Babruysk, Mogilev Region, Belarus

🇧🇾 Babruysk, Babrujsk or Bobruisk is a city in the Mogilev Region of eastern Belarus on the Berezina river. It is a large city in Belarus. The name Babruysk probably originates from the Belarusian word babyor, many of which used to inhabit the Berezina. However, beavers in the area had been almost eliminated by the end of the 19th century due to hunting and pollution.

Babrujsk occupies an area of 66 square km (25 sq mi), and comprises over 450 streets whose combined length stretches for over 430 km (267 mi).

Babrujsk is located at the intersection of railroads to Asipovichy, Zhlobin, Aktsyabrski and roads to Minsk, Homyel, Mahilyow, Kalinkavichy, Slutsk, and Rahachow. It has the biggest timber mill in Belarus, and is also known for its chemical, machine building and metal-working industries.

In 2021, there were 38 public schools in Babrujsk, with over 24,000 students. There are three schools specialising in music, dance and visual arts. Additionally, there is a medical school and numerous professional technical schools.

History Babruysk is one of the oldest cities in Belarus. It was first mentioned in writing in the middle of the 14th century. Investigations by archaeologists revealed that in the 5th and 6th centuries there existed Slavic settlements up the river Biarezina from where Babruysk is currently located; findings of stone tools and weapons suggest that people have lived in the area since the Stone Age.

During the reign of Vladimir I, Prince of Kiev, in place of modern-day Babruysk there was a village whose inhabitants were occupied with fishing and beaver trapping. This is where the name Babruysk originated. For many centuries Babruysk was part of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and was an important militarily fortified border post. In the 14th century a castle was built on one of the hills near the Berezina River.

Babruysk was not only a major military base, but also a prominent trade center. There is evidence of a market containing nearly one hundred stalls, which implies significant financial activity. In the first half of the 17th century Babruysk became a big trade outpost thanks to its strategic position at the intersection of major trade routes and the Berezina river. There was a flowering of skilled tradesmen, including carpenters, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, and bakers. The population in the first half of the 17th century was between 2,000 and 5,000 people.

Places of interest • Church of the Immaculate Conception of Saint Virgin Mary, a Catholic church built between 1901 and 1903; • The Babruysk fortress, 1810–1836; • Katsnelson House, 1912; • The Church of Saint Nicholas (Babruysk), 1892–1894; • The Saint George Orthodox church in Babruysk, 1905–1907.