Date :
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
After Polotsk, Turov is the second oldest city in Belarus. It is located in the Gomel region, on the picturesque bank of the Pripyat River. Nowadays, the population of Turov is less than three thousand people, and the status of a city was assigned to this settlement only in 2004, before that it was considered a village. However, in ancient times, Turov, founded by the Dregovich tribe, was regarded as a significant political, economic and cultural center and even was the capital of the Turov Principality. Turov was an important stop along the famous trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks”. The outstanding enlightener and religious figure, Cyril of Turov, lived and worked here, and a monument has been erected in his honor in the city.
Prominent political and military figures – representatives of the Rurik dynasty, the Lithuanian military leader Mikhail Glinsky, the great hetman of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania Konstantin Ostrogsky, ruled Turov at different times.
The city's long and rich history has left descendants traces of ancient events and interesting artifacts. The historical treasures of Turov are collected in the local history museum, where you can see old books, tools, household items found during excavations. The historical complex Ancient Turov, which forms part of the museum, stands on Castle Hill on the site of a destroyed Christian cathedral. According to historians, the church was built in the middle of the 12th century, but the monumental structure did not withstand the destructive earthquake that occurred in the early 13th century. The ruins of the temple, found during the excavation of the settlement, suggest that it was the largest religious building in the western lands of Ancient Rus.
The Ancient Turov complex is a vast site featuring the remnants of the ancient temple's foundation, now covered with a glass dome. As part of the exhibition, various historical and archaeological objects are presented to visitors:
- A model of ancient Turov.
- Household items - clay dishes, quern stones, and other craft products.
- Ancient weapons.
- Jewelry elements.
- Tools.
- Remnants of the discovered settlement.
During the tour, visitors will learn about Turov's historical past, its significant events, and its renowned inhabitants. In the souvenir shop, you can buy magnets with images of Turov and other memorable souvenirs.
The exhibition is open daily except Monday. You can reach Turov from the capital by car via the R-23 road. Regular buses and route taxis run from Gomel to the city. When you arrive in Turov, don't forget to visit other attractions of the ancient city - mysterious stone crosses that, according to legend, arrived here by the river in the year of the Baptism of Rus, the Church of All Saints - a two-century-old monument of wooden architecture, and the nature reserve Turov Meadow.