Brest is situated in the western part of Belarussian Polessye. The first mention about it belongs to 1017. During many years it was famous as Berestye, Berestei. The town arose in a little island, in a crossing through the Bug River. In 1340 Brest was included into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and after that into Rzechpospolita (the Polish - Lithuanian Commonwealth). In 1490 the town got the right for its self-government and later it became the centre of the region. The unification of Catholic and Orthodox was proclaimed in Brest at the end of the 16th century in the territory of Rzechpospolita under supremacy of Catholic. We know this event as "The Brest Uniya". In 1795 Brest was returned to Russia, the town was transformed into a fortress for defence of the western boards of Russia in 1836 and it was transferred from the banks of the Bug to the Muhavets River. At the middle of the 19th century Brest was famous as a trade town.
The Brest Fortress was founded on the 1st of June in 1836. The territory of the old town was given for its construction. The Citadel is the main fortification of the fortress. It was placed in the central island and the Volyn, the Cobrin and the Terespol fortifications surrounded it. The fortress isn't merely a remarkable military construction; it is also an interesting architectural complex. The Brest fortress got universal fame during the Great Patriotic war, because it took the first blow for itself. The courage of the soldiers of the fortress will always be in the memory of their descendants.
Troyetskiy Catholic Church is one of the oldest monuments of the Belarussian wooden architecture. It was founded at the end of the 15th century. And the prince Radzivill finished the church only at the end of the 16-th century.
An interesting historical monument was kept in Kamenets. It is a sentry tower - "Belaya Vezha " ("the White Tower'). It was built in 1276. Its height is 30 meters. There are underground passages and narrow staircases in the tower. Now there is a museum in it.
Perhaps, that is why neighbouring forests are called 'Belovezhskaya Pushcha " Its area is more than 130 thousand hectares. Flora and fauna of Belovezhskaya Pushcha strike by their variety. There are about 300 types of animals and about 200 types of birds in the natural reserve. Aurochs (European bison) are the pride of the Pushcha. Hunting is allowed for some types of the animals in the natural reserve, but only with licences.
The ancient Byelorussian town of Kobrin is situated at a distance of 50 km from Brest. In 1795 Ekaterina (Katherine) II gave as a present the town to the great general Suvorov. Now there is a museum in the house, where Suvorov lived. A historical monument of the Patriotic war of 1812 was kept in Kobrin. Here on the 15th of July the first victory over the Napoleon's Army was won in the town. That is why the monument was erected.
Today Brest is a large transport and industrial centre. Kitchen-ranges, carpets, decorative fabrics for upholstered furniture are produced in the town. Networks of the railway and waterway are developed in Brest.
Byelorussian Polessye is situated in the south of the Republic. It occupies more than 500 km from the Western Bug to the Dnieper Rivers. The history of Polessye began from profound antiquity. Such ancient towns as Turov, Pinsk, Mosyr, Gomel appeared on the banks of the rivers. Thanks to advantageous position and trade relations, Gomel is the largest town of Eastern Polessye. It is situated on the banks of the Soge River, the Soge is suitable for navigation.
The first time Gomel was mentioned was in 1142. It called Gomiy at that time. The town came into the structure of the Chernigov Principality from the end of the 10th century and to the middle of the 12th century. After that it was under dominion of Lithuanian and Polish princes. At the end of the 18th century Ekaterina II (Katherine) gave it as a present to the famous Russian general Field Marshal Rumyantsev-Zadunayskiy for his merits to the Native country. The town is situated in a picturesque place. In 1785 on a bank of the Soge, a stone palace was founded by Rumyantsev. Its construction was finished by the Rumyantsevs' sons and by its next owner -- the Prince Paskevich. He got it in 1837 according to an edict of Nikolay I. The palace is a monument to the architecture of the time. A wonderful riverside is a peculiarity of the palace's complex. The park's area is about 25 hectares. It is situated on the precipitous bank of the Soge and the park is divided into two parts by a pond.
At the end of the 19th century a cathedral was built near the palace. It was St. Peter's and Paul's Cathedral. At the second half of the 19th century a chapel was constructed, where the Paskeviches were buried. The Ilyinskaya church (18th century) was built in the town, it is a monument to wooden architecture.
Today Gomel is the industrial centre of Belarus. There are the Machine-tool Constructive Plant, the Machine-building Plant, the Bearing Plant, the Chemical Plant, etc. in Gomel. People of many countries of the world know the production of the Agricultural Machine-building Plant "Gomselmach ". Manufactured articles from glass and measuring devices are produced in Gomel. The light and the food industries have developed in the town.
Gomel is a large cultural centre of the Republic. The State University, the Byelorussian Institute of Engineers of the Railway Transport, the Polytechnic and Medical institutes prepare students as future highly qualified specialists. Also Gomel has an athletic complex and a rowing channel.
Vitebsk is one of the oldest towns in Belarus. An exact date of its beginning hasn't been agreed yet. The first mention about it belongs to the 12th century in connection with a war between the Kiev, and the Polotsk Principalities. The prince of Kiev, Yaroslov Mudry gave the town on the Vitsba River to the Prince of Polotsk Bryacheslav. Vitebsk arose as a fortressr defence against of external enemies. It was built on the high bank of the Western Dvina River, where the Vitsba and the Luches Rivers flow into it. Vitebsk often opposed invasions of conquerors, because it had the advantageous geographical position. Its fortifications were formed from the Upper Castle (the 13th century) and the Lower Castle (the 14th century). At the end of the 16th -- the beginning of the 17th centuries Vzgorskiy Castle was also erected as a fortification. In 1320 the Vitebsk Principality was included intothe structure of Lithuania. Vitebsk regiments took part in the route of the Tevton Order under Grunvald. At the beginning of the 18th century, during the Northern War of Sweden against Russia and Poland, Vitebsk was burnt down almost completely.
Blagoveshchenskaya Church was built at the end of the 12th century. It is situated in the territory of the former Lower Castle. The former palace of the governor (end of the 18th century) was the residence of all governors of Vitebsk Province. In 1812 Napoleon stayed here. A monument was built near the palace. It was devoted to the victory of the Russian people in the Patriotic War in 1812. Kazanskaya Church was built in 1760. It is on the right bank of the Western Dvina River.
Today Vitebsk is a large industrial town in Belarus. Machine-building, production of construction materials the food and the light industries, production of TV sets are main branches in Vitebsk. Highly qualified specialists are trained in the pedagogical, medical, veterinary, technological and other institutes.
