POLOTSK

THE MUSEUM-LIBRARY OF SIMEON OF POLOTSK

THE NATURE AND�ENVIRONMENT MUSEUM

THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL AND�CULTURAL MUSEUM

THE ART GALLERY

THE MUSEUM OF BELARUSIAN�BOOK PRINTING

A MONUMENT TO THE LETTER “Ў”

ST SOFIA CATHEDRAL

People often say that Polotsk is the city of all Belarusian cities. It was the first capital of Belarus. It was founded in the 9th century2 and it was the strongest in the 11th сentury with Vseslav Charodei at its head.

There are a lot of museums in Polotsk where people can learn Belarusian history and culture. Some of them are the National Historical and Cultural Museum, the Nature and Environment Museum, the Museum of Belarusian Book Printing, the Museum-Library of Simeon of Polotsk, the Children’s Museum, and others.

There is the Art Gallery and a few monuments to famous people. There is a monument to the letter “Ў” (short “U”), which is found only in one Slavic language – Belarusian.

Polotsk is famous for its churches. St Sofia Cathedral is one of the most famous. It has a concert hall with an organ. Every year festivals of organ music take place here. The name of Efrosiniya of Polotsk is dear to all Belarusian people.

Efrosiniya was born into a very rich family but she decided to live in a convent. There she copied church books and then gave money to poor people. She built some churches and monasteries in Polotsk and opened a school for children in the convent.

EFROSINIYA OF POLOTSK