Smolensk Tourist Information
First mentioned in 863 as the capital of the Slavic Krivichi tribes and a major trade center, Smolensk’s position on the upper Dnepr River gave it early control over trade routes between Moscow and the West and between the Baltic and Black seas – “from the Varangians to the Greeks”. It became part of Kyevan Rus, but after being sacked by the Tatars in about 1237, Smolensk passed to Lithuania. Moscow captured it in 1340, Lithuania in 1408, Moscow again in 1524, Poland in 1611 after a 20-month siege, and Russia in 1654.
There was a big battle between the Russians and Napoleon’s army outside Smolensk in 1812.
As Smolensk region is a border zone of the Russian Federation, during the Second World War there was heavy fighting in 1941 when Nazi troops invaded the country. Over two years Smolensk was occupied by German troops. It was practically razed to the ground. After the occupation was over only 7 per cent of buildings were not destroyed. Despite severe bombardments quite a number of original or restored buildings remained, notably churches and long sections of the city walls with five towers reminiscent of the Moscow Kremlin.
© by Russia-IC
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