Dorogobuzh
Coordinates: 54°55′N 33°18′E / 54.917°N 33.3°E
Dorogobuzh (Russian: Дорогобуж; Polish: Dorohobuż) is a historic town and the administrative center of Dorogobuzhsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, straddling the Dnieper River 125 kilometers (78 mi) to the east of Smolensk and 71 kilometers (44 mi) west of Vyazma. Population: 10,720 (2010 Census preliminary results);[1] 12,250 (2002 Census);[2] 12,254 (1989 Census).[3]
It originated before the Mongol invasion of Rus' as a fortress defending eastern approaches to Smolensk. In 1508, Vasily III sent Italian masters to build a wooden fort there. The town was ravaged during the Time of Troubles, and its population was reduced to ten men in 1614. Between 1611 and 1668, the town belonged to Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as a part of Smolensk Voivodeship. Subsequently, the town survived other foreign invasions and numerous fires.
The principal points of historic interest lie outside the city proper. The 18th-century estate of Aleksino, for instance, used to be reputed for its stud-farm of Orlov stallions. The Boldin Monastery, dating from the 15th century, was renovated by the Godunov family in the late 16th century. The Godunovs commissioned a five-domed cathedral, a tented refectory, and a pillar-like bell-tower to be built there. According to Peter Baranovsky, the abbey represented the best-preserved 16th-century monastery complex in Eastern Europe. It was blown up by the retreating Germans in 1943 but was partly rebuilt in the 1990s.
[edit] References
- ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2011). "Предварительные итоги Всероссийской переписи населения 2010 года (Preliminary results of the 2010 All-Russian Population Census)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (2010 All-Russia Population Census). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis-2010.ru/results_of_the_census/results-inform.php. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
- ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (May 21, 2004). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
- ^ "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. (All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers.)" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Demoscope Weekly (website of the Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. 1989. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg.php. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
[edit] External links
- Website of Dorogobuzh
- History and monuments of Dorogobuzh (Russian)
- Mojgorod.ru. Entry on Dorogobuzh (Russian)
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