Dzisna - is a town of Myory district, Vitebsk region of Belarus. Dzisna is the smallest town in Belarus. The Dzisna town is located in a place where the river, which is also called Dzisna, after making several turns, flows into the Western Dvina. The place is very picturesque. The main architectural attraction of the city of Dzisna is the Resurrection Orthodox church. This Orthodox church was built in 1864-1870 at the highest point in the center of Dzisna, which never flooded during floods.
The church houses the miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria", which is a copy of the 18th century from the more ancient Smolensk icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria". In 1915, the miraculous icon was evacuated to Moscow. A year later, the image returned to Dzisna. The Resurrection church is also known for the fact that at that time (in 1916), the future Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Tikhon (Vasily Ivanovich Bellavin) often served here. After the end of the Second World War, the church in the city of Dzisna was closed and converted into a warehouse.
At the same time, all church values, including the miraculous icon, were saved and transferred to another small church located at the local Orthodox cemetery. Later, the building of the Resurrection church in the city of Dzisna and left completely empty. The church was returned to believers in 1989, then it was restored and renovated. In 1991, the church was reconsecrated. Then the miraculous icon of the Mother of God was brought here again. Today, the Resurrection church in the city of Dzisna is in excellent condition, fully functioning and is an important architectural monument, historical and cultural value and interesting sights of Belarus.
The aforementioned cemetery Orthodox church in the city of Dzisna was erected in 1904 as a chapel for the funeral service of the dead. This church was consecrated in honor of the icon of the Mother of God "Hodegetria." Next to this church is the bell tower of the early 20th century. This church was not closed during the Soviet era, but rather became the center of the spiritual life of the local Orthodox community. To accommodate all believers, this temple in the city of Dzisna even had to be expanded due to a small white brick extension that was erected in the second half of the 20th century. It was in this church that the miraculous icon of the Mother of God was located from 1944 to 1991. Nowadays, this temple has retained the status of parish (although now it is of secondary importance in the city), is in good condition, it functions and is an interesting historical monument and landmark of Dzisna.
Another very important landmark of Dzisna is the Catholic church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, which was built in 1773. The architecture of the temple contains many features of the late Baroque. The church was originally part of the Franciscan monastery, which in 1583 founded the Polish and Grand Duke of Lithuania king Stefan Batory in the town of Dzisna. At one time, the architectural ensemble of the monastery in the city of Dzisna also included a residential building erected in 1818. However, to this day this monastery building has not survived. The Catholic church of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in the city of Dzisna was seriously damaged during the Second World War. After the war, the temple remained in ruins and was not restored.
By the end of the 20th century, the church actually turned into monumental ruins. Currently, the church in the city of Dzisna returned to the Catholic Church. Now this church is being restored. Unfortunately, the restoration work in the temple is progressing extremely slowly, but it is important that they are not stopped. The church in the city of Dzisna is an interesting attraction of Belarus, as well as an important cultural, historical and architectural monument. Concluding the theme of the Catholic architectural heritage of the city of Dzisna, it should also be mentioned that elements of the 19th century fence and wall were preserved at the local Catholic cemetery (located next to the Orthodox), and in the 1990s a small Catholic chapel was also erected here.
The city of Dzisna has many other small attractions. These attractions include: a notable 19th century manor house (there are also ruins of outbuildings previously belonging to the manor near this house); the extremely picturesque ruins of a hospital of the early 20th century; slaughterhouse of the late 19th century; old fire station, which today serves in its original purpose.
There is in the city of Dzisna and many other buildings of the late 19th - early 20th centuries, which can be attributed to the ordinary urban historical buildings. At one time, these buildings performed various administrative or commercial functions and were used as housing. They housed theaters, hotels, colleges, schools, gymnasiums, banks, and so on. Now most of these buildings are used for housing, there is also a hotel, a cafe, shops and a museum. Some other historic buildings of the city of Dzisna are in disrepair or at a stage of prolonged repair.
Special mention deserves the bridge located in the city of Dzisna. This bridge crosses the river Dzisna. It is unique in that, according to most sources, it is the oldest preserved bridge in Belarus. This bridge was built at the end of the 19th century. This unique arched bridge with a wooden coating on a metal and stone base was thoroughly repaired in our time (in particular, asphalt was laid over the wooden covering). Nowadays, this bridge in the city of Dzisna is an automobile.
Another very remarkable feature of the city of Dzisna is that the current ferry across the Western Dvina River is located here. There are not so many places left in Belarus where you can see a real functioning ferry, so each of them becomes a kind of exotic tourists attractions that may be of interest to many travelers.
There is in the city of Dzisna and another important archaeological landmark - fragments of ancient castle. The fact is that during the Middle Ages, on the island formed at the confluence of the Dzisna River into the Western Dvina, there was a fortified castle. The castle was wooden, so its fragments are not preserved. Only earthworks that served as the basis for the walls have reached our days. However, for a certain circle of tourists and scientists, this island is a very attractive place.
Finally, it is also necessary to separately mention the picturesque, paved with natural stone, street that is located in the city of Dzisna, and which is located along the coast of the Western Dvina. Beautiful panoramic picturesque views of the river open from this street, and the street ends with a small local park located at the confluence of the River Dzisna into the Western Dvina.
All listed sights and amazing surrounding nature form an interesting and unique tourist atmosphere in the city of Dzisna. If you are interested in this kind of attractions, and in addition, for example, fishing, then you can have here some a very good and informative time.