Dubrowna


Dubrowna or Dubrovno is a town in Vitebsk Region, eastern Belarus. It is located on the Dnieper River and serves as the administrative centre of Dubrowna District. As of 2025, it has a population of 6,945.

Etymology

The toponym originates from a Proto-Slavic term for an oak forest, which may explain the inclusion of oak leaves and acorns in the town's coat of arms.

History

It was a private town of the Hlebowicz and Sapieha families within the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. During the Lithuanian–Muscovite War of 1512–1522 it was captured by the Muscovites in August 1514, and then recaptured by the Poles and Lithuanians in September 1514. During the next Lithuanian–Muscovite War, it was burned down by Muscovite forces in 1534. In 1630 Mikołaj Hlebowicz founded a Bernardine church and monastery.
Napoleon stopped in the town in 1813 during his retreat from Russia. In the 19th century Dubrowna was a centre for weaving. The town had a significant Jewish community that in 1898 formed more than half of its population.
During World War II Dubrovno was heavily affected. It was occupied by German forces July 17–20, 1941, and the town's Jews were killed. It was the scene of considerable partisan activity. From October 1943 to June 1944 it was at or near the front line, and was not finally reoccupied by Soviet forces until June 26, 1944.
Dubrowna hosts an annual folk song and dance festival, "Dnepr voices in Dubrovno".

Notable people