There are 600 architectural monuments, 136 historical and cultural monuments, 625 archaeological monuments in the Vitebsk region. The history and the modern state are reflected by 27 museums, including the Vitebsk Region Local Lore Museum and the National Polotsk Historical and Cultural Museum-Preserve, one of the richest in monuments.

 

The Vitebsk land is closely connected with the art of internationally recognised painters I.Repin, I.Khrutsky, K.Malevich, M.Chagall, M.Savitsky, Z.Azgur. The Vitebsk region welcomes an international children’s plain air named after I.Repin and an international Chagall’s plain air as a tribute to the prominent artists of the past and a kind of creative studio for the modern followers of the Vitebsk art school.

 

Vitebsk has the National Academic Drama Theatre named after Yakub Kolas, Belarusian Theatre Lyalka, a regional philharmonic, a concert hall.

 

The international art festival Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk, a major event for Belarus and the world, has become the symbol of festival movement. The festival gathers popular artists from many countries, theatre figures, movie directors, actors, painters as well as prominent public figures and politicians. Slavonic Bazaar in Vitebsk has been awarded “The Festival of the Year” twice by the International Federation of Festival Organizations (FIDOF) for professionalism, irreproachable organisation, mastery of performers, and the popularisation of higher humanistic purposes at the international level.

 

The Vitebsk region hosts traditional musical festivals: a festival named after Sollertinsky, a jazz music festival, a bard music festival Vitebsk Fall, a guitar music festival Minstrel, an international festival of modern choreography, a festival of ballet dance, a festival of organ music; a contest of dress designers White Amphora; annual folklore holidays Ringing Cymbals, Dnepr Voices, Braslav Lightnings.

 

One of the most ancient Belarusian cities, Polotsk, is famous for its Sofia Cathedral and Saviour Transfiguration Church with original frescos of the 11th century. Both the architectural monuments are part of the world cultural heritage. It was in Polotsk that the masterpiece of applied arts, the famous cross of Euphrosyne of Polotsk was made. The relics of Saint Euphrosyne are kept in the Saint Euphrosyne Convent.

 

Polotsk is the native land of Frantsisk Skorina. Thanks to Skorina Belarusians were among the first Europeans to get a printed Bible in 1517.

 

In the Vitebsk region there is the most beautiful place in Belarus – the national park Braslav Lakes. Water ecological systems with versatile and sometimes unique flora and fauna are the key riches of the Braslav Lakes, home to over 800 plant varieties, including around 20 rare ones and listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus. In the lakes one can find about 30 species of fish, including eel of economic importance. The park is a home to up to 35 % of the birds nesting in Belarus, including 45 species listed in the Red Book. There abide rare animals such as badgers, lynxes, brown bears, flying squirrels, elks, boars and roe deer.

 

In the region there are 24 health rehabilitation centres, tourist recreational centres, including well-known Belarusian resorts Lettsy, Braslav, Braslav Lakes, Losvido, and Orsha.