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61-854: Its largest settlements include: Gomel , Mazyr , Zhlobin , Svyetlahorsk , Rechytsa , Kalinkavichy , Rahachow and Dobrush . Both the Gomel Region and the Mogilev Region suffered severely from the Chernobyl disaster . The Gomel Province borders the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone in places, and parts of it have been designated as mandatory or voluntary resettlement areas as a result of the radioactive contamination . Gomel Region comprises 21 districts and 2 city municipalities. The districts have 278 selsovets , and 17 cities and towns. Pripyatsky National Park covers 2% of

122-544: A bakery, and the first phase of a municipal power plant. In 1926 the city was passed to the Byelorussian SSR . By 1940, 264 industrial enterprises had been established. During World War II , Gomel was under Nazi occupation from 19 August 1941 until 26 November 1943 . The city was taken by Rokossovsky 's Belorussian Front during the Gomel-Rechitsa Offensive. Eighty percent of the city

183-470: A day. The city is an important railroad hub in the southeastern part of Belarus, as it is situated midway on the Minsk – Kyiv rail link. The strategic location of Gomel near the border with Russia and Ukraine provides a direct connection to both countries’ vast railroad networks. The trolleybus network opened on 20 May 1962 and now consists of 23 routes (not counting variations). On 15 December 2010, following

244-639: A national symbol and treasure lost during World War II ), and the prolific, original Church Slavonic sermons and writings of Bishop Cyril of Turaw (1130–1182). The first Belarusian printer, Francysk Skaryna , was born in Polotsk around 1490. He is famous for being the first to print the Bible in the Old Belarusian language (East Slavic language) in 1517, several decades after the first-ever printed book by Johann Gutenberg and just several years after

305-406: A number of express routes. The rolling stock consists mainly of MAZ-105, MAZ-107, MAZ-103 buses, and to a lesser extent MAZ-203, MAZ-206, and since 2014, the extra-large-capacity, low-floor MAZ-215 . Express routes use Rodemich-A type buses. The 24 minibus lines use Ford Transit, GAZelle, Mercedes-Benz, and Peugeot vans. Gomel Airport is located 8 km (5 mi) northeast of the city. Gomel

366-696: A printing house, a bookshop, a theatre with 3 stages, a science museum, an art gallery and a scientific and literary periodical, and a medical-care centre. The school was also the patron of the college in Petersburg, the mission to Saratov and an expedition to Canton. During the French invasion of Russia the district saw two battles, the First Battle of Polotsk (August 1812) and the Second Battle of Polotsk (October 1812). In 1820, pressure from

427-529: Is a major transport hub . Major railway junctions include Gomel, Zhlobin, and Kalinkavichy. Gomel is located at the intersection of the highways 95E Odesa – Kyiv – St. Petersburg , Bakhmach – Vilnius , and M10 Bryansk – Brest . River transport is also common in the region with regular navigation on the Pripyat, Dnieper and Berezina rivers. The number of travel agencies in Gomel Region has grown from 21 in 2000 to 54 in 2010. Main tourist destinations of

488-607: Is a town in Vitebsk Region , Belarus . It is situated on the Dvina River and serves as the administrative center of Polotsk District . Polotsk is served by Polotsk Airport and Borovitsy air base. As of 2024, it has a population of 79,579. The Old East Slavic name, Polotesk , derives from the Polota river, which flows into the neighboring Western Dvina . The Vikings rendered that name as Palteskja . Polotsk

549-532: Is administratively separated from the district. As of 2024, it is the second-largest city in Belarus with 501,102 inhabitants. There are at least six narratives of the origin of the city's name. The most plausible is that the name is derived from the name of the stream Homeyuk, which flowed into the river Sozh near the foot of the hill where the first settlement was founded. Names of other Belarusian cities are formed along these lines: for example, Polotsk from

610-615: Is home to a wide range of sports facilities that have been developed and improved in recent years. These facilities, including eight stadiums and the Ice Palace, which has two ice arenas, support common activities such as hockey, track and field, and football. HK Gomel of the Belarusian Extraleague is the local pro hockey team. The Central Stadium is the home of Gomel's local football club, FC Gomel . Gomel hosts multiple international competitions in these facilities,

