When I was at school, we studied the history of Belarus, beginning with 1917. This is the reason that we know very little about our ancient history.
    This page will acquaint you with Polotsk, one of the ancient cities of Belarus. Polotsk was mentioned in  ancient manuscripts for the first time in 806. Since 1802 it has been standing on the banks of the rivers Dvina and Polota this is where the name came from.
    Due to its very convenient geographical position it carried out trade with many European cities and states. So  its culture and economy grew rather rapidly. In the 8th century  the Vikings’ Way went  through Polotsk along the river West Dvina.
    The history of Polotsk of the second half of the XIth century is closely connected with the name of Prince Vseslav. The princedom of Polotsk included at that time Minsk, Vitebsk, Logoisk, Zaslavl, Braslav, Orsha and other Belorussian cities. Vseslav wanted to seize new lands and in 1065 he decided to capture Russian city of Pskov, but failed. One year later he moved his troops to another Russian city of Novgorod. Russian forces joined together to teach Vseslav a lesson. they invaded Polotsk lands. That was a historical bloody battle at Nyemiga, which is now one of the Minsk underground stations.
    In the beginning of the XXth century there were more than 24 thousand citizens in Polotsk. There were 500 shops, 2 hospitals, 3 drug stores, 16 hotels, 5 libraries and 8 churches. There were many educational establishments: a women gymnasium, a military school and  some private schools.

               Would you like to visit these places .
 
 

	THE SAVIOR OF EPHROSINIA OF POLOTSK, founded by the princess – enlightner Ephrosinia  in the 11 th century. Holy Relics of Saint Ephrosinia are  kept here nowadays.
THE MUSEUM OF BOOKPRINTING is founded in the former building of the women gymnasium. After visiting this museum, you will know about our  first bookprinter Frantsisk Scarina.

THE SOPHIA CATHEDRAL was built on an analogy with the Kiev Sophia Cathedral in the 11th century. Now it is a concert hall where  on a Sunday you can listen to organ music played by our famous organist Ksenia Pogorelaya

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