The Vitebsk region is situated in the North-Eastern part of Belarus, has borders with Lithuania, Latvia and Russia and occupies almost one fifth of the country’s territory. The center of the region is the city of Vrtebsk with the population of 367,000 people.

The Vitebsk land is a real “kingdom of lakes”: the main part of the Belarusian Lakeland and 11 out of 19 major lakes in Belarus are here. Such unique natural characteristics make this land inexplicitly charming: the beauty of these places is known far beyond the country's boundaries. A most precious “pearl” of the Vitebsk region is, undoubtedly, the complex of Braslav lakes — 50 water bodies of the total area of 130 sq. km with rare types of plants and animals preserved in the natural environment. The land has really immense tourist opportunities. The oldest town in Belarus, Polotsk, is also in the Vitebsk region. It would be very interesting to visit the Kuteinsky monastery in Orsha and the Trinity Catholic church in Gloubokoye.
 

Vitebsk is the second cultural capital after Minsk, the place of the popular “Slavyansky bazaar” — an international song festival, which takes place annually in late July — early August. Interesting sights in Vitebsk are also the ancient town hall and the monument commemorating the defeat of the Napoleon's army. Vitebsk is the birthplace of many well-known people and, perhaps, the most famous of them is the “brilliant dreamer” — Marc Chagall. He called the city “my second Paris” and sketches of Vitebsk of the early 20^th century are reflected in many pictures of the great master of unreal painting.