671-598: Is one of the earliest mentioned cities of the Eastern Slavs . The Primary Chronicle mentioned Polotsk in the year 862 (as Полотескъ, /poloteskŭ/), together with Murom and Belozersk . However, an archaeological expedition from the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus suggests that Polotsk existed in the first half of the 9th century. The first known prince of Polotsk

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732-661: The St. Petersburg State University Scientific Library. Polotsk came under occupation by the German Empire between 25 February 1918 and 21 November 1918 during World War I , by Poland between 22 September 1919 and 14 May 1920 in the Polish–Soviet War . and by Nazi Germany between 16 July 1941 and 4 July 1944 during World War II . In August 1944, there were serious considerations to transfer Polotsk and its surrounding areas (18,000 square kilometers) with ~400,000 people from

793-517: The Byelorussian SSR to the Russian SFSR , however Joseph Stalin , persuaded by Panteleimon Ponomarenko , eventually rejected to approve the already prepared transferring documents and subsequently Polotsk functioned as the center of Polotsk Region between 20 September 1944 and 8 January 1954. A reorganisation of the area between Vitebsk and Molodechno Regions left Polotsk part of the former. The city's Saint Sophia Cathedral (1044–1066)

854-522: The Hypatian Codex under the year of 1142 as being territory of the princes of Chernigov. For some time, Gomel was ruled by the prince of Smolensk Rostislav Mstislavich before it was re-captured by Iziaslav III Davidovich , after whose death it belonged to Sviatoslav Olgovich and then to Sviatoslav's son Oleg. Under Oleg, Gomel went to the Principality of Novgorod-Seversk . The next ruler

915-688: The Mozhaysk prince Ivan Andreyevich, and from 1483 to 1505 to his son Semyon, who transferred it to the Grand Principality of Moscow . During the Second Muscovite–Lithuanian War of 1500–1503, Lithuania tried to regain Gomel and other lands transferred to Moscow, but suffered defeat and lost one-third of its territory. In 1535, Lithuanian and Polish forces under Jerzy Radvila , Jan Tarnowski and Andrzej Niemirowicz re-captured

976-657: The Russian Empire after the first partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1772 and was confiscated by the imperial treasury. In 1775, Empress Catherine II gave Gomel and Gomel eldership in the eternal hereditary possession of Russian military commander Pyotr Rumyantsev . The period when Gomel was part of the Russian Empire was marked by rapid growth of the population, urban infrastructure, and industrial capacity, predominantly after

1037-772: The Russian Orthodox Church influenced the Russian Emperor Alexander I to exile the Jesuits and to close the Polock Academy, there were 700 students studying there. The Russian authorities also broke up the Academy's library of 40,000–60,000 volumes, the richest collection of 16th- to 18th-century books — the books went to St. Petersburg, Kiev and other cities, 4000 volumes (along with books from other closed Jesuit schools) going to

1098-913: The Russo-Polish War (1654–67) . In 1772, Russia seized Polotsk (then Połock) as part of the First Partition of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . Since the Russian Empress Catherine II did not acknowledge the Papal suppression of the Society of Jesus (1773–1814), the Jesuit branches in these lands were not disbanded, and Połock became the European centre of the Order , with a novitiate opening in 1780, and with

1159-585: The annexation by the Russian Empire – to the Czartoryski family . During the Great Northern War Russian forces under Aleksandr Danilovich Menshikov stood in Gomel. In 1670, Gomel received Magdeburg rights . Towards the middle of the 17th century, the city fell into crisis mainly due to the struggles mentioned above. It suffered significant damage, the population decreased severely, and many crafts disappeared. Gomel became part of

1220-402: The 10th and 12th centuries, the Principality of Polotsk emerged as the dominant center of power in what is now Belarusian territory, with a lesser role played by the Principality of Turov to the south. It repeatedly asserted its sovereignty in relation to other centers of Kievan Rus' , becoming a political capital, the episcopal see and the controller of vassal territories among Balts in

