Vitebsk is the centre of the Vitebsk region which is an an area of blue lakes.11 out of the major lakes of Belarus are situated in the Vitebsk region. The city was founded on a high hill in 974 on the banks of the Western Dvina river at its confluence with two small rivers — the Vitba and Luchesa. A famous Russian artist Ilya Repin wrote in the 19th century: … there is no town which can compete with Vitebsk in the beauty of its location". The Western Dvina was the famous trade route from the «Varangians to the Greeks» and contributed into the rapid development of the city. In the 19th century Vitebsk grew into a big city with the population of over 100,000. Today the city is famous as a home town of the world famous artist Marc Chagall. Probably he was the only artist in the world who loved this city so much that he depicted it on almost each of his works. There is the Art-Centre and the House-Museum of Marc Chagall in the city. A Museum of Modern Arts is being recreated in what was the buiding of the Vitebsk Art School founded by Chagall in 1919. «Slavonic Bazaar» Art Festival, Chagall's Days, festivals of jazz music, modern choreography, sport and ball dances have won the world's reputation.
Population: 350,000
City Tour of Vitebsk
The tour includes:
Drive along the Castle street, the shortest street in Vitebsk and most probably in the whole of Belarus to cross the Kirov bridge over the Western Dvina river to realize the city lies on hills. From the bridge you may have a wonderful view of the recently reconstructed Assumption Cathedral with its Golden Domes, the highest church, natural and architectural dominant of the city. Among the city’s main attractions are the 12th century Annunciation church, high and slender monument to the 100th anniversary of 1812 war with Napoleon built of red granite and crowned with a two-headed eagle, Governor’s House in a classical style & a number of other fascinating buildings & monuments. A monument to Mark Chagall depicting him captivated by his dreams and a tiny figure of a flying woman symbolizing his wife Bella whith whom it was so easy to be lying over the roofs of the native city will certainly encourage you to make a photograph. You will find a delight in spotting a building of the famous Vitebsk People’s Art School encouraged by Mark Chagall and his opponent, a world famous artist Kasmir Malevich. Some other monuments are to be discovered along the embankments of the Western Dvina.
Art –Centre of Marc Chagall
Original works (colored lithographs, xylographs, etchings) with Chagall’s famous images: flying lovers, a fiddler on the roof, acrobats, animals will bring you into a bright and magic world of the artist.You will have a remarkable experience of the presence of Vitebsk during the whole tour because it is everywhere: either in a small corner or at the background of some famous sights. This is Chagall! Take a chance of standing next to the museum and finding yourself on a dramatically steep bank of the Western Dvina river. Haven’t you acquired a feeling of flight?
Address: 2, Putna str. Vitebsk reg., Belarus
Tel: + 375 212 36 03 87
Website: www.chagall.vitebsk.by
House-Museum of Marc Chagall
The interior of the house which was recreated thanks to the artist's drawings alongside with the drawings representing his mother, father, closest relations and himself will allow you to feel the spirit of both the family and of the time. Photographs of Marc Chagall with Pablo Picasso in Paris and others made in Germany, France and USA will certainly remind you that you heard about him long ago but never guessed he was from Belarus. Now you yourself are in the house from which he started his incredible travel into the world of culture.
Address: 11, Pokrovskaya ulitsa, Vitebsk reg., Belarus
Tel: + 375 212 36 34 68
Website: www.chagall.vitebsk.by
Vitebsk Regional Art Museum
Your special attention should be drawn to Yuriy Pen – an outstanding figure of “Jewish Renaissance” in the Belarusian art of the first half of the last century, graduate of the Petersburg Academy of Arts, merited Jewish artist., Marc Chagall's first teacher . Have a look at his paintings and see whether you have ever seen anything more realistic. … and Iliya Repin, a famous Russian artist. He had his country villa not far from Vitebsk. Here he used to find “extraordinary types” for his paintings.
Address: 32, Lenina ulitsa. Vitebsk reg., Belarus
Tel: + 375 212 36 23 31
