History of Belgorod

Belgorod was mentioned as a settlement in 1237. As N.M. Karamzin suggests, Belgorod was built in 1593 (the year of foundation), it needed to protect from often incursions Crimean tatars. It became the most fortified fortress in Belgrade region.

The name of the city means "White city". The name was given due to white color of ground. The city is situated on chalk hill. In the second half of the XIX century more than 1 thousand tons of chalk was extracted there.

In the XVII century it became an important military and administrative city on the south border of Russia.

In 1785 after Crimea and Novorossiysk joined Russia Belgorod was excluded from the number of fortresses.

In 1708 it belonged to the Kiev region, in 1719 - to the Kursk region, in 1779 a chief city of the Kursk region.

In the first half of the XVIII century it became a big industrial and cultural center. In 1869 Kursk-Kharkov railway road was built which crossed Belgorod.

During the Great Patriotic War battles took place in Belgorod. In honor of liberation of Belgorod and Orel from German fascist forces the first fireworks was given in Moscow.

In 1954 Belgorod became a center of Belgorod region.