1281-467: The 1700s and 1800s, the main part belongs to the 20th - 21st centuries. Most of the architectural monuments of the 20th century date back to the 1950s. Most of them are concentrated in the central part of the city. The Ferris Wheel and the Ferris Tower, located in a park a few hundred meters from the palace complex, are popular for exploring the city. Since the topography of Gomel is relatively flat,

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1342-513: The 1990s saw mass emigration of Jews from Gomel, but at the same time restoration of Jewish institutions in the city by the remaining Jewish inhabitants. Gomel is situated in the southeastern part of the country, on the right bank of the river Sozh , 302 km (188 mi) south-east of Minsk , 534 km (332 mi) east of Brest , 171 km (106 mi) south of Mogilev , 237 km (147 mi) west of Bryansk and 111 km (69 mi) north of Chernihiv . The terrain on which

1403-468: The Atlantic and the dominating western transfer. On 7 August 2010, Gomel recorded a temperature of 38.9 °C (102.0 °F), which is the highest temperature to have ever been recorded in Belarus. The public transportation system uses over 1,000 buses and trolleybuses . Over 210 million passenger rides were registered in 2006. Taxi services ($ 10 for a one-way intracity ride) are available 24 hours

1464-464: The Convent of Saint Euphrosyne, which also features a neo-Byzantine cathedral , designed and built in 1893—1899 by Vladimir Korshikov . Cultural achievements of the medieval period include the work of the nun Euphrosyne of Polotsk (1120–1173), who built monasteries, transcribed books, promoted literacy and sponsored art (including local artisan Lazarus Bohsha's famous " Cross of Saint Euphrosyne ,"

1525-628: The Golovatskiy's Cossack detachment, and in 1649 by Martyn Nebaba's detachment. After that, Gomel got through several sieges in 1651 but in 1654 was captured by Ivan Zolotarenko's detachment. He and his sons held the city until 1667 and then began to serve under Alexis of Russia , however, after the Truce of Andrusovo Gomel at last returned to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, where it first belonged to M. K. Radvila and then – till

1586-557: The Mongol-Tatar assault in the first half of the 13th century. In 1335, the Gomel region was annexed to the Great Duchy of Lithuania by Algirdas . From 1335 to 1406, it was under the ownership of Prince Patricia Narymuntovich and his sons, from 1406 to 1419 the city was ruled by the grand duke's deputies, from 1419 to 1435 it belonged to Prince Svitrigaila , from 1446 to 1452 to Prince Vasiliy Yaroslavich, from 1452 to 1483 to

1647-650: The Soviet leadership in the city. The uprising was crushed by Red Army units dispatched to Gomel. In 1919, Gomel became the centre of the Gomel Governorate in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic . After the end of the hostilities, restoration of industry and transport began. In the 1920s, a number of large businesses had been created: shipyards, a factory named "Polespechat", a shoe factory named "Trud",

1708-518: The annual "Bells of Chernobyl" competition being one of the many. In addition to sports facilities, Gomel has a multitude of Olympic Reserve Schools , which are more commonly referred to as sports schools. Many of Gomel's sports schools prepare athletes from a young age. Numerous champions have been trained by schools such as these. For example, one school, Gomel's Olympic Reserve Number 4, has trained 97 World and European champions as well as two Olympic athletes. Gomel State College of Olympic Reserve, on

1769-696: The arrival of distinguished Jesuits from other parts of Europe who brought with them valuable books and scientific collections. Jesuits continued their pastoral work and upgraded the Jesuit College in Polotsk (opened in 1580 by decree of the Polish king Stefan Batory , with the Jesuit Piotr Skarga (1536–1612) as its first rector) into the Połock Academy (1812–1820), with three faculties (Theology, Languages and Liberal Arts), four libraries,

1830-682: The city after the surrender of Moscow's deputy, D. Shchepin-Obolensky. In the same year, the Great Duke of Lithuania Sigismund Kęstutaitis founded the Gomel Starostwo . According to the peace agreement of 1537, Gomel together with its volost remained a Lithuanian possession. In 1535–1565 Gomel is the centre of starostwo , and from 1565 onwards Gomel is in the Rechytsa Powiat of the Minsk Voivodeship . In 1560,

