Audioguía Walking through Polotsk Historical Centre

Polotsk is the oldest city in Belarus. It was first mentioned under the year 862 in The Russian Primary Chronicle. The city was founded on the ancient trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks, which contributed to economic and cultural development of the city.

In the 10th - 13th centuries, Polotsk was the capital of Polotsk principality, which reached its prosperity in the 11th century during the reign of Prince Vseslav. In 1307, Polotsk Principality became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. At this time, the city had political and economic privileges, actively traded with Riga, the Livonian Order, Novgorod, Pskov, and many other cities. In the 14th - 15th centuries, Polotsk was one of the largest cities in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1569, as a result of the Union of Lublin, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of Poland were united into a single state - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Polotsk became the centre of the voivodeship of the same name. At the end of the 18th century, Polotsk became a part of the Russian Empire, and in 1924, became a part of BSSR.

In 1991, the Republic of Belarus gained independence. At present, Polotsk is the regional centre of the Vitebsk region. About 85 thousand inhabitants live in the city.