Mozyr

Mozyr is the administrative center of the Mozyr district of the Gomel region. The city is located on the Pripyat River, 294 km from Minsk, 144 km from Gomel. Not far from Mozyr passes one of the main roads of Belarus M10 (Border of the Russian Federation (Selishche) - Gomel - Kobrin), and also roads P31 (Bobruisk - Mozyr - border of Ukraine (New Rudnya), P35 (Kalinkovichi - Bragin - Komarin - border Of Ukraine (Komarin) and R36 (Mozyr - Lelchitsy - Milosevichi - the border of Ukraine (Glushkovichi). Also the Kalinkovichi - Slovechno railway line passes through the city.

Mazyr - one of the most ancient cities Belarus. For the first time in written sources, he was mentioned in 1155, when Prince Yury Dolgoruky transferred this land to Prince Svyatoslav Olegovich. At that time, the city was part of the Turov Principality, which in turn was subordinate to Kiev. However, when Turov became independent, Mozyr remained under the authority of the Kiev princes. Further, in the XIV century, this land goes to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Chronicle texts report that, initially, Mozyr was an ordinary Slavic settlement with a fortified center and posad. But at the beginning of the XVI century there are mentions of a wooden castle and church. It is known that the castle had five towers, and it was surrounded by a moat and a rampart.

Mozyr often experienced attacks from the Crimean Tatars, as it was on their way. In 1497, they managed to get into the city and plunder it. The same happened in 1508, 1521 and 1534, however, the residents did not remain in debt. Legends tell us about the intrepid warlords who triumphed over the Tatars. It is known that in 1508 Mozyr was transformed into the residence of the rebellious prince Mikhail Glinsky, who was supported by the gentry here. It is also worth noting that this city was never transferred to private ownership, and in 1577 received a coat of arms and the right to self-government. Magdeburg Law was bestowed by the famous Stefan Batory.

The most tragic period of the existence of Mozyr is associated with the wars of Rzecz Pospolita and the Russian state. Then they came to this land under the leadership of Colonel Mikhnenko, who managed to strengthen his unit by local residents. However, hetman Janusz Radziwill came to storm the castle, who managed to find a weak spot and completely suppress the uprising. Almost all of the rebels died in battle, and the leader was sentenced by beheading. After such events, the castle as a fortification no longer existed.

After the second section of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1793, Mozyr land was transferred to the Russian Empire. The Napoleonic wars did not affect this territory, but the city was located Ertel reserve corps, whose soldiers were located in the homes of citizens. Mozyrchane took an active part in the uprisings of 1830-31. and 1863. In the first, a detachment of local residents was assembled, which was soon destroyed due to the lack of a general plan. In 1863, innovative ideas captured the minds of students of the Mozyr gymnasium. However, a battalion of the Vitebsk Infantry Regiment was sent here, which introduced and maintained martial law.

The 20th century was also full of events. The political events of Russia were reflected in the lives of local residents. Thus, the organization Polesia Committee of the RSDLP operated in Mozyr, which was particularly active during the 1905-1907 revolution. These were the largest performances in the territory of Belarus. «Mozyr Republic» existed for 9 whole days, until the troops came here. All members of the committee were captured and sentenced to exile in Siberia. During the establishment of Soviet power, the inhabitants of the Mozyr lands experienced the activities of the Petlura troops, Polish troops and the Bulak-Balakhovich troops on their territory. It was hard for the inhabitants during the occupation by the German troops. And since 1954, Mozyr became the district center of the Gomel region.

Today Mozyr is the industrial capital of Polesia, a rather large city and an attractive tourist center. Picturesque landscapes of hilly terrain and one of the largest The rivers of Belarus attract guests to this wonderful city. Much attention is paid to education, development of sports and culture. There is a pedagogical university in the city, which has already celebrated its 70th anniversary. Wherein Mozyr continues to grow: residential houses, sports and recreation facilities, cultural organizations, various playgrounds are being built.

Mozyr - one of the real cultural centers of the country, it is located on a hilly area on the shore Pripyat River. Its location largely determined the historical development, and this in turn influenced the tourist potential. This city is attractive not only for its beautiful natural views and monuments, but also for unusual sights, famous natives and developed infrastructure. To come here is a great way to plunge into the life of Belarusian Polesie and have fun.

One of the most interesting sights is Castle Hill. Chronicle sources report that there was a large and well fortified castle in Mazyr. Unfortunately, the buildings of that time were not preserved. But at the same time, every guest can see the renewed wooden castle. The construction was built for the 850th anniversary of the city, and today it is very popular among tourists. Another architectural monument is the building of the county hospital of the beginning of the twentieth century. Now it is abandoned, but the elegant appearance design attracts attention. Initially, there was a mansion of one of the residents who did not even plan to build a house of mercy inside. However, the story had its own way. This is a favorite place for researchers and just lovers of mysterious places.

Religious buildings are represented by churches and churches. The most ancient architectural monument is the former Cistercian monastery, founded in the XVII century. At a later time, the St. Michael's Cathedral and the convent were built. Many of the relics were lost, the monasteries were closed, handed over to the Orthodox. Today only Church of St. Michael, which surprises with its impressive appearance. Almost the same age as the monastery is the cathedral Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, which also survived an eventful history: it was the NKVD prison, a hospital. Today it is a functioning temple, within which is located the country's only church museum of political repressions. St. Nicholas and St. George's Church. The first one was built at the beginning of the twentieth century on the site of a wooden church, and St. George’s is a more modern church, which was made according to all canons of Orthodoxy.

To get acquainted with the history of the city, it is necessary to visit local museums. Chief among them is local history. It opened its doors to the first visitors in 1949. Today, a real cultural center, which is ready to offer a variety of expositions. Its branches are equally interesting the Pushkar Museum, the Mozyr Castle and the Folk Culture Museum «Pales Veda». Among them, the Pushkar Museum deserves special attention. Its name comes from the surname of the famous figure Nikolai Nikitovich Pushkar, who, not even being a Belarusian, became famous as a master ceramist. His fate is worthy of writing a book: he was born in Russia, was trained in the colony of A. Makarenko, and then an art school awaited him. During World War II, Nikolai was contused, taken prisoner, after he passed the concentration camps. As a result, he and his wife moved to Mozyr, where he became interested in professionally made ceramics. The museum presents all periods of life of this person, as well as his work.

There are monuments dedicated to the Great Patriotic War in Mozyr, including the «Mound of Glory», as well as a sculpture to the victims of the Chernobyl tragedy. A favorite theme of local sculptors are busts, which are a sufficient number throughout the city. For example, the bust of P. Chapaev, of which there are only three throughout Belarus, and V. Khoruzhey. Even in Mazyr, there is one feature: a tram rides through its territory. He has only one line, but it lasts more than 20 kilometers. Among the natural monuments worth mentioning is the reserve «Mozyr Ravines». It was created in 1986 and is known primarily for its unique relief. The special atmosphere is given to it by the fact that the reserve is partially located within the city, and some streets pass right along the bottom of the ravines. But in winter, tourists are primarily attracted by the Mozyr ski complex, where you can not only ride the slope, but also spend cultural time.

Mozyr is a modern city, where for every tourist there is an interesting place. Relax, gain strength and get new impressions - this is what attracts visitors from different cities and countries. Convenient geographical location, the presence of developed infrastructure make this city even more popular.