Smilavichy
Smilavichy
Smilovitz | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country Voblast Raion |  Belarus Minsk Voblast |
| First mentioned | 1592 |
| Population (2006) | |
| • Total | 5.3 thousand |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Smilavichy (Belarusian: Смілавічы, Śmiłavičy, Russian: Сми́ловичи, Yiddish Smilovitz) is an urban settlement in Minsk Voblast, Belarus. Located at 53°45′N 28°01′E / 53.75°N 28.02°E at 156 m altitude.[1]. Population is 5,300 (2006).
History
Smilavichy was mentioned in 1592 as a private village not far from Minsk. By 1917, it was owned by several magnate families, the Sapiehas, Ahinskis and Moniuszkos most well-known. Traditionally the village was populated by Christian (Belarusian), Muslim (Tartar) and Jewish comunities. Besides agriculture, local people worked as shoemakers, tanners, farriers, tailors, etc. During the World War II a large number of Jews was killed by Nazis. Many of survivals migrated to other sites of Belarus and Soviet Union and especially to the other countries, as USA and Israel. After the World War II with building of the felting industry, some Bashkir families came to live here.
In 1924 - 1931 and 1935 - 1938, Smilavichy was the capital of the Smilavicki Raion.
In 1963, it became an urban settlement of Minsk Voblast.
Nowadays, Smilavichy is developed as a small industrial center that still saves its traditional way of life and attracts tourists from neigboring Minsk.
Economy
Most inhabitants of Smilavichy still depent on agriculture, mainly market gardening. But the main important enterprises are the felting factory (manufacturing winter felt boots), big tannery and bakery, furs manufacture, etc.
Education
Two secondary schools, Belarusian State Agrarian College
Attractions
- Palace of the 19-early 20th centuries (restored)
- Park of the 19-early 20th centuries
- Giant black pines
- "Chaim Soutin's Space" Museum
- St George Orthodox Christian Church of 1795. Local priest is a popular exorcist
- Tatar Mosque
- Old Jewish and Tatar Cemeteries
- Memorials of victims of the World War II
Notable residents
- Stanisław Moniuszko
- Chaim Soutine
- Ludmila Vauchok, Belarusian gold medal winner of Winter Paralympic Games (2006 and 2010)
- Ibrahim Kanapacki, Belarusian Tatar historian