📜 History of Braslav District

🏰since the 11th centuryFirst mentions
🏛️51 monumentsHistorical and cultural values
🕊️1960Formation of the modern district
⚔️10,000+Civilians killed in WWII

Chronology of the region's development

11th century Braslavshchyna became part of the Polotsky Principality
14th century The region passed to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (part of Vilnius and Polotsk lands)
1564–1566 Administrative reform: exact borders of Braslav district of Vilnius Voivodeship defined
1792–1795 Partitions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The eastern part passed to the Russian Empire, the western part transformed into Braslav Voivodeship
1836–1843 The center of the district moved to Novoaleksandrovsk (Yazerosy). The county included in the Kovno Governorate
1918–1922 Period of changing state formations during revolutionary events
1922–1939 Braslav district of Vilnius Voivodeship within the Polish Republic
1940 Formation of Braslav and Vidzov districts of Vileyka region of BSSR
1960 Unification of territories into a single Braslav district within Vitebsk region

The Great Patriotic War

The Braslav district suffered significantly during the war. The district center was occupied in late June 1941. During the fascist regime, about 10 thousand civilians were killed, and more than 120 settlements were completely destroyed.

Three villages shared the tragic fate of Khatyn: along with the residents, Repovshchyna, Stajki, and Labetski were burned and not restored.

The liberation began in early July 1944 during the operation "Bagration". For courage and heroism, the title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to: A.M. Zhdanov, I.N. Volchkov, V.A. Babichev, A.A. Alekseev, A.I. Isipin, and V.L. Zaytsev posthumously. Over a thousand natives of the district died on the fronts.

Historical and Cultural Heritage

On the territory of the district, there are 51 monuments of architecture, archaeology, and history included in the State List of Historical and Cultural Values of the Republic of Belarus.

🏰 Fortresses and Archaeology
  • Castle Hill in Braslav
  • Island fortifications in the villages of Ikazn and Drisvyaty
  • Maskovichi Hillfort
  • Burial mounds in the villages of Uklya and Opsi
⛪ Cult Buildings
  • Bernardine complex in the village of Druya (17th century)
  • Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the town of Vidzy (early 20th century)
  • St. Peter and Paul Church in the village of Drisvyaty (1926)
  • Assumption Church in the town of Vidzy (1910)
🏘️ Manors and Parks
  • Manor in the village of Vidzy-Lavchynski (late 18th century)
  • Belmont Park (2nd half of the 18th century)
  • Residential complex in the city of Braslav (1924–1926)
  • Assumption Church and Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God (1897)
🕊️ Memory and Burials
  • 50 military burials on the territory of the district
  • Memorials at the sites of burned villages
  • Mass graves of liberating soldiers
  • Commemorative plaques to Heroes of the Soviet Union

📖 Preserving the Past — Building the Future

The history of Braslavshchyna is reflected in museum exhibitions, architectural monuments, and the memory of local residents. We invite you to explore the heritage of the region!