Senno is one of the oldest towns of the Vitebsk region with a rich history dating back to the 15th century. The name of the town probably comes from the hay trade held at local fairs, or has Finno-Ugric origin. There is also a folk legend: allegedly Catherine II, traveling with the Senate from Polotsk to Shklov, stopped for the night by the lake, and local residents began to call the settlement "Sennat", which over time turned into "Senno".
First written mention
Senno is first mentioned in documents of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: "На рши у Обольцех село Сенно Милошу Войшвилову (отдано) князю Одинцову село Прихабы". Milash Voyshvilov received the right to manage the estate from Grand Duke Casimir Jagiellon.
Princes of Senno
In the list of troops of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the princes of Senno are mentioned: they sent 6 horses with knights, squires and servants to the army.
Devastation of the town
Moscow troops of Ivan the Terrible under the command of voivode Prince Boris Gorbaty burned Senno. In the same year, Senno is mentioned as an estate of the Vitebsk povet of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Legal disputes over Senno
A lawsuit is underway between the owners of Senno — Prince Dmitry Vidunitsky-Lyubetsky, his stepson Grigory Sennensky-Gribovsky and the rector of the Oboltsy church for the right of ownership of the estate.
First mention of Belitsa
Belitsa is first mentioned as the possession of Anna, wife of Jan Glebovich. The estate included about 80 peasant service units. Later Belitsa belonged to the Zenovichs and Sapiehas.
On the border of the Vitebsk voivodeship
Senno is mentioned in the description of the border of the Vitebsk voivodeship: "займучи Сенно зовсими Вятцо Плебаньское, на мяжи князей Друцких, Лукамльских, Белицу зовсим, Палонное и Лемницу, а Аболце и вси Смоляне".
Construction of the Sapieha castle
Dmitry Fedorovich Sapieha builds a castle in Senno according to the classical model of the 16th-17th centuries of the "palazzo in fortezza" type — a fortress-palace. The Senno manor house with two wings occupied a symmetrical position on a square area of 80×80 m, surrounded by a deep moat with water. Two bridges connected the castle with the lake and the pond.
Possession of Senno passes to the Drutsky-Sokolinsky family
Senno was in the possession of Regina Korsak-Sokolinskaya. Her husband Andriyash Drutsky-Sokolinsky received the town as a dowry.
Transfer of possessions in Senno
Martin Kurch, former Felin starosta (Felin is modern Estonia, the former residence of the Master of the Livonian Order), officially transferred to his son Eustachy the right of ownership of a quarter of the Senno estate, including the castle, the town and all accompanying possessions with churches and funds.
Construction of the church
The owner of Senno, Eustachy Kurch, erects a wooden church of the Order of Francis of Assisi.
Sale of Senno to the Sapiehas
The owners of Senno were again the Drutsky-Sokolinskys. The daughter of Andriyash Drutsky-Sokolinsky, Eleonora, together with her husband Nikolai Grigorievich Khlevinsky, sell the estate to the Chancellor of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lew Sapieha.
Church in Bui
A wooden church was built in the ancient village of Bui — a unique monument of wooden cult architecture of Belarus from the times of the GDL and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The village of Bui belongs to the oldest settlements on the territory of Senno district.
Destruction of the castle
During the Northern War (1700-1721), the castle was destroyed and burned by Swedish troops. Now a physical education and health complex stands on the site of the castle.
Change of owners of Senno
The owner of Senno becomes the Minsk castellan Jozef Lyubetsky, however, in the same year the estate passes to Krzysztof Tyszkiewicz and his wife Teresa.
Construction of the Trinity Church
Vilna architect Johann Wilhelm Frese, commissioned by the owners of Senno Tadeusz and Jadwiga Oginski, builds a brick church in the Baroque style, consecrated in honor of the Holy Trinity. With the permission of Pope Clement XIV, the relics of Saint Fortunatus are transferred into it from Rome.
Foundation of the monastery and partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
A Franciscan monastery was built in Senno, where the monks opened the first school for boys in the town. As a result of the first partition of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Senno became part of the Russian Empire, receiving the status of a uyezd town of the Orsha province.
Uyezd town
Senno becomes a uyezd town of the Mogilev governorate.
Ordering of the layout of Senno
A project for ordering the layout of Senno was approved. According to it, an administrative building in the classical style was erected in the town.
Visit of Catherine II and approval of the coat of arms
On May 22, Catherine II visited Senno with an overnight stay, traveling from Polotsk to Mogilev to meet with the Austrian Emperor Joseph II. Presumably she stayed in the castle, or rather in what survived after the Northern War. In her diary she noted: "The road between Senno and Shklov is in places very picturesque and similar to an English park." In the same year, by decree of the empress, the coat of arms of Senno was approved: two golden scythes on a green field under the image of a double-headed eagle.
Belarusian governorate
Senno passes into the Belarusian governorate.
Return to the Mogilev governorate and visit of a scientist
Senno again becomes part of the Mogilev governorate. In the same year, the town was visited with an inspection of schools by the Russian mineralogist V.M. Severgin, who studied the local spring "Kaplichka" and noted the healing properties of its hydrogen sulfide water.
Stone monastery building
A stone residential building was built at the Franciscan monastery in Senno — the oldest surviving stone building of the town.
Patriotic War of 1812
Senno played an important strategic role in the Patriotic War of 1812 as a key point on the route of Russian and French troops. Reconnaissance detachments passed through the town, Murat's forces gathered here, and Napoleon's retreat routes were considered. Russian troops under the command of Kutuzov controlled this area to block possible retreat routes of the French army.
