Smolensk

Smolensk (in Russian: Смоленск) is a town of Russia on the Dniepr with a population of approximately 350000 inhabitants. She is located in the Oblast de Smolensk in the west of the country beside the Belorusse border . This strengthened city was destroyed several times during the History, while being placed on the roads of the invasions of Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk is re-elected for electronics, the textiles and food industry.

History

Smolensk was truly quoted for the first time in 863. Its position in the Rus' of Kiev along the road of the businesses coming from the Baltic States towards Constantinople rather early brings the row of commercial city to him. Later, the commercial relations also arrive until the Hanse. At the 12th century, Smolensk is the capital of a principality independent of Russia, before it is plundered by the Mongolian in 1238. Then, the area of Smolensk falls under the direction from the Grand-Duché from Lithuania then later from the République from the Two Nations. The expansion towards the west of the empire of Moscow brings many conflicts with the state Pole-Lithuanian and that the authority on Smolensk. In 1667, the city becomes again Russian; then in 1812 Napoleon I {{er}} conquers it on its way towards Moscow. In 1918, Smolensk is declared on part of the Bielorussia, and in 1919 the Belorusse Soviet socialist République is founded. During the Second world war, it is disputed also much. During the of Smolensk of the summer 1941 battles, the city is occupied and almost completely destroyed. Thousands of inhabitants are killed or taken along to obligatory work to Germany.

In spring 1943, the city is reconquered by the Red Army . Part of the city will be then rebuilt with the identical one.

Economy and transport

Today Smolensk is an important point of correspondence of Railroad on the way Warsaw - Minsk - Smolensk- Moscow - Smolensk- Vitebsk - Riga and Smolensk- Saint-Pétersbourg. It is also a shopping mall, cultural and of teaching. There are important industrial sectors like the production of cord, the construction of machines and food industry. A active Nuclear plant with three engines RBMK is in Smolensk.

Curiosities and culture

Among most important curiosities the wall of fortification is (1596 - 1602) which surrounds the old city, the cathedral (1677 - 1679), the seat of the diocese of Smolensk and Kaliningrad, the Peter-Paul church of the 12th century, the church of the Michel archangel also of the 12th century as well as the cathedral of the Assumption of 1677. The administrative buildings and the theater-opera are good examples of Soviet architecture. The open opera in 1780 is one of oldest.

There are several Muses in the city, of which the museum of art and the museum of the association of the painters of Russia. February 9th, 2006, the Musée of the Hermitage of Saint-Pétersbourg opened a dependence in this city.

Twinning

Twinnings of Smolensk are:

Sources

See too

  • Battles of Smolensk: 1812 - 1941 - 1943
  • Gate on the oblast of Smolensk
  • Site of the administration of Smolensk
  • Portrait of the city on russiancity.ru
  • Photographs of Smolensk

Be-X-old: Смаленск

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