Smolensk

Also known as Smoleńsk

Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. It has a population of

AI overview

Smolensk is a city in western Russia that serves as the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast and sits on the Dnieper River. It matters historically and geographically as an important regional city positioned between Moscow and the western border of Russia.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Russian inhabited locality.en_name: Smolensk
Russian inhabited locality.ru_name: Смоленск
Russian inhabited locality.pushpin_map: Russia Smolensk Oblast#European Russia#Europe
Russian inhabited locality.image_flag: Flag of Smolensk.png
Russian inhabited locality.image_coa: Coat of arms of Smolensk.png
Russian inhabited locality.anthem: Anthem of Smolensk
Russian inhabited locality.federal_subject: Smolensk Oblast
Russian inhabited locality.adm_inhabloc_jur: Smolensk Urban Okrug
Russian inhabited locality.adm_ctr_of1: Smolensk Oblast
Russian inhabited locality.adm_ctr_of2: Smolensky District
Russian inhabited locality.inhabloc_cat: City
Russian inhabited locality.urban_okrug_jur: Smolensk Urban Okrug
Russian inhabited locality.mun_admctr_of1: Smolensk Urban Okrug
Russian inhabited locality.mun_admctr_of2: Smolensky Municipal District
Russian inhabited locality.area_km2: 166.35
Russian inhabited locality.pop_2010census: 326861
Russian inhabited locality.pop_2010census_rank: 54th
Russian inhabited locality.established_date: 863

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Population: 310460
Area: 166.35
Elevation: 254
Official website: www.smoladmin.ru
Image: Assumption Cathedral in Smolensk.jpg
Dialing code: 4812

Show 7 more facts

Commons category: Smolensk
Commons gallery: Смоленск
postal code: 214000–214999
native label: Смоленск
inception: 0863-00-00
time of earliest written record: 0863-00-00
P8168: Cauayan

Sources (13)

via Wikidata · CC0

~21 min read

Article

32 sections

Contents

Etymology
Geography
History
Medieval origins
Between Lithuania and Russia
Modern history
Soviet period
Recent events
Demographics
Attractions
The Smolensk Kremlin
Churches and cathedrals
Monuments
Lopatinsky garden
Square of Memory of Heroes
Education buildings
Post-war Stalinist buildings
Administrative and municipal status
Politics
Climate
Economy
Transportation
Education
Twin towns – sister cities
Notable people
Honors
See also
References
Notes
Sources
Bibliography
External links

Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River, west-southwest of Moscow. It has a population of

First mentioned in 863, it is one of the oldest cities in Russia. It has been a regional capital for most of the past millennium, beginning as the capital of the Principality of Smolensk in the 11th-15th centuries, then the Smolensk Voivodeship of Lithuania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, and Smolensk Governorate and Oblast within Russia. It was the main stronghold of the Smolensk Gate, a geostrategically significant pass between the Daugava and Dnieper rivers, and as such was an important point of contention in the struggle for dominance in Eastern Europe, passing at various times between Lithuania, Poland and Russia. In more recent history, it was the site of two battles in 1812 and 1941 during the French invasion of Russia and Operation Barbarossa respectively on their paths towards Moscow. The Smolensk air disaster occurred near the city in 2010.