Braslav is one of the most ancient settlements in Belarus. The small town is part of the Vitebsk region. The historical sights of Braslav amaze with their architectural grandeur, magnificence of ensembles and graceful beauty. Many travelers come here every year, because all the necessary infrastructure is provided for this. But Braslav is rich not only in historical and cultural objects. The city is famous for its charming nature. It has a huge number of lakes. There are so many of them that it seems that Braslav is located on an island. But in fact, this is not at all the case. The locality is incredibly beautiful, and its history is just as amazing.
Historical chronicle
Before exploring the sights of Braslav, it is important to get acquainted with the history of the city. In the 9th century, on the site of Braslav there was a settlement of Krivichi and Latgalians. Subsequently, it turned into the center of the settlement. Various historical chronicles testify that for the first time the name of the city is mentioned in1065. Then it sounded like Bryachislav and Bryachislavl - according to the name of the Polotsk prince, whose name was Bryachislav Izyaslavich.
In the XIV century, the sights of Braslav and, accordingly, the city itself were part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. At first it was owned by Prince Gediminas, and then by his heir Yavnut. In the autumn of 1500, Braslav was granted Magdeburg rights, which Sigismund I confirmed 14 years later. During the 17th-18th centuries, numerous military actions were carried out on the territory of the settlement. As a result, the city was badly damaged and even completely destroyed several times.
In 1918, the city was occupied by the Kaiser's troops, and from 1922 to 1939 it was part of Poland. In 1939, Braslav became part of the Byelorussian SSR. Today the city is listed as part of the independent Republic of Belarus.
One of the best lakes
Studying the sights of Braslav is best from objects created by nature. One of them is Lake Strusto. There is a reservoir near the city and is part of the Braslav Lakes National Park. Not only residents of the city, but also tourists come here to rest.
Lake Strusto is rightly called the pearl of the park. This is one of the largest and most beautiful reservoirs included in the Braslav group. The area of Strusto is 13 km2, and its length exceeds six kilometers. There are several islands in the reservoir. The glory of the lake brought its fish resources. Tourists like the pristine nature of this place andstunning views from here. If you want to enjoy peace and tranquility, then Lake Strusno is the perfect place for this.
Catholic Church on Castle Hill
Braslav (Belarus), whose sights are described in our review, is known in CIS countries as a city with many churches belonging to different faiths. The Roman Catholic Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary is one such church. This architectural monument was erected in 1824, and in 1897 it was expanded and rebuilt in accordance with the neo-Romanesque style.
An interesting fact about this attraction is that for the first time a Catholic church was mentioned back in the 15th century. It was a wooden cathedral located on the Castle Hill. But the church was regularly destroyed and rebuilt, and in 1794 it was completely burned to the ground. The new stone church was built just in 1824.
They decided to rebuild the building of the Catholic Church due to the fact that it became too small to accommodate all the parishioners on its territory. That is why at the end of the 19th century the religious building was enlarged and expanded.
During the Soviet Union, the church was closed and even once converted into a warehouse for grain storage. But thanks to the parishioners, the cathedral still managed to be defended, and today it is used for its intended purpose.
Interesting fact about Braslav
There is a hospital building in the city, the history of which is directly related to Dr. Stanislav Narbut. City of Braslav in Belarushas always been considered one of the centers with the best medical care in the country. The hospital mentioned above was one of the best in its day.
The monument-obelisk erected in honor of Narbut, and the medical institution, and, in fact, the person of this gentleman, are of interest. The white obelisk, equipped with a lantern, is installed on the peak of the Castle Hill. In the history of the city, Stanislav Narbut played a unique and striking role. This man was known as a talented doctor and an active public figure. The hospital, called Narbutovskaya, was built only thanks to him.
The hospital building has intricate architecture. The one-story building was built of red bricks and placed on a foundation made of hewn stone. The appearance of the hospital is equated to fortress forts: in the center of the main facade there is a portal with a gable shield. It is decorated with small tetrahedral turrets. Today this building is not in use. But tourists come here to admire its architecture and visit the famous doctor's apartment next door.
Romantic era park
The city of Braslav, whose sights are of considerable interest to travelers, is also the place where the most beautiful parks in the world are located. The Belmont manor park was built at the end of the 18th century and is the largest in the country among those belonging to the period of romanticism. The area of "Belmont" reaches almost 65 hectares. In the vicinity of the propertythere is a chapel dating from the 19th century. Many exotic plants grow in the park.
Other attractions
Braslav (attractions, the history is described in the article) boasts a number of objects that deserve to be at least told about, if not visited. So, there is a spring Okmenitsa in the city - a healing spring, which people have known since the beginning of the foundation of the settlement. Pure sodium chloride water flows from the spring.
The local history museum is an interesting institution with six exhibition halls.
The village of Moskovishche is also of interest, which is the archaeological heritage of the city and is a settlement dating back to the 17th century.
