1. About us
2. Regions
3. Vitebsk
4. Glubokoye

Glubokoye

The Coat of Arms of the town of Glubokoye features a blue field of the Spanish shield, two crossed silver sabers laid by the St. Andrew’s cross, with gold handles pointing down, and three gold coins. Top presents a three-prong silver head. The elements of the Coat of Arms can be explained as follows: the town had survived all the wars of the XYIth – XXth centuries because its residents were equipped with cold and fire arms. During peaceful time the town was engaged in lively trade and handicrafts. So, the three-prong silver head symbolizes a powerful wall that protected the residents against numerous enemies. Crossed sabers reflect the fact that the town had its own security guard formed from local philistines. Three gold coins testify to a lively and prosperous trade. Gold handles of the sabers may also testify to the prosperity of the town.

                                             Town of Glubokoye on an old postcard, 1918

General information:

Glubokoie is a picturesque town and a district center of the Vitebsk region in the Republic of Belarus. Population of the town is 18 921 people (as of January 1, 2016). It is located 162 km from Minsk and 187 km from Vitebsk. There are five lakes in the city. One of them - Lake Glubokoie, meaning deep, now Kagalnoye. Geographically the town lies on the Old Smolensk road connecting the city of Vilno with the city of Polotsk and has served a bridge between Western and Eastern Europe.
The most famous enterprise is the Glubokskaia milk factory manufacturing the most delicious condensed milk in the country.
There are three secondary schools, a lyceum, a vocational school and the Glubokskaya State Children's Art School.

Origin of the name

The city received its name from one of the five lakes located within the settlement - Glubokoe. Today this lake has a different name - Kagalnoe, derived from the word "kagal" of the Jewish community that once rented this water rezervoir.

History of the town

In 1388, a Lithuanian Prince Vitovt allowed Jews to settle in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, who then suffered terrible persecution in Western Europe, and the first documented mention of the history of Glubokoy dates back to 1414 - the connection between these two events seems obvious and explains the fact that till the Second World war the town had a considerable Jewish population.
 
In 1556, literally on the eve of the formation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, uniting Poland and Lithuania, the Vilenskiy Seym divided the town of Glubokoye into two parts: the southwest became the possession of the noble family of the Zenovichis (later of the Radziwills and the Wittgensteins), the north-eastern one was transferred to the Korsak boyars of the city of Polotsk. The border lay along the Berezovka River, connecting Lake Berezvechskoye (now Velikoye) and Kagalnoe, and it was also the border of two voivodships - Vilenskoye and Polotskoye.
 
Thus, two city centers were formed, now they are connected by Lenin Street, the former Zamkovay Street that is, once leading to the castle the Radziwills . That castle has long disappeared from the face of the earth, and indeed the Radziwills were not too busy with the development and improvements of their possession, which cannot be said of the Korsaks, who left themselves in the history of Glubokoye.  In fact, all the sights of the town are located in the north-eastern part of the city and, for the most part, are associated with the name of Joseph Korsak.

The sights of Glubokoye include: Cathedral of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin and the Carmelite Monastery, St.Trinity Catholic Cathedral, a monument to Jesus and the Samaritan woman, the Alley of Compatriots, Dendrological Park and etc.

Description of sights of Glubokoye can be found in the section of the website "Excursions and museums"