Orsha, Belarus’ Capital of Culture 2022

Orsha is the administrative center of Orsha District, Vitebsk Oblast, a major railway and automobile hub of Belarus, an important industrial center of the country. Orsha is also one of Belarus’ oldest cities: the first mention of it in the Tale of Bygone Years dates back to 1067, which is considered the date of the city foundation today. In 2022 Orsha was declared the Belarusian Capital of Culture.

Polotsk was the first city to get the status of the Belarusian Capital of Culture in 2010. Gomel took over in 2011, Nesvizh – 2012, Mogilev – 2013, Grodno – 2014, Brest – 2015, Molodechno – 2016, Bobruisk – 2017, Novopolotsk – 2018. The Belarusian Capital of Culture title went to Pinsk in 2019, to Lida in 2020 and to Borisov in 2021.

Pictured: Jesuit College