14. Read the text and get ready to speak about Braslav: the town monument: braslav

In the beginning of 14th century the city of Braslavi one of the first in the Polotsk ground was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and began to refer Щ Braslav Lithuanian. Some centuries Braslav was the property of grand dukes. This small town has a verjlj ancient and full of events history, it is known noflj only by it's huge quantity of picturesque lakes andj magnificence of views and places, but Braslav is atscte rich in its architectural beauty.

To get acquainted with the history of Braslav’s territory and the town itself is possible in the historicae museum which is situated in the private residence: This building is rather attractive; it is ancient with a lot of decorations such as carving, different kinds of ornament and so on. The complex of manuscripts which is placed here tells us about life, culture, occupation, language of Braslav's population. It is possible to see a model of a fortress here — that stood on the Zamkovaja Mountain during the old times. Ethnographic exhibits are rather interesting, too. Articles made of flax, samples of weaving; carver's work on a tree, pictures and things made of straw, potters' Work make us acquainted with the traditions and the customs of national creativity of Braslav's region. Among them — the hero of the war of 1812 J.P.Kuhryov, famous Belarusian and Lithuanian painter P.A. Sergievich, doctor S.T. Narbut.

Obelisk with a lantern at the top is situated on the crest of the rampart of the Zamkovaja Mountain; it is a monument in honor of Stanislaw Narbut — the most talented and famous Braslav's doctor. The monument to the doctor was construct­ed after his death on the means collected by inhabitants of all Braslav. According to some notes and historical data, the lantern worked as a beacon some years ago, helping to find the way in a fog to fishermen on the Lake Drivyaty.

Two monuments of cultural architecture of the second half of 19 century are standing near the Zamkovoja Mountain — these are the Catholic Church and the Christian Church. The Catholic Church is built of simple big stones and red bricks, and it has features of the. pseudo-Gothic style. Old parts of northern and eastern walls which have stayed from the old church on which the figured stone laying was kept are used in construction of the Catholic Church now. It was carried out as follows: intervals between the big boulders were covered with a special solution and lay with small stones in various patterns. Such an unusual and very beautiful laying rather frequently meets in Braslav.

The stone Christian Church is a monument of the pseudo-Russian archi­tectural style. The greatest art value is represented in its interior with icons of 17th—18th centuries.

Remarkable sites in the architectural relation of the city were kept also from the 20^th years of our century. Country houses and grounds are included in the com­plex of buildings which are constructed in traditions of national architecture. But also we can see here a lot of stone buildings.wifh elements of the modernist style. A wooden tent above the well — high roof topped with a figured spike stands on four columns and draws the attention of people. This small in its size construc­tion differs in beautjful smooth contours, reasonableness of the design. There is a communal grave in the square in the city centre. The monument is created under the projects of the well-known Belarusian sculptor, the national artist of Belarus S.I. Selikhanov:—one of the authorsof the memorial "Khatyn".

The most green and cozy area of Braslav is its western suburb. Holidays and fairs are carried out here. An annual festival of amateur national creativity "Braslav's lightnings" is known and Very popular far outside the territory of Braslav.