Belgorod is located 695 km from the capital, on the southern border of the Central Russian Upland, on the banks of the Seversky Donets River, 50 km from Ukraine. Belgorod is an ancient city that is famous for its rich and heroic history. Recently, one of the most popular tourist routes is considered to be the Belgorod region. The sights of the region made it famous not only in Russia, but also abroad.
History of Belgorod region
A settlement in this region arose in the first millennium. In these places, the Eastern Slavs were founded . As a fortified city, Belgorod was founded in the 10th century by Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavovich to protect residents from the Pechenegs. In 1596, a fortress was built next to the main Tatar roads. The fate of the outpost was not simple: it was attacked by Crimean khans, Tatars and Polish-Lithuanian magnates. After one of the raids, the city was completely destroyed. In 1662, the fortress was rebuilt anew.
Belgorod and the surrounding settlements were badly damaged during World War II. There were almost no buildings left; everything had to be restored again. Nowadays, the city is considered one of the most comfortable and clean cities in Russia.
Temples of Belgorod
Foreigners and Russians have long been attracted to Belgorod and the Belgorod region. The sights of the region are very interesting and truly unique. The city has many different temples. Transfiguration Cathedral was built in honor of the victory over Napoleon in 1813. The relics of St. Joasaph and the miraculous icon of the Military Nicholas are stored here. One of the most ancient temples of Belgorod is Smolensky Cathedral. The Assumption-Nicholas Cathedral, the Intercession Church, the Martha-Mariinsky Monastery and others are also worth a look.
Museum-diorama "Battle of Kursk"
This museum is located in Belgorod. Here is a huge artistic canvas (height 15 meters, length 67 m), it illustrates the July tank battle near Prokhorovka in 1943. The museum exposition contains many artifacts from the Second World War. Near the museum, in an open area there is an exhibition of military equipment. The diorama museum often hosts thematic exhibitions.
Kholkovsky Holy Trinity Monastery
How many different places can show you Belgorod region! Attractions are not only in Belgorod, but throughout the area. At 120 km from the regional center there is the village of Ezdotskoye (Chernyavsky district), here is a beautiful monument of church history of Russia. This monastery was cut down in the chalk mountain in the 16th century. Later it ceased to exist under Catherine II and was restored only in 1999. In the Cretaceous layer there is an underground temple and monastic cells. The modern monastery is upstairs. Visitors to the village can go down to the caves and stroll through the picturesque surroundings.
"Prokhorovskoe field"
One of the most significant battles in the history of the whole world took place in the village of Prokhorovka (Belgorod region). The sights of the village are a museum-reserve, where on a couple of thousand hectares there are museums of Prokhorovka and the neighboring village of Yakovlevo, Zvonnitsa, the command headquarters of General Rotmistrov, a large number of monuments, the temple of Peter and Paul and an exhibition of tank equipment. All these objects are better to go around the car.
Alekseevka
180 km east of Belgorod is the district center Alekseevka. The village is located on the picturesque river Silent Pine. Rumor has it that the ancestors of Dmitry Medvedev lived here - in the city of Alekseyevka, Belgorod Region. The sights of this place are the museum of local lore and beautiful natural landscapes.
Grayvoronsky district
In these places, thanks to the enthusiasm of craftsmen and collectors of cultural objects, excellent soil was created for the development of the now popular “rural tourism”. On the basis of their own households, the residents of the region organized guest estates and workshops of traditional crafts. Here you can live like a real peasant - sleep on the stove, enjoy freshly baked bread, milk livestock, take part in field work and just enjoy the picturesque local nature. Such entertainment is especially popular with foreign guests.
"Khmelnitsky Oak"
This is not all that the Belgorod region is famous for. Sights of the region are also an old oak, which is more than 300 years old. According to legend, it was planted by Bogdan Khmelnitsky himself as a sign of the reunification of Ukraine and Russia. Near this powerful tree is the temple of Our Lady of Sorrows. On the wedding day, many newlyweds come to hang the lock on a chain and tie a ribbon.
These, of course, are not all the amazing places in the region. To get to know this southern region better, you will need a map of the Belgorod Region and a desire to discover a lot of new and very interesting things.