of Mogilev in photos will be presented to your attention in the article.

Foundation of the city

The history of Mogilev originates from ancient times. Archaeological excavations have shown that the territory of the city was inhabited around the 5th century, and already in the Xth century there was a settlement. There are several legends about the foundation of Mogilev. According to one of them, the city was founded by artisans and traders around the castle, built in 1267 by the order of Prince Leo Mogia. Archaeologically, this legend was not proved, as the remains of the castle were discovered and were not.

Other legends tell us that the city was built around one of the Orthodox churches or was founded by the Polotsk prince Lev Vladimirovich.

The most famous story of the origin of Mogilev tells that in the forest there lived a band of gangsters led by the ataman Masheka, who was distinguished by inhuman force. Boyar took from Masheka, who was at that time a peaceful peasant, a bride, and he decided to take revenge, went into the forest. Ataman was killed by his betrayed bride, peasants buried him on one of the banks of the Dnieper, a burial mound was piled above the grave, and the burial place was called "The Tomb of the Lion." That's why the city that arose here was called Mogilev.

The story of Mogilev

Since its inception, the city has been carrying out the defensive functions of the fortress-settlement and, most likely, was almost completely destroyed by the Tatars' raids in the middle of the XIII century, which is confirmed by numerous archaeological finds.

For the first time as a settlement Mogilev is mentioned in the XIV century in the "List of Russian cities, distant and near". At that time he had no special political and economic functions. Since the XVI century Mogilev is an integral part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, moreover, it was considered a personal possession of Queen Jadwiga of Poland, the wife of the Grand Duke of Lithuania. After 200 years, in 1503, the city was presented to another Polish queen - Elena Ivanovna.

In the 16th century, Mogilev began to actively develop and grow thanks to the introduction of the Magdeburg law, which made it attractive for the neighboring countries of Lithuania. So, in the middle of the XVII century the city was taken without a fight by the Russian army, but seven years later he returned to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The city was badly damaged during this Russian-Polish confrontation.

The years of the Russo-Swedish war of 1700-1721 also inflicted great damage on Mogilev, he was all riddled and equipped with defensive fortifications. The first partition of Poland in 1772 led to the transfer of Mogilev to the Russian Empire, in 1777 Mogilev Province was founded. After 3 years, it was here that the Russian Empress Catherine II and the Austrian Emperor Joseph met. During the war with Napoleon, near Mogilev, a battle took place between the Russian infantry corps and the French army led by General Davout. This monument was dedicated to this event.

Mogilev in the XX century

During the war years of 1914-1917. It was in Mogilev that the rate of Emperor Nicholas II was located. After the events of February 1917, the Supreme Commander's bid here remained, until November 1917.

In 1938, Mogilev was supposed to make the capital of the BSSR, therefore, an active reconstruction of the city was carried out: a hotel, a cinema, multi-storey apartment houses were built, but as a result of annexation of Western Belarus Mogilev became the capital. The second time Mogilev was proposed to make the capital after the end of the war of 1941-1945, as Minsk was almost completely destroyed, but this did not happen again.

During the Great Patriotic War Mogilev was occupied by the Nazis in July 1941 and was released only in June 1944. During this time, about 100 thousand people of the city and the surrounding area were killed or taken to Germany for forced labor. A concentration camp and a transit camp for prisoners of war were established on the territory of the city.

City in the 21st century

In the XXI century Mogilev is a cultural and economic center of the Mogilev region. The largest contribution to the economy of the region is made by the oil refining, machine-building and metalworking industries, the largest in Europe enterprise for the production of polyester fibers is operating in the city. Mogilev is also one of the educational centers of Belarus, it employs 7 institutions of higher education and 12 secondary schools.

The city's attractions

Before the occupation of Mogilev by the Germans in 1941 the city could boast of a large number of attractions, but almost all of them were destroyed. In the city there are preserved Orthodox monuments, such as:

• St. Nicholas Convent;
• The Catholic Cathedral of the Assumption;
• Cathedral of the Three Saints;
• Holy Cross Church;
• Holy Cross Exaltation Cathedral.

In addition to the religious buildings, there are other sights in Mogilev, each of which is of historical value.

