The historic city features the Cathedral of the Assumption and a 16th century kremlin.

Timeline

• 863 First known written reference to Smolensk
• 882 Incorporated to the Kievan Rus
• 1054 Smolensk duchy is founded
• 1229 Trade agreement with Riga and Hanse
• 1233-1238 Invasion of Tartars. Smolensk pays tribute to Tartars.
• 1320 Alliance with Lithuania
• 1330 Smolensk liberated from the tribute to Tartars thanks to the help of Lithuania
• 1360 Smolensk army takes part in the Lithuanian struggle against Moscow
• 1385 Personal union of Poland and Lithuania
• 1395 Smolensk incorporated into Lithuania
• 1410 Three Smolensk divisions take part in the Battle of Grunwald against Teutonic Order knights
• 1432-1440 civil war
• 1514 incorporated into Moscow
• 1544, 1552, 1553 failed attempts by Lithuania to recapture the city
• 1569 Polish-Lituanian union in Lublin. The newly created state called The Commonwealth inherited claims to Smolensk.
• 1596-1602 construction of the city walls
• 1609 beginning of the siege by the army of the Commonwealth
• 1611 Smolensk captured again by Polish army, thanks to the help of local people
• 1633-1634 the failed siege by the Moscow army
• 1654 Smolensk captured by Russian army
• 1667 Final peace agreement decides that Smolensk belongs to Russia
• 1708 Smolensk province (Gubernia) is founded
• 1812 Napoleon captures Smolensk on his way to Moscow
• 1917 Soviets take over the city. In the neighbouring Katyn forest the center for the extermination of their "enemies" is established.
• 1940 Katyn massacre mass execution of the 5000 Polish Prisoners of War in the Katyn forest
• 1941-September 25th 1943 Occupied by Nazi Germany
• 1991 Smolensk remains part of the Russian Federation.