Polatsk

Polatsk (Belarusian: Полацк; Russian: Полоцк; often transliterated Polotsk) is a city in the Vitebsk Region of Belarus. It lies on the Western Dvina River, at the point where the Polota River joins the Dvina, and serves as a regional administrative, economic, and cultural center.

History: The site is among the oldest inhabited areas in Belarus, with urban settlement dating back to the 9th century. It became the capital of the Polotsk Principality within the Kievan Rus and developed as a major center of trade and Christian culture in the northeast. The city’s medieval landmarks include the Saint Sophia Cathedral, an early East Slavic church erected in the 11th century and one of the oldest surviving churches in Belarus. In the late medieval era Polotsk belonged to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, before being incorporated into the Russian Empire after the partitions of Poland. The 20th century saw it as part of the Byelorussian SSR, and since 1991 it has been part of independent Belarus.

Culture and institutions: Polatsk preserves historic religious buildings and museums that reflect its long tradition as a regional cultural center. The Saint Sophia Cathedral remains a defining landmark. The city hosts educational and cultural institutions serving the surrounding area.

Education and economy: The city is home to Polotsk State University and other educational facilities. Its economy includes light manufacturing, food processing, and service industries that serve regional needs.

Notable people: Euphrosyne of Polotsk, a medieval noblewoman and saint linked to the city’s religious and educational foundations, is among its notable historical figures.

Name and language: The city is known as Polatsk in Belarusian and Polotsk in Russian; transliteration varies in English. It is located in northeastern Belarus on the Western Dvina.