Berazino
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Berazino or Berezino (respectfully Belarusian: and Russian: ) also known as Biarezan (Бярэзань) is a town on Berezina river in the Minsk Province of Belarus. . The population is 13,300 (1998 census).
History
Although there are no documented points to determine the original founding date of the settelement on the territory of the present Berazino, it is believed that it originated as a trading post on the river Berezina which was part of the historic route "from Varyags to Greeks" of the Kievan Rus. The first chronicles of a setellement date to 1501 which is believed to be the present date of its founding.During the middle of the 16th century, the city belonged to one of the mightiest dynasties of the Great Duchy of Lithuania - the Sapegs, who controlled many other territories in Central Belarus. In 1641 the Duke Leo Sapeg built a wooden Catholic Church which became one of the central attractions of the town. In the course of the Polish-Muscovite War (1654-1657) the city was captured by Russian forces in1655, but was taken off them and in 1661 became part of the Minsk Woevodship. Ten years later it was granted to the Polish Magnates Mikhail Wladislaw and Dorothy Tishkevich.
During the Northern War in 1708 upon Charles XII's attempt to storm into the Russian Empire, realising the Russian blockade in neighbouring Barisaw the Swedish king used Berazino to cross the Berezina River instead, however the conquest ended with the Battle of Poltava further south.
In 1793 the town was annexed by Imperial Russia as part of the Second Partition of Poland. Howver the city was captured in 1812 during Napoleon's Eastern Campaign where following his failed advance on Moscow was defeated fully by the forces of General Barklay de-Tolli in early 1813. In 1856 the city was handed to duke Pototsky whom it remained up to the collapse of the Russian Empire.
During the latter half of the 19th century the town profited from its geographical position and in 1905 was noted to have 3200 residents. By the start of the First World War it became a large river port which loaded goods (mostly salt and timber) and shipped down the rivert to the Baltic Ports. Also the first industry began to be developed including the Pototsky wine fabric.
In aftermath of the Russian Revolution of 1917 the town changed hands several times including German and Polish armies during the Russian Civil War and the Polish-Bolshevik War. Finally on June 7, 1920 Berazino becomes part of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. From June 17 1924 as a separate raion centre in the Barisaw district and in June 1927 - Minsk district. Finally the town grows and on 15 February 1938 becomes part of the Mogilev Oblast. During the time mass industrialisation took place and the position of the river port allowed a development of shipbuilding, wheel, textile and spirit factories as well as smaller workshops on automobiles and wood fabrics. The population also rose from 2,968 in 1930 to 4,800 in 1939.
During World War II the city was occupied by Nazi Germany and was liberated by the 2nd Byelorussian Front on 3rd of July 1944 during operation "Bagration". In September of that year the town becomes part of the Berazino raion of Minsk Oblast, and on July 7th, 1968 became a city. Presentely the town occupies an area of 1.9 thousand square kilometres and its population is 13.3 thousand people (1998).
Modern Berazino
Industry
All of the Berazino's products are sold abroad and in Belarus the most notable production plants are:- Madikor construction material fabric
- Timber production plant Berezinsky leskhoz
- Dairy plant Berezinsky Syrodelny Zavod
- Textile fabric Berzka
Education and culture
The city has three schools one of which has a speciality on future pegagogical training. In addition there is what is known as a Centre of intelectual development, formally a school with speciality on Physics and Mathematics, the centre specialises on raising youth talent and helps to point the youth to correct future higher education in main urban centres of Belarus.The central house of culture is the main point which also groups 22 rural points. There are in total 32 libraries, arts and music schools
Health and wellfare
The city has a central hostpital with additional 4 local clinics and 26 rural health centres. Presentely there are 55 doctors and 243 nurses employed. Leisurewise the city has 22 sports halls, 10 football grounds, two stadiums, three archeries and one pool. Many famous sportsmen are native of Berazino including Georgy Zhukovsky Belarusian champion and part of the nation team for waterpolo, Nikolay Khokol world champion for rowing, and Valentina Sakhonchik multiple champion of the USSR for velosports.Attractions
In total there are 110 memorials compromising of scuptures, monuments and plaques. 68 buildings are deemed as architectural heritage including the famous House of Duke Pototsky as well as the original wooden Catholic Cathderal.
External links:
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