Bezhetsk
Encyclopedia
Bezhetsk is a town in Tver Oblast
, Russia
, located on the Mologa River
at its confluence
with the Ostrechina River. It serves as the administrative center of Bezhetsky District
, although it is not administratively a part of it. Population: 29,000 (1967).
s, suggests that early settlers were former Novgorodians. Historical Bezhichi were located 20 kilometers north from the present-day town; the settlement was destroyed by raiders in 1272 and re-established on present site as Gorodetsk fortress.
In the early 15th century, the district of Bezhetsky Verkh was annexed by Muscovy. Bezhetsk and Bezhetsky Uyezd were the birthplace of writer Vyacheslav Shishkov
, historian Nil Popov, artist Alexander Samokhvalov, pathologist Alexei Polunin, artist Sergei Osipov
, and conductor
Victor Popov.
The oldest building in Bezhetsk is the white tent-like campanile of the Vvedenskaya church, which was built by Yaroslavl
masters in 1680-82. The church itself was destroyed during the Soviet years. The Vozdvizhenskaya church goes back to the turn of the 18th century.
In the late 20th century, Bezhetsk, as a "reference small town" with well-preserved archive
s, became a subject of detailed academic studies of the 18th century Russian countryside.
Bezhetsk is home to Dorokhovo
, a major military air base.
Tver Oblast
Tver Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . Its administrative center is the city of Tver. From 1935 to 1990, it was named Kalinin Oblast after Mikhail Kalinin. Population: Tver Oblast is an area of lakes, such as Seliger and Brosno...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, located on the Mologa River
Mologa River
Mologa River is a river in Tver, Novgorod and Vologda Oblasts of Russia. It is a left tributary of the Volga River, flowing into the Rybinsk Reservoir. The river freezes up in the late October - early December and stays under the ice until April - early May....
at its confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
with the Ostrechina River. It serves as the administrative center of Bezhetsky District
Bezhetsky District
Bezhetsky District is an administrative and municipal district , one of the 36 in Tver Oblast, Russia....
, although it is not administratively a part of it. Population: 29,000 (1967).
History
Bezhetsk was first mentioned as Bezhichi in 1137, when it was owned by Novgorod. Original name, interpreted as refugeeRefugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s, suggests that early settlers were former Novgorodians. Historical Bezhichi were located 20 kilometers north from the present-day town; the settlement was destroyed by raiders in 1272 and re-established on present site as Gorodetsk fortress.
In the early 15th century, the district of Bezhetsky Verkh was annexed by Muscovy. Bezhetsk and Bezhetsky Uyezd were the birthplace of writer Vyacheslav Shishkov
Vyacheslav Shishkov
Vyacheslav Yakovlevich Shishkov was a Soviet and Russian writer known for his descriptions of Siberia. He was awarded the Stalin Prize posthumously ....
, historian Nil Popov, artist Alexander Samokhvalov, pathologist Alexei Polunin, artist Sergei Osipov
Sergei Ivanovich Osipov
Sergei Ivanovich Osipov was a Soviet Russian painter, graphic artist, and art teacher, lived and worked in Leningrad, a member of the Leningrad branch of Union of Artists of Russian Federation, regarded as one of the leading representatives of the Leningrad school of painting, most famous for his...
, and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
Victor Popov.
The oldest building in Bezhetsk is the white tent-like campanile of the Vvedenskaya church, which was built by Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl
Yaroslavl is a city and the administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia, located northeast of Moscow. The historical part of the city, a World Heritage Site, is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl Rivers. It is one of the Golden Ring cities, a group of historic cities...
masters in 1680-82. The church itself was destroyed during the Soviet years. The Vozdvizhenskaya church goes back to the turn of the 18th century.
In the late 20th century, Bezhetsk, as a "reference small town" with well-preserved archive
Archive
An archive is a collection of historical records, or the physical place they are located. Archives contain primary source documents that have accumulated over the course of an individual or organization's lifetime, and are kept to show the function of an organization...
s, became a subject of detailed academic studies of the 18th century Russian countryside.
Bezhetsk is home to Dorokhovo
Dorokhovo
Dorokhovo is an air base in Tver Oblast, Russia, located 7 km southwest of Bezhetsk. It is a small interceptor base with about 10 alert pads for fighter aircraft and some other pads and tarmac space...
, a major military air base.