Dubrowna
Дуброўна (Belarusian)
Дубровно (Russian)
Flag of Dubrowna
Coat of arms of Dubrowna
Dubrowna is located in Belarus
Dubrowna
Dubrowna
Coordinates: 54°34′N 30°41′E / 54.567°N 30.683°E / 54.567; 30.683
CountryBelarus
RegionVitebsk Region
DistrictDubrowna District
Elevation
170 m (560 ft)
Population
 (2025)[1]
 • Total
6,945
Time zoneUTC+3 (MSK)
Postal code
211040
Area code+375 2137

Dubrowna or Dubrovno (Belarusian: Дуброўна, romanizedDubroŭna; Russian: Дубровно; Polish: Dąbrowna) is a town in Vitebsk Region, eastern Belarus. It is located on the Dnieper River and serves as the administrative centre of Dubrowna District.[1] As of 2025, it has a population of 6,945.[1]

Etymology

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The toponym originates from a Proto-Slavic term for an oak forest, which may explain the inclusion of oak leaves and acorns in the town's coat of arms.

History

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Lubomirski Palace in the early 20th century

It was a private town of the Hlebowicz and Sapieha families within the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.[2] During the Lithuanian–Muscovite War of 1512–1522 it was captured by the Muscovites in August 1514, and then recaptured by the Poles and Lithuanians in September 1514.[3] During the next Lithuanian–Muscovite War, it was burned down by Muscovite forces in 1534.[3] In 1630 Mikołaj Hlebowicz founded a Bernardine church and monastery.[2]

Napoleon stopped in the town in 1813 during his retreat from Russia.[2] In the 19th century Dubrowna was a centre for weaving.[4] The town had a significant Jewish community that in 1898 formed more than half of its population.[4]

During World War II Dubrovno was heavily affected. It was occupied by German forces July 17–20, 1941, and the town's Jews were killed.[5] It was the scene of considerable partisan activity. From October 1943 to June 1944 it was at or near the front line, and was not finally reoccupied by Soviet forces until June 26, 1944.

Dubrowna hosts an annual folk song and dance festival, "Dnepr voices in Dubrovno".[6]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Численность населения на 1 января 2025 г. и среднегодовая численность населения за 2024 год по Республике Беларусь в разрезе областей, районов, городов, поселков городского типа". belsat.gov.by. Archived from the original on 29 March 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich (in Polish). Vol. XV. Warszawa. 1900. p. 449.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ a b Słownik geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i innych krajów słowiańskich (in Polish). Vol. I. Warszawa. 1880. p. 943.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  4. ^ a b Rosenthal, Herman; Janovsky, S. "Dubrovna". JewishEncyclopaedia.com. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  5. ^ Catherine Merridale, Ivan's War: Life and Death in the Red Army, 1939-1945 (Macmillan, 2007: ISBN 0-312-42652-6), p. 38.
  6. ^ "Culture". Vitebsk Oblast Executive Committee. Archived from the original on 30 November 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
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