Chashniki

The town of Chashniki is located in Vitebsk region, not far from one of the largest Belarusian lakes – Lukomlskoe. There is the health complex “Sosnovy Bor”.

Not only residents of Belarus but also tourists from other countries come to the health resort to improve health, enjoy the Belarusian open spaces and breath in the fresh air. The complex has been functioning for almost 40 years, specializing in the treatment of cardiovascular, gastroenterological, musculoskeletal, respiratory, neurological and dermatological diseases. Here you will forget about the everyday worries and problems, relax from the noise of a big city, enjoy the silence and watch the flocks of wild ducks.

The History of Chashniki

There is an interesting version why the town is called that way. A long time ago, there were "chashniki", people who were engaged in beekeeping and mead making. Honey was delivered to the duke's palace. It is believed that the beekeepers in Chashniki were the true masters of their craft.

The first mention of this place dates back to 1504, at that time Chashniki was one of the largest settlements in the territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The first owners of the place were Dukes Lukomskys but since the 16th century the town belonged to the Belarusian nobility: Kishka, Sapeiha, Pototsky and Volodkovich at a different time.

It is interesting. At the end of the XVI century, Stefan Batory planned a campaign for Velikye Luki and gathered his army in Chashniki. The location of the town allowed to mislead the enemy because the Russians did not realize that the enemy could attack from Chashniki. This fact played an important role in the final battles in Velikye Luki. By the way, the town developed very rapidly due to its good geographical position.

Chashniki remembers other major battles. For example, during the First World War in 1812, there were combats between the French army led by Marshal Victor and the Russian troops led by Duke Wittgenstein.

1797 became significant for Chashniki - at that time the construction of the Berezinsky water system began, which was erected on the site of the largest trade route "from the Varangians to the Greeks". The works lasted almost 10 years, the artificial waterway allowed to connect the rivers of the basins of the Black and Baltic Seas. However, now this waterway has lost its original importance and serves as a refuge for wild ducks, otters, and beavers.

Chashniki Today

In addition to its rich history, Chashniki is considered the homeland of the Belarusian poet and translator Yanka Zhurba, who translated into the Belarusian language the famous work of Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky "Poor People" in 1930. Zhores Alferov, the Nobel laureate in physics, was born here. Alferov has a huge number of awards and achievements, for example, he is the vice-president of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The town is not only famous for outstanding people, health resorts and places of battle. Coniferous forests, moderate climate, and lake make the town a perfect place for outdoor recreation. It is highly recommended to visit local attractions. For example, the Transfiguration church, built in the middle of the XIX century.

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