1891-462: The city as a whole is built, is flat. On the right bank of the river, it is a gradually decreasing plain water-glacial and fluvial terrace of the Sozh river . The left bank is a low-lying alluvial plain. The highest elevation of 144 meters above sea level is found at the northern outskirts of Gomel, the lowest elevation of 115 m at the water boundary Sozh river. Novobelitskiy district, which is located on

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1952-750: The city became part of Chernihiv Governorate of the Ukrainian State . After the overthrow of the Ukrainian State Gomel was administered by the Ukrainian People's Republic for 25 days. On 14 January 1919, Gomel was occupied by the Red Army. In March 1919, the largest uprising against the Bolsheviks occurred in Gomel, known as the short-lived Strekopytov Revolt. Rebels seized strategic facilities and executed members of

2013-669: The city by military force in 1307, completing the process which the Lithuanian princes had begun in the 1250s. Polotsk received a charter of autonomy guaranteeing that the grand dukes "will not introduce new, nor destroy the old". It was the earliest to be so incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania . By doing so, the Lithuanians managed to firmly grasp the Dvina trade route in their hands, securing an important element for

2074-404: The city came in possession of his brother Sergei Petrovich Rumyantsev. However, due to lack of money, Sergei indebted Gomel with the state treasury of the Russian Empire. Subsequently, after not being able to pay off the debt, the treasury sold the city. Gomel Palace was acquired by Prince Ivan Paskevich , and the rest of the city by Nicholas I (1838). Paskevich had an English garden made around

2135-555: The city's first coat of arms was introduced. In 1569, Gomel became part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth . From this moment on, the city became the arena of numerous attacks and battles between Cossacks , Russia and the Polish-Lithuania Commonwealth . In 1572, Gomel Starostwo was given to B. Sapega. At the beginning of the 1570s, Gomel was captured by the forces of Ivan the Terrible , but in 1576 it

2196-526: The city's population numbered 515,325, indicating a positive population growth and hence a reversal of the demographic crisis that began in 1993. After the annexation of Gomel by the Russian Empire and the creation of the Pale of Settlement , Gomel gradually became a centre of resettlement for the Jewish population of Russia. According to the 1897 census, 55% of the population of Gomel were Jews . In 1903, there

2257-586: The construction of an overhead wire network in Egorenko, Sviridov, and Chechersk Streets, a new trackless trolley line opened to the terminus "Klinkowski Neighborhood," which resulted in a change of the trolleybus routes 9, 16, and 17. The length of the network is about 74 km (46 mi), and the total length of the trolleybus routes is 475 km (295 mi). The rolling stock comprises ACSM-201 , ACSM-321 , MAZ-203T, and ACSM-213 types. There are more than 60 bus routes totaling 670 km (416 mi), and

2318-429: The construction of railways in the late 19th century. The Peter and Paul Cathedral , designed by architect John Clark, was built in 1809–1819. Nikolay Rumyantsev opened the first high school, hotel courtyard, glass, tile, distilleries, weaving and spinning factories, and he built a church, a synagogue, a pharmacy, a hospice and a permanent wooden bridge across the Sozh river . After the death of Nikolay Rumyantsev,

2379-525: The first Czech Bible (1506). In September 2003, as " Days of Belarusian Literacy " were celebrated for the 10th time in Polotsk, city authorities dedicated a monument to honor the unique Cyrillic Belarusian letter Ў , which is not used in any other Slavic language. The original idea for the monument came from the Belarusian calligraphy professor Paval Siemchanka , who has been studying Cyrillic scripts for many years. The city has produced players for

2440-494: The height of the surrounding buildings means it is easy to view the city from the wheel and tower. Gomel is twinned with: On 28 February 2022, the Polish city of Radom ended its partnership with Gomel as a reaction to the Belarusian involvement in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine . On March British city Aberdeen as well ended its partnership with Gomel. Polotsk Polotsk ( Russian : Полоцк ) or Polatsk ( Belarusian : Полацк , romanized :  Polack )

