The legendary Dragon, the charming "Piglet", a giant oak tree, a stone with footprints and paw prints in the "land of yellow water lilies and grey boulders".
The legendary Dragon, the charming "Piglet", a giant oak tree, a stone with footprints and paw prints in the "land of yellow water lilies and grey boulders".
People spend their summer holidays in different ways. Some go to bask in the waves of a warm sea abroad, some attend concerts and exhibitions in festival Vitebsk, and some are willing to get to know the unknown Vitebsk region better. Moreover, the latter option is becoming increasingly popular: it does not require significant financial costs, bright emotions and unforgettable impressions are guaranteed, and sometimes you can even find something interesting.
One of these routes could be the "land of yellow water lilies and grey boulders" – Lepel. The town is first mentioned in historical chronicles in 1439, although human settlements appeared here as early as the Mesolithic era.
The history of the town is inextricably linked with the name of the Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Lev Sapieha, who founded the new Lepel (where the district centre is located today) and moved the centre of the settlement from Old Lepel (today – a village in the Lepel district).
The origin of the town's name is also of interest. Some associate the toponym "Lepel" with the Belarusian word "lepei"; others – with pottery, widespread in this area (lepka, lepit'); others – with the Lithuanian "lepele" and Latvian "lepe", meaning "yellow water lilies"; fourths – with the Finno-Ugric word "leppa" (alder)...
Today, we offer five reasons why you should visit this cozy district centre.
First reason. Lakes
What could be better than a summer holiday by the lake? Only a holiday on Lake Lepel, the locals are sure. And it doesn't matter what you choose: a well-equipped beach, catamaran and boat rental, a boat trip or fishing – a great pastime is guaranteed.
Incidentally, Lepel, like Braslav and Glubokoye, is also called the land of lakes. There are about 140 lakes in the district, the largest of which is Lake Lepel, covering an area of over 10 square kilometers, with a shoreline length of almost 40 kilometers.
And on Lake Svyatoye, located near the town, the Kupala Night festival is traditionally celebrated.
Second Reason. Architectural Attractions
One of the town's landmarks is the St. Casimir's Church, built by order of Lew Sapieha. Throughout its history, the Catholic church has been repeatedly destroyed and has reached us in its renewed form of 1876.
The Church of St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, built in the mid-19th century and an example of wooden architecture, also attracts tourists.
In the historical center of the town, you can see the former wine-cleansing warehouses building (1897), the communication hub building (1902), and other architectural structures.
Third Reason. Monuments and Sculptures
In addition to the figure of Lenin on the town's main square, which is traditional for many district centers, there is a sculpture called "Lepelchanin," popularly nicknamed "Pyatachok." This symbolic monument to all local residents was unveiled in 2011 during the celebration of another anniversary of the town's founding.
On the shore of Lake Lepel, in the town park, live the Mermaid and the Zhmok, which has recently become a real brand of the town.
The two-meter-tall Lepel Zhmok is distinguished by its enviable good nature: it poses for photos with all tourists with a smile and even invites them to the international mythology festival "Visiting the Lepel Zhmok," which traditionally takes place in August.
By the way, the Zhmok in the town park is not the only dragon-like character in Lepel. A year ago, a dragon sculpture appeared near the building of the local gas company (RGS).
Fourth Reason. Natural Monuments of the District
Perhaps the most famous natural monument in the region is the "Tsar Oak" in the village of Tadulino. The height of this giant oak, which is a nature monument of republican significance and is protected by the state, is about 26 metres, and its age is 300-400 years.
The Lepel region is also famous for its boulders. In the village of Toronkovichi, a sacrificial stone, over four metres in length, has been discovered at the site of a pagan sanctuary.
And near the village of Bolshoy Polsvizh, there is the so-called Holy Stone, which is the only trace stone found in the Lepel district. Its peculiarity is that animal paw prints and human footprints can be seen on the stone.
Fifth Reason. Local History Museum
The local history museum was opened in the 1950s. Today, residents and visitors can explore six exhibition halls. These include a nature hall, displaying stuffed animals and birds, and a hall of historical past, featuring materials from archaeological excavations, coins, medals, seals, tools, musical instruments, pottery, and other artefacts. A special place in the museum is dedicated to materials concerning the Great Patriotic War.
One of the most unique exhibits is the aurochs horn, an animal that went extinct in the 17th century. The 60-centimetre-long exhibit was found at the bottom of Lake Okono.
It is easy to get to Lepel. The town is located slightly off the Vitebsk-Minsk highway. The journey will take no more than an hour and a half (the distance to Lepel is about 110 kilometres). From the Vitebsk bus station, minibuses and buses run to the district centre almost every hour.