Grodno (Hrodna). Belarusian Beauty

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The first mention of Hrodna (Grodno in Russian and Horadnya in old Belarusian) appeared in 1128 A.D. in the Ipat'ev Chronicle. The name of the city stems from the eastern Slavonic work for town, "gorod," and refers to a "fenced settlement." Hrodna was founded on a high hill overlooking the confluence of the rivers Nyoman and Hradnichanka. Located today in Belarus ("White Rus'") it was a center of Chornaia Rus' ("Black Rus") until the early 13th century. It is located on the Neman River, close to the borders of Poland and Lithuania (about 20 km and 30 km away respectively).

The city has one of the largest concentrations of Roman Catholics in Belarus. It is also a center of Polish culture, with the considerable number of Poles living in Belarus, residing in the city and its surroundings. All the while, the Eastern Orthodox population is also widely present here. The city's Catholic and Orthodox churches are important architectural treasures.

The symbol of Hrodna since XVI is St. Kazimir's Deer jumping over the fence. Apparently, St. Kazimir was a saint of hunters and the very first nature conservationist! An avid hunter he stopped hunting and sworn to protect Nature when a deer with a golden cross between horns miraculously appeared in front of him during his last hunt.

This city is known for its Medical University, where many students from different parts of Belarus acquire an academic degree, as do a good number of foreign students as well. Other higher educational establishments are Yanka Kupala State University (the largest education center in Hrodna province) and Agricultural university. To support the Polish community in 1995 was built a Polish school, in which all subjects are taught in Polish language and students are able to pass exams and get accepted to Polish universities.

Attractions of Grodno:

- Water towers "Kasia" and "Basia"
- Grodno Drama Theater
- Fine-Building Plant
- Historical and Archaeological Museum
- Grodno Old Castle
- Grodno New Castle
- Grodno fortress
- Augustow Canal
- Svyatskiy Palace
- Zhiliber Park 
- Pharmacy Museum

Cathedrals and monasteries in Grodno:

- Francis Xavier Cathedral
- Monastery of Bernardine in Grodno
- Great Choral Synagogue
- Franciscan Monastery
- Boris and Gleb Church
- Church of St. John
- Lower Church

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