Charming and refined city, Grodno is often called the city-museum, and is one of the most interesting artistic and architectural features of the country. City of castles, palaces and churches, over the centuries it has preserved monuments of various styles, from Gothic to constructivism, presenting itself as one of the last examples of the Middle Ages in Eastern Europe with Vilnius, Krakow and Lviv. At 20 km from the border with Poland, the city is cut in two by the River Niémen. The right bank was chosen to base the city. Grodno was first mentioned in the Ancient Chronicles in 1127 as capital of the Principality of Prince Vsevolod. Here was a fortress that gave the city the name of Goroden (wooden defensive construction), then became Grodno under the influence of the Polish language. In the xiiith-xive, the city faces the invasions of Teutonic knights. It was Grodno that the Grand-Duchy army played to confront the crusaders during the decisive battle of Grünwald in 1410. After victory the city receives Magdeburg's law. From 1576 to 1586, Grodno became the residence of the King of Poland Stefan Batorij. From 1765 to 1780, the storosa Antoni Tisenhaus, starosta de Grodno, began his reform activity here. Many factories invest the city. With the opening of a printing works in 1775, the first newspaper on Belarusian territory, the Grodnenskaja Gazeta was born. The arrival of the Jesuits in 1625 and the foundation of their college greatly enriched the cultural life of the city. In 1795, following Poland's third distribution, Grodno moved to the Russian Empire. Occupied by the German army in 1915, the Treaty of Riga dating back to 1920 gave it to Poland. In 1939, Grodno joined Soviet Belarus.Today, Grodno is a European city, an important cultural, scientific and commercial center. From its foundation, it is multi-ethnic and multi-confessional, allowing Jews, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Russians, Tatars and Lithuanians to live in friendship. The famous national culture festival in Belarus is proof of this. In June, the streets of the city center transformed into a gigantic theater of theater performances, concerts, dances, handicraft exhibitions and tasting of national dishes. An impressive show! Grodno is also the birthplace of Léon Bakst, painter, decorator and designer of the Russian ballets of Sergej Diaghilev.

What to visit Hrodna (Гродна)?

Weather at the moment

Loading...
Organize your trip with our partners Hrodna (Гродна)
Transportation
Accommodation & stays
Services / On site

Hrodna (Гродна) travel inspiration

Find unique Stay Offers with our Partners

Pictures and images Hrodna (Гродна)

Dépôt des pompiers. Andrea NERI
Vue sur la place soviétique. Andrea NERI
Eglise de la Sainte-Croix Courtesy of Belarus National tourism Agency
Send a reply