Grodno

General information

Grodno is a city in Belarus and the administrative center of the Grodno region.

Grodno is considered to be the most beautiful city of Belarus, preserving the memory of its former greatness and ancient traditions. Today it is not only one of the largest cities in the country with about 350 thousand residents but also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Belarus.

The city is located in the western part of the region on the banks of the Neman right on the border with Poland and Lithuania (15 and 30 km respectively).

History of Grodno

Grodno is one of the oldest cities in Belarus. It was first mentioned in the Ipatiev Chronicle in 1127 as the center of the principality of Grodno. Its history goes back more than 850 years. At the time of Ancient Rus, Grodno became its important bastion in the north-west frontier, for this reason the origin of the name ‘Grodno’ may have emerged from the word ‘ogorodit’ (to fence). From the 13th century the city was located in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. At the end of the 16th century under the reign of King Stefan Batory, Grodno became the capital of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In 1376, Grodno was under the possession of Duke Vitovt. Starting from 1569 the city was located within the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1795, Grodno was annexed to the Russian Empire, and in 1801 became a provincial city. In 1863, the city was at the center of the Polish uprising in Belarus. In 1912, the construction of the Grodno fortress had begun.

The development of the city came from the castle, located on the site of an ancient fortress on a high hill at the confluence of the river Gorodnichanka into Neman. The city faced an economic decline between the 17th- early 18th centuries due to the number of wars that had taken place within this period. However, in the second half of the 18t century, the economic and cultural life of Grodno was revived. With the emergence of manufactories of Tizengauzen, rapid development and expansion of the city could be observed. During its existence Grodno was part of the Russian Empire and Poland, until it became part of BSSR in 1939. Grodno is featured on the must see list on Outdoorempire.com for being a large industrial, cultural and historical center.

Grodno reference information

Sightseeing in Grodno

Remarkable architectural ensembles are one of the brightest representations of the diverse cultural heritage of Grodno. Grodno is often called the ‘most European city’ in the country. This is not surprising, because not only the sights but also old urban designs are still evident today. There are monuments of different eras and styles that reflect the complex history of the city such as ancient architecture, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical, amongst others. The most famous are the monuments located on the Castle Hill which is now declared a historical and architectural reserve.

The city has the first zoo that was opened in Belarus and has more than 320 species of animals. An aqua center was opened in Grodno in 2004, with a pool complex that has a range of water activities, such as cascades, geysers, Jacuzzi, artificial river, whirlpool and water slides.

Hallmark of the city is the Borisoglebskaya Church. It is the oldest church in Belarus, built in 1180. Wedding ceremonies held in the church are very popular among residents, and there is an opportunity to be present during unique rites performances. Old and new royal castles in Grodno are interesting sights to visit. Majestically rising on the banks of Neman, the ancient fortress serves as a reminder of past greatness of the city, its glory and significance.

Lovers of active leisure will also find something to do in Grodno. Famous nightclubs, rafting on Neman, paintball, karting, hot-air ballooning and many other excursions are available to the guests of the city.

Kayaking is a very popular sport in the region. Famous kayaking spots near Grodno are Neman and Augustow Canal. There is a one day route which is not very easy, but is available for novice kayakers and families with children. During a kayaking trip you will see the calm and majestic Neman, banks covered with green forests and the legendary Augustow Canal. At the end of the rafting you will swim through the 4-chamber gateway ‘Nemnovo’.

Accommodation in Grodno

The choice for tourist accommodation is very diverse. There are hotels, country houses, a couple of farmsteads, sanatoriums called ‘Neman-72’and ‘Zhemchizina’, and a recreation center called ‘Kupalinka’.

Economy

Grodno is one of the leading industrial cities in Belarus. The city is home to 79 industrial enterprises of different ownership. Industry is represented by nine branches. The leading position in the economy of the city is occupied by the chemical industry – the largest representatives of which are the ‘Grodno Azot’ and ‘Grodno Khimvolokno’. Food branch is represented by ‘Grodnenskaya tabachnaya fabrika Neman’, ‘Grodnenskiy myasokombinat’, ‘Molochniy Mir’, ‘Grodnenskiy likerovodochniy zavod’ and ‘Nemanoff’. Light branch is represented by ‘Grodnenskaya obuvnaya fabrika Neman’, ‘Grodnenskaya perchatochnaya firma’, ‘Akcent’ and ‘Conte Spa’. Mechanical engineering and metal sector is represented by ‘Belcard’, ‘Grodnenskiy mehanicheskiy zavod’, ‘Radiovolna’ and ‘BelTAPAZ’; these are just to name a few.