The Square of Glory

During the Polish period, the history of Mogilev draws us as a flourishing city. It was considered a major river port, and the central square was called Torgovaya. After joining the Russian Empire, the area became known as the Governor's Square, and Russian architects took up the development of the square. Old shopping benches were removed and four identical buildings were built: houses for the governor and vice-governor, provincial government and the court building, the archive and the medical board (now the museum of local lore).

Until now, only the fourth building from the complex has been preserved. After the October Revolution, the square received the name of the Soviet, it was here that demonstrative executions of partisans took place during the war of 1941-45. In 2014, the square received the current name - the Square of Glory.

Town Hall (Mogilev)

The story tells that the restoration of the city hall was started only in 2007, although the symbolic tabulation took place in the early 90's. XX century. The question of the construction of the town hall arose at the end of the 16th century, after the settlement was granted the Magdeburg Law. Initially, the building was wooden, which often led to fires, and the town hall was completely burned, because of which its location changed several times.

The stone town hall was built during the years 1679-1698, the roof was covered with tiles, the town hall had two porches with gilded weather vanes over them. The height of the tower with the spire was 46 meters. During the Russian-Swedish war of 1700-1721 the town hall was destroyed, but several decades later it was restored. In 1780 the town hall was visited by the Empress Catherine the Great.

During the Great Patriotic War the town hall was badly damaged, it was recognized as a historical monument of all-Union significance. Despite the decision taken by the executive committee on the restoration of the town hall, the work did not begin, and in 1957 it was completely blown up. The City Hall was completely restored and opened for visiting in 2008.

The Museum of History of Mogilev is located exactly in the town hall. The exposition halls are located on two floors of the building. They show exhibits of the X - early XX centuries, which tell of important events of the settlement. Museum of the history of the city of Mogilev is waiting for its visitors from 10 am to 6 pm. Monday and Tuesday are the days off.

The Buoyancy Field

This memorial complex is located in the village Buinichi near Mogilev. It was here in the summer of 1942 that two weeks went by stubborn battles of the Soviet army with the German invaders. The complex was opened in 1995 and covers an area of more than 20 hectares. It consists of an arch, which is connected with a 27-meter chapel by an alley. The walls of the chapel are made of light marble, which is covered with the names of soldiers and partisans of the Great Patriotic War. Under the chapel is a crypt where the remains of the fallen warriors were reburied, which today search teams find.

Polykovichsky Krynitsa

This miraculous source is known far beyond the city limits, it was discovered in the middle of the XVI century. Water, from the crinica, gathering at the bottom of the ravine, flows into the Dnieper. In the XIX century, by the order of Count Rimsky-Korsakov, a chapel of St. Praskovia was built here. From that moment, ladles began to come to the source, and the source was spoken of as a miracle-working one. Every year on January 19 people come to the source for miraculous baptismal water.

Moscow and Tula courtyards

On Lenin Street in Mogilev there is a real "island" of the Russian capital - the Moscow courtyard, created in 2006. In the center there is a playground for children, made in the form of the Moscow Kremlin, a copy of the Tsoi Arbat Wall is nearby, other surfaces are painted with themes on Moscow themes.

Here, on Lenin Street, there is another courtyard - Tula. In its center there is a large samovar fountain, and there is also a playground in the form of the Tula Kremlin. The whole courtyard is decorated with images of Tula's coat of arms and scenes from the life of the city.

Mogilev Drama Theater

The story of Mogilev says that until the middle of the XIX century there was no theater in the city, and the wandering troupes showed their performances in the open air. And since the 40-ies. In the 19th century, the city authorities located the theater on the second floor of one of the buildings on Vetrenoy Street. There he did not stay long, and for the next 20 years he changed several buildings, so the city authorities came up with the idea to build their own theater. It was created in 1888 for money collected from voluntary donations of city residents. Total took more than 50 thousand rubles. At the main entrance to the theater was a sculpture on Chekhov's theme - the famous Lady with a dog.

Sundial

In the center of Mogilev there is a real sundial showing the exact time. There is also the sculpture of the Starship and 12 chairs - the symbols of the zodiac. The Astrologer Sculpture holds a telescope equipped with a searchlight, the evening ray of which is visible from outer space.