2501-456: The left bank of the river (i.e., towards the south), has elevations averaging of 10–15 meters lower than the northern and central parts of the city. On the left bank of the Sozh many kilometers of beaches can be found. Gomel has a warm-summer humid continental climate ( Köppen climate classification Dfb ). Warm summers and cold winters are caused by frequent arrival of warm sea air masses from

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2562-402: The north, Brest Region on the west, Russia ( Bryansk Oblast ) on the east and Ukraine ( Chernihiv Oblast , Kyiv Oblast and Zhytomyr Oblast ) on the south and southeast. The processing industry is represented by alcohol, alcoholic beverage , wine , beer and soft drinks , vegetable-drying and canning industries. Mazyr is home to one of Belarus' major oil refineries . Gomel Region

2623-650: The other hand, trains coaches rather than athletes. From this school, 44 graduates have participated in the Olympics, European championships, and World championships. Gomel also participates in the Deaflympics and, between the years 2007–2009, has been awarded: two gold medals, one silver medal, and two bronze medals. Since 1990, Francisk Skorina Gomel State University , Pavel Sukhoi State Technical University of Gomel , and Gomel State Medical University have attracted many international students from countries around

2684-489: The palace, which is still in place today. In 1856, the estate passed on to his son Fyodor Ivanovich Paskevich. In 1852, Gomel became the county town of the former Belitsa county (renamed as Gomel county). This was preceded by the construction of the St. Petersburg–Kiev highway and St. Petersburg–Sebastopol telegraph line, both of which passed through Gomel, and the opening of a beet sugar factory. The construction of railways in

2745-591: The pre-war enterprises resumed their work. As a result of the disaster at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant on 26 April 1986, Gomel suffered radioactive contamination . At the beginning of the 21st century, a scientific centre and practice for radiation medicine and human ecology was built in Gomel to overcome and study the consequences of the catastrophe at Chernobyl. The development of radiological dose values varies between individual villages in severely contaminated regions, depending on

2806-510: The region are Pripyatsky National Park and Gomel . 52°20′N 29°40′E  /  52.333°N 29.667°E  / 52.333; 29.667 Gomel Gomel ( Russian : Гомель , IPA: [ˈɡomʲɪlʲ] ) or Homyel ( Belarusian : Гомель , romanized :  Homieĺ , IPA: [ˈɣomʲelʲ] ) is a city in Belarus . It serves as the administrative centre of Gomel Region and Gomel District , though it

2867-401: The river Palata , and Vitebsk from the river Vitsba. The first appearance of the name, as "Gomy", dates from 1142. Up to the 16th century, the city was mentioned as Hom', Homye, Homiy, Homey, or Homyi. These forms are tentatively explained as derivatives of an unattested *gomŭ of uncertain meaning. The modern name for the city has been in use only since the 16th or 17th centuries. Gomel

2928-533: The surrounding economies. Magdeburg law was adopted in 1498. Polotsk functioned as a capital of the Połock Voivodship of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth until 1772. Captured by the Russian army of Ivan the Terrible in 1563, it was returned to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania just 15 years later. It was again captured by Russia on 17 June 1654, but recaptured by Poland–Lithuania on 30 October 1660 during

2989-705: The surroundings and the economic orientation. In general, life is possible in these areas today, even in formerly closed-off zones, if appropriate dietary rules are observed. On 27 July 1990, the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic was drafted. Gomel became a city in the independent state of the Republic of Belarus the following year. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine , Gomel became an important base for Russian forces. In 2013,

3050-467: The territory of Belarus in the late 19th century ( Libau–Romny Railway in 1873 and Polesia railway in 1888) made Gomel a major railway junction and "attracted in the town many businessmen, caused the establishment of banks, firms and factories, which in turn changed the pastoral and provincial character of a bygone Gomel into a trading and mercantile one" By 1913, Gomel was a major industrial city with 104,500 inhabitants. Nearly 44% of its industrial output

3111-539: The territory of the region. Eleven wildlife preserves of national importance cover 2.1% of the region. The extreme southern point of Belarus is located in Gomel Region, on the Dnieper River to the south of the urban-type settlement of Kamaryn , Brahin District . The 3rd largest lake in Belarus, Lake Chervonoye , is located in Gomel Region, Zhytkavichy District . Gomel Region borders Mogilev Region on

