Rechytsa

Rechytsa
Belarusian: Рэчыца

Rechytsa town centre, Kastrychnitskaya (October) Square

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Rechytsa
Coordinates: 52°21′50″N 30°23′41″E / 52.36389°N 30.39472°E / 52.36389; 30.39472Coordinates: 52°21′50″N 30°23′41″E / 52.36389°N 30.39472°E / 52.36389; 30.39472
Country  Belarus
Region Gomel Region
District Rechytsa District
Founded 1213
Population (2010)
 • Total 64,731
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 247500
Area code(s) +375 2340
License plate 3
Website Official website (Russian)

Rechytsa (Belarusian: Рэчыца, pronounced [ˈrɛtʂɨtsa]; Polish: Rzeczyca; Lithuanian: Rečyca) is a city in the Gomel Region of Belarus. It is center of Rechytsa District. The city is situated at the mouth of Rechytsa River, flowing into the Dnieper. As of 2005 the population was 65,532.

History

Rechitsa. An engraving of Abraham van Westerveld, mid-17th century.

Rechytsa is one of the oldest towns of Belarus. First settlements in this region are dated back to the epoch of mesolite (9–5th centuries B.C.). Later on the area was inhabited by the Dregovichi tribe. The town was first mentioned in the Novgorod chronicle in 1213 as a town of the Chernihiv Principality. Rechytsa was also ruled by Kiev and Turaŭ Grand Dukes. At the time of Gediminas reign (1311–1341) the town was annexed to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Rečyca as well as Orsha, Shklow, Mogilev, Stary Bychaw and Rahachow formed a well-developed frontier defense system at the River Dniepr.

Holy Trinity Catholic church

1392–1430 – the reign of Grand Duke Vytautas. He constructed a fortified castle with five towers in the area of the detinets (old Belarusian for the downtown) on the bank of the Dniepr. At that time the town had three fortification lines in the form of water trenches and ramparts with bastions. In the area between the fortress and the second fortification line there was a territory for rich mansions, Church of the Order of Friars Preachers and a trade square. The town inhabitants settled lived between the second and third fortification lines. The construction of the town had clear right-angled forms.

In 1561 the town was partially granted the Magdeburg rights.

In the middle of the 17th century Rechytsa was practically destroyed during the Cossack war of 1648–1651. After the Truce of Anrusovo the town became a part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In 1793 Rechytsa joined Russia and became an used center of the Minsk province.

The first permanent town plan of Rechytsa was approved in 1800. During the Napoleon Wars in 1812 the town was a temporary residence of the Minsk governor.

Demographics

Population

Economics

Rechytsa products are well known in the CIS member-states as well as in other countries. Rechyca produces watercrafts, furniture, beer, which are exported to England, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and several African countries.

Notable people

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/13/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.