Belgorod
.docBelgorod
Belgorod – is ancient Russian fortress city. It has a long and interesting history that dates back to the ancient times. It founded by Slavonic tribes in the 10 century. The White Hill gave its name to the fortress.
After the Polish and Lithuanian invasion of the 17th century Belgorod was destroyed and all its wooden buildings were burnt.
Belgorod grew stronger and stronger and in 1730 Belgorod was presented with its own coat of arms. On the blue background there was an eagle over a lion lying on green ground.
From 1727 until 1779 Belgorod was a center of the vast Belgorod province, and in the 19th century it was prominent religious and cultural center of the Kursk province.
During the Great Patriotic War (World War Two) Belgorod was occupied by the Germans, and during the battles of July-August 1943 was completely destroyed. In 1943 great battle was fought at Prokhorovka. On August 5, 1943, Moscow fired a salute in honour of the liberation of Belgorod and Oryol. Belgorod is justly called the "Town of the First Salute". To commemoret the battle of Kursk Bulg the Diorama Museum was opened in the centre of Belgorod.
On January 6, 1954 a special decree was signed according to which Belgorod became the centre of the Belgorod Region.
Nowadays Belgorod is one of the administrative, industrial and cultural centers of the Russia Federation in the south of the Black Earth Zone. The population of the town is coming to 400000 people.So there are some museums, educational buildings, plants, factories, libraries and entertaining centers.
There is Land Study museum that covers the history of the city from ancient times till present. The Art Museum has much to offer to residents and tourists. It shows different pictures and a great deal of wooden toys made by our regional skilled craftsmen. Museum of Folk Culture tells about history of folk in our region. It presents the way of life in previous centuries, national dress, folk songs and local social history.
There are several parks in Belgorod. The biggest one is the Central park? The Victory park.
You can see many students in Belgorod. They study at Belgorod State University, at the Technological University, at the University of Cooperative Trade, at the Agricultural University.
Belgorod has a lot of secondary educational schools, lyceums, gymnasiums, music schools, vocation technical schools.
The heart of the town is Sobornaya Square. Here you can see the monument to the heroes of the Great Patriotic War with the eternal flame burning on the tomb, the hotel «Belgorod», the House of the Belgorod Regional Administration, the State Academic Drama Theatre named after M. Shepkin.
The people of Belgorod are proud of the town they live in, of its past and present and do their best to make it more beautiful.