XXVth I. Sollertinski International Festival in Vitebsk

The International music festival named after I.I. Sollertinski meets the guests in Vitebsk again. The program of the festival traditionally includes the musical part, scientific readings, art exhibitions and theatrical performances. During european tours including visit to Belarus or by the independent tour created independent trip planner's we recommend visit to Sollertinski International Festival in Vitebsk. You will take your Journey to Europe and Belarus more interesting. World class performers and the highest professionals will open a many-sided nature of the classical music at the festival, where the best plays of genius composers of the last ages and the present will sound.
Vitebsk
The city is located in the northern part of Belarus 300 kilometers away from Minsk. Railways and motorways connect it with Moscow, St Petersburg, Orsha and Polotsk. Vitebsk is one of the oldest cities in Belarus. According to chronicles that date back to the 18th century, the city was founded by Olga, the famous Princess of Kyiv, who built a castle, powerful fortifications, St Mikhail’s Church and Uspenskaya Church on the shore of the river Zapadnaya Dvina. In the middle of the 12th century there began the construction of the Annunciation Church that survived to the present day.
In 1242 Alexander Nevski visited Vitebsk to set up a military alliance with locals, and three years later he helped Vitebsk residents to protect the city from the troops of the Great Principality of Lithuania. In the 9th-10th centuries the city’s castle turned into a powerful fortress. And the construction of the Upper and Lower Castles as well as the palace was completed in 1351. In 1441 Vitebsk became one of the 15 largest cities of the Great Principality of Lithuania. In 1597 it received Magdebourg Right (the right to self-government). The city was many times seized by Lithuanian, Russian and Ukrainian troops. In the years of the Great Northern War (approximately 1701) it hosted the general headquarters of the Russian army. Russian Tsar Peter I the great visited Vitebsk three times. During the Patriotic War of 1812 Napoleon spent in Vitebsk 16 days and celebrated his 43rd birthday in the Governor’s Palace. A century later a monument to heroes of the Patriotic War was erected in front of the palace. During the Great Patriotic War local underground partisans heroically fought against fascist invaders. Vitebsk is proud to have 223 objects that were put on the National List of Historical and Cultural Values. These include the city hall, St Varvara’s Cathedral, Pokrovsky Cathedral, the Assumption Cathedral, the Holy Resurrection Church, Labazy monument of architecture (18th century). Vitebsk is widely known as a birthplace of many outstanding personalities, such as artist Marc Chagall. The modern Vitebsk is rightly considered to be the cultural capital of Belarus. the city regularly hosts arts festivals and concerts, such as Sollertinsky international music festival, the international festival of modern dance, White Amphora designer competition, Minstrel guitar music festival, Vitebski Listopad art song festival, the Belarusian festival of patriotic songs, Afghan War song festival, church music festival, amateur arts festival called Sozvezdiye and Art-Session student fair. One of the most prominent annual events held in Vitebsk is the Slavic Bazaar. There are several hotels in the city, including Vitebsk, Luchesa, Vetraz, three-star hotel Eridan, Sportivnaya. In addition, there is a hostel at Zolotoi Telenok culture and business centre and the private mansoin At Petrovich’s (5 km away from Vitebsk, the village of Lyatokhi). The city also has a number of museums, including a museum of local history, culture and lore, an arts museum, a museum of partisan war, Marc Chagall museum. The most remarkable pieces of architecture are St Varvara’s Church (18th century, Neogothics), St Kazan Church (early Classicism), the Holy Pokrov Church (19th century, Classicism). There are several recreation and spa facilities in Vitebsk suburbs. The city is surrounded by picturesque woods, rivers and lakes where one can go fishing and hunting.