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3172-447: The west. Its most powerful ruler was Prince Vseslav of Polotsk , who reigned from 1044 to 1101. A 12th-century inscription commissioned by Vseslav's son Boris may still be seen on a huge boulder installed near St. Sophia Cathedral. During the Mongol invasion , Polotsk avoided being invaded or paying tribute to the Golden Horde . But in 1240, it became a vassal of the Lithuanian princes. The Grand Duke of Lithuania Vytenis annexed

3233-413: The world, including the United States, Germany, China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Syria, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt, Iran, and countries in Latin America. Gomel State Medical University provides classes in both English and Russian. Many prominent scientists work here as senior lecturers. Throughout the eight hundred-year history of Gomel, only a few sights have been preserved. A small part of them belong to

3294-409: Was Igor Svyatoslavich – the hero of The Tale of Igor's Campaign . During this period, the town was a fortified point and the centre of a volost . In the 12th–13th centuries, the city's area was not less than 40 ha, and it had developed various crafts and was connected by trading routes with the cities of northern and southern Rus'. Archeological data have shown that the city was badly damaged during

3355-425: Was Rogvolod (ruled 945–978). He had two sons and a daughter named Rogneda . Rogvolod promised Rogneda to the prince of Kiev , Yaropolk , as a wife. But Yaropolk's brother, Vladimir , had attacked Polotsk before Yaropolk came. He killed Rogvolod, his wife and sons, and married Rogneda. Vladimir and Rogneda had five children and the eldest of them, Izyaslav , became Prince of Polotsk (ruled 989–1001). Between

3416-506: Was a symbol of the independent-mindedness of Polotsk, rivaling churches of the same name in Novgorod and Kyiv . The name referred to the original Hagia Sophia in Constantinople , and thus claims imperial prestige, authority and sovereignty. The cathedral had been ruined by the troops of Peter I of Russia . Hence the present baroque building by Johann Christoph Glaubitz dates from the mid-18th century. Some genuine 12th-century architecture (notably Transfiguration Church ) survives in

3477-417: Was a violent pogrom against the Jewish population of the city. From that moment on, a gradual decrease of the number of Jews in the city began. 40,880 Jews lived in Gomel in 1939, when they comprised 29.4% of the total population. Most Jews had left the city in anticipation of German occupation, but still between 3,000 and 4,000 Gomel Jews fell victim to the Holocaust . The end of the 1980s and beginning of

3538-417: Was destroyed. The population of Gomel had dropped dramatically. According to the data of the registry, the population of Gomel numbered less than 15,000 inhabitants, compared to 144,000 in 1940. After the war, restoration of Gomel began promptly. The majority of pre-revolutionary buildings were lost. City streets were considerably expanded, and buildings in Stalinist style were erected. In 1950, almost all of

3599-411: Was founded at the end of the 1st millennium AD on the lands of the Eastern Slavic tribal union of Radimichs . It lay on the banks of the Sozh River and the Homeyuk stream. Sozh's high right bank, cut through by canyons, provided a natural fortification. For some time, Gomel was the capital of the Gomel Principality, before it became part of the Principality of Chernigov . Gomel is first mentioned in

3660-426: Was metalworking, with large workshops servicing the rolling stock of Libau–Romny Railway and Polesia railway. Other significant industries were timber processing, match manufacturing, breweries and churning. Preceding the treaty of Brest-Litovsk , on 1 March 1918 the city was occupied (the Executive Committee of the Gomel Council of Workers' Deputies had left already on 21 February) by German forces. In March 1918,

3721-450: Was re-captured by J. Radvila. In 1581, Gomel was again attacked by Russian troops, and in 1595–1596 it was in the hands of Severyn Nalyvaiko 's Cossacks. After the beginning of the struggle against Orthodox Christianity in Lithuania, Orthodox Nikolayevskiy Cathedral was closed on the order of Greek Catholic Eparch Josaphat Kuntsevych in 1621. In 1633 the city was besieged by the Cossacks of Bulgakov and Yermolin, in 1648 captured by

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