Facts About Polotsk
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The Old East Slavic name, Polotesk, derives from the Polota River, which flows into the Western Dvina nearby. The Vikings rendered that name as Palteskja.
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Belarusian first printer and enlightener Frantsysk Skorina was born here as well.
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Polotsk is a historical city in Belarus, situated on the Dvina River.
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Polotsk is served by Polotsk Airport and during the Cold War was home to Borovitsy air base.
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In September 2003, as “Days of Belarusian Literacy” were celebrated for the 10th time in Polotsk, city authorities dedicated a monument to honour the unique Cyrillic Belarusian letter Ў, which is not used in any other Slavic language.
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Magdeburg law was adopted in 1498.
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Polotsk was founded in 862 and not only is it the oldest town in the country, one of the oldest in the whole Slavic region.
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The town was a birthplace for the first Belarusian canonized woman Euphrosyne of Polotsk.
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Announced in 2010 Capital of Culture, Polotsk was the first Belarusian town named Belarus’ Capital of Culture due to its outstanding historical and cultural heritage, rich cultural life.
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Polotsk’ 1150th anniversary was included in the Calendar of Events of UNESCO in 2012-2013.