Rechytsa

History

Rechytsa is one of the oldest towns in Belarus. First settlements in this region are dated back to the epoch of mesolite (9 – 5th centuries B.C.). Later, this area was inhabited by the Dregovichi tribe. The town was first mentioned in the Novgorod chronicle in 1213 as a town of the Principality of Chernigov. Rechytsa was also ruled by Kiev and Turov Grand Dukes. At the time of Gediminas reign (1311–1341) the town was annexed to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, from 1385 forming part of the Polish–Lithuanian union. Rečyca as well as Orsha, Shklow, Mogilev, Stary Bychaw and Rahachow formed a well-developed frontier defense system at the River Dniepr. 1392–1430 – the reign of Grand Duke Vytautas. He constructed a fortified castle with five towers in the area of the detinets (old Belarusian for the downtown) on the bank of the Dniepr. At that time the town had three fortification lines in the form of water trenches and ramparts with bastions. In the area between the fortress and the second fortification line there was a territory for rich mansions, Church of the Order of Friars Preachers and a trade square. The town inhabitants settled lived between the second and third fortification lines. The construction of the town had clear right-angled forms. In 1561 the town was partially granted Magdeburg rights by Sigismund II Augustus. Within the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, it was a county seat in the Minsk Voivodeship. The town was practically destroyed during the Cossack war of 1648–1651. After the Truce of Andrusovo it was restored to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was annexed by Russia in the Second Partition of Poland in 1793. It then became an uyezd seat in the newly formed Minsk Governorate. The first permanent town plan of Rechytsa was approved in 1800. During…

Most-observed species

• Heather

  Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull · Magnoliopsida
  5
• Hoary Alison

  Berteroa incana (L.) DC. · Magnoliopsida
  4
• yellow chasteweed

  Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench · Magnoliopsida
  4
• Yellow Loosestrife

  Lysimachia vulgaris L. · Magnoliopsida
  4
• Germander Speedwell

  Veronica chamaedrys L. · Magnoliopsida
  4
• White Wagtail

  Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4
• Western Yellow Wagtail

  Motacilla flava Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4