THE CITY OF BREST

The town of Brest is a big administrative, industrial, transport and cultural centre with ancient history. Its territory is 72.9 sq. km, population is about 300 thousand people. At present the town is the centre of Brest region of the Republic of Belarus.

Brest is one of the most ancient towns of Belarus. It was first mentioned in chronicles in 1019: The name of "Berestye" is supposed to come from "berest" (kind of elm) or from the word "beresta" (birch bark).

In the XI century Berestye was an ancient Russian trade centre and a fortress, situated on the cape made by the Zapadny Bug river and the left branch of the Mukhavets river. The favourable placement on the boarder of Polish and Lithuanian lands helped to the development of ancient settlement. In XII century there was built a wooden castle, which served a fortification for trade caravans. In XIV-XVI centuries Berestye was one of the biggest towns of the Great Duchy of Lithuania.

The centre of the town had been formed by the second half of the XVII century on the island where now there is the citadel of Brest Fortress. In 1835 according to the order of Russian Tsar the building of the fortress began on the site of ancient settlement. On 26th April 1842 inauguration of Brest-Lithuanian Fortress took place.

At the beginning of the XX century the town was being built intensively. During World War I Brest- Litovsk was occupied by Kaiser troops, and on 3rd March 1918 Brest peace treaty was signed in Brest Fortress in the building of White Palace. From 1921 Brest-Litovsk (which then belonged to West Belarus) became part of Poland for nearly 20 years. On 22nd September 1939 western regions of Belarus united with BSSR, and since 4th December 1939 Brest has been a regional centre.

On 22nd June 1941 Germany attacked the Soviet Union. The Great Patriotic war began. Brest Fortress was one of the first to be attacked by fascist invaders. Defense of Brest Fortress will always remain in history as a bright example of dignity and heroism, on 8th May 1965 the fortress was honoured the title of "Hero-Fortress", and in 1971 memorial complex "Brest Hero-Fortress" was inaugurated, which is now the symbol of the town.