Slonim

General information

Slonim is one of the most ancient cities of Belarus, located in the Grodno region and the regional center of the Slonimsky district. The city, whose population is more than 50 thousand people, lies on the confluence of the rivers Shchara and Issah and is 195 km to the southwest of Minsk and 143 km to the southeast of Grodno. Famous Zhirovichsky orthodox monastery is situated 10 kilometers away from Slonim.

Slonim which is quite often called ‘Polesskie Afiny’ is one of the most popular cities among tourist in Belarus, it is renowned for its eventful history and attractive sights. Minerals can be found here such as peat, chalk, sand, gravel material, the clay intended for deep ceramics, construction sand and sapropel.

History of Slonim

Slonim was first mentioned in ‘Ipat’yevskaya letopis’ in 1252. In 1586, the city came into possession of the well-known magnate Lev Sapieha, under whose ownership Slonim received the coat of arms with the image of the golden lion with a double silver cross. The city reached its prime in the second half of the 18th century thanks to the great Lithuanian hetman Michal Kazimir Oginsky. He constructed some enterprises in the city including the channel connecting inflow of the river Pripyat Yaselda to river Shchara from 1763 to 1783 and was completely funded out of his own pocket. Activity of Courtier Theater created in 1770 is also connected with the name Oginsky. Professional Italian and Polish opera and drama actors, artists, serf chorus and the ballet worked in that theater. Slonimsky orchestra (chapel), one of the biggest courtier orchestras of Europe of that time by number of performers (53 people) as well as by existence of musical instruments, was widely popular.

In 1795, Slonim was a part of Russia then for a year it was the provincial city. Since 1801, Slonim is the center of the district of Grodno province. In 1880, the road connecting Baranovichi to Warsaw passed through Slonim, and in 1886 the line of the railroad connecting Baranovichi to Bialystok passed through as well; later the railway station started working. In 1939, Slonim became a part of BSSR.

Slonim reference information

Sightseeing in Slonim

Hallmark of the city is the Puslovsky estate of ‘Albertin’. The palace and park complex has not only a majestic farmstead house, but also an outbuilding and a stable that has remained since the 19th century. During an excursion to Slonim guides like to tell stories about the Puslovsky family. On the central square where rows of markets were once placed and fairs took place, today you will find the lodges of the handicraftsmen constructed by Michal Oginsky at the end of the 18th century.

One of the most ancient temples of the city is the synagogue built in 1648 where ancient paintings still remain on the walls. There is also the church of the Saint Apostle Andrey which is a beautiful building constructed in a vilensky baroque style and was completed in 1775.

Accommodation in Slonim

There are a couple of hotels, a number of farmsteads, and a camping site available for accommodation in the region.

Economy

Slonimsky area is home to 19 industrial enterprises where 6,5 thousand people work. Slonim has developed food, pulp and paper industries.

Production of the industrial enterprises in the Slonim region is known not only in the Republic of Belarus, but also beyond. Enterprises of Slonim are ‘Slonimsky myasokombinat’, ‘Slonimskaya kamvolno-pryadilnaya fabrika’ and ‘Slonimsky kartonno-bumazniy zavod’. The agriculture is represented by meat and dairy farming, pig-breeding and flax growing.