Description of the attraction
Oshmyany is an ancient city built on the Oshmyanka river. They were first mentioned in 1040 in connection with the attack on the city of the Grand Duke Yaroslav. In 1341 the Oshmyans entered the inheritance, which was left by Prince Gedemin to his son Eunutius.
Oshmyany became famous for their inaccessibility. Twice the formidable Teutonic knights attacked the city at the end of the 14th and beginning of the 15th century, and both times received a worthy rebuff. Few fortresses can boast such brilliant victories.
Knew the city of defeat and destruction. It was destroyed for the first time in 1384 by the Polish-Lithuanian royal forces led by Vladislav II Jagiello. After Ashmyany became the property of the kingdom and received significant trade privileges, the city began to develop rapidly and was rebuilt. Ashmyany learned the second defeat from the warlike Muscovites, who razed the city to the ground in 1519, but already in 1556 the city was rebuilt and prospered so much that it received the Magdeburg right.
In the 16th century, Ashmyany became a refuge for Calvinists and the most famous Calvinist city in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. A Calvinist collegium was built in the city.
During the November National Liberation Uprising of 1831, Ashmyany was burned by the Russian army during a punitive campaign against the rebels. Since then, the city has not been able to recover from the losses and has become a quiet county town that has forgotten the days of its greatness. This is how he appears before our contemporaries.
Now you can still see the majestic ruins of an old Franciscan church and appreciate the scale of the once famous temple. This church was rebuilt in 1822 from the ruins of an ancient Gothic church. Oshmyany Church of St. Michael the Archangel is a functioning Catholic church built in 1900 on the site of a Franciscan church built in 1387. This church is considered a recognized masterpiece of the Vilna Baroque style. In 1990, the church was restored and is now in perfect condition.
The Orthodox Resurrection Church leaves a completely different, but also very strong impression. Built in the retrospective Russian style in 1875, the temple gives the impression of the reliability and inviolability of the foundations of Orthodoxy.
One of the few synagogues in Oshmyany has survived in good condition. Built at the beginning of the 20th century, it was closed in 1940. Colored paintings have been preserved inside. Unfortunately, the synagogue is now used as a warehouse.
The ancient city has three cemeteries: the Catholic Calvary with old wooden crosses, mossy crypts and the graves of Polish soldiers, Jewish and Orthodox.
There are few places where you can see a real working water mill in such good condition as in Ashmyany.