Construction of the Pokrovskaya Church
The owner of the town, Ksawery Puslowski, builds a wooden Pokrovskaya Church in Senno.
Great fire in Senno
On May 25, 1861, one of the largest fires on the territory of the town of Senno broke out. As a result, most of the town burned down, only a few houses on the outskirts remained. The Orthodox St. Nicholas Church also burned down.
New coat of arms
B. Koehne developed a project for the coat of arms: in a green shield, 2 golden scythes placed crosswise.
Foundation of a new church and opening of a school
On September 10, 1864, the foundation of a new church in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was laid on the site of the burned St. Nicholas Church. On the same day, a 2-class public parish school was opened in the town.
Uyezd school
A uyezd school operates in Senno, where the famous ethnographer, folklorist, local historian, historian, founder of Belarusian humanitarian science Evdokim Romanov teaches.
St. Nicholas Church
On the site of the former Uniate Church of Elijah the Prophet in Senno, a stone Orthodox St. Nicholas Church is erected — the main church of the uyezd. Built according to the project of architect K.A. Ton in the pseudo-Russian style, with five domes.
Visit of Napoleon Orda
On July 30, the famous Belarusian artist, composer, musician Napoleon Orda visited Senno, who made a watercolor drawing of the town. The work is in the national museum of Krakow (Poland). A color copy made by local historian Vasily Bondarevich is kept in the central district library.
Telegraph communication
A telegraph line was laid to Senno, a post station operated.
Transformation of the church into a cathedral
On February 27, 1887, a letter was sent to the empress with a proposal to elevate the parish St. Nicholas Church in the town of Senno to a cathedral with a corresponding increase in the church staff. The order was approved in the same year, and a little later the St. Nicholas Church received the status of a cathedral.
Chapel at St. Nicholas Cathedral
Next to St. Nicholas Cathedral, a stone chapel was built in memory of the happy salvation of the imperial family on October 17, 1888, when Narodnaya Volya members tried to kill Alexander III on the Kharkov railway.
Population census
4100 residents lived in the town, of which 2471 were of Jewish faith (60%). Two churches operated in Senno — the wooden Pokrovskaya and the cathedral St. Nicholas.
Women's school and Bogushevskaya station
The Senno women's parish school was founded. In the same year, the Bogushevskaya railway station appeared, which needed to be connected by road to Senno.
Yanka Kupala in Belitsa
The classic of Belarusian literature Yanka Kupala (Ivan Dominikovich Lutsevich) served at the Svyatsky estate in Belitsa.
Industrial development
10 industrial and 6 craft enterprises, a printing house, a library, 2 hospitals operated.
Khitrik's shop
In Senno, a shop of writing goods of Izrael Khitrik was built — a building in the Jewish style with a brick facade and hexagonal stars above it. Later, a savings bank, a hairdresser, and a canteen were located here.
Book about Senno uyezd and educational society
The book of local historian K.Ts. Anikevich, a student of Evdokim Romanov, "Senno uyezd of Mogilev governorate" was published. In the same year, an educational society was formed in the town, which set the goal of opening and maintaining a women's secondary educational institution.
Wine warehouse
In Senno, the building of the 8th state wine warehouse was built.
Craft school in Shipy
The first craft school in the uyezd was opened in the Shipy estate (possession of the Shidlovskys). Its task is to teach peasant children carpentry-turning and locksmith-forging skills. The consecration of the school was performed on December 29, 1911, by the local priest Fr. Bekarevich.
Fire station
In Senno, the building of the first fire station was built.
Zemstvo council building
In Senno, on Sovetskaya Street (former Sadovaya or Ofitserskaya), the building of the zemstvo council was erected — an example of civil style with elements of classicism. Today it houses the local history museum, the House of Crafts and the children's library.
Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies
In March, the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies was created. In November, Soviet power was established in Senno.
Soviet power and newspaper
On February 27, the first uyezd congress of Soviets of peasant, workers' and soldiers' deputies was held in Senno. On May 1, the first issue of the newspaper "Izvestiya Ispolkoma" (now "Golas Sennenshchyny") was published. On August 9-10, the uprising of the Left SRs was suppressed.
As part of the RSFSR and the first Soviet institutions
Senno became part of the Vitebsk governorate of the RSFSR. On May 30, 1919, a decision was made to open an agricultural school in the Belitsa estate. On June 7, a decision was made to organize a bureau of people's judges in Senno. On October 13, the uyezd executive committee was abolished, and the Senno uyezd military revolutionary committee was created.
Pedagogical courses and poet Zyazyulya
Higher pedagogical courses worked in Senno. At the same time, the famous Belarusian clerical poet, public figure of the "Nashanivsky" period, friend of Yanka Kupala and Yakub Kolas, Andrei Zyazyulya (real name — Alexander Stepanovich Ostromovich), died. He was a priest of the Senno church. He was buried in Senno, but the exact burial place is unknown.
Creation of Senno district
On July 17, the Senno district was created as part of the Vitebsk okrug.
Railway line
A railway line Orsha-Lepel was laid through the territory of the district (15 kilometers from Senno).
As part of the Vitebsk region
Senno district became part of the Vitebsk region.
First power station
The first power station was built in Senno.
Flax plant
A flax plant began operating in Senno.
Demolition of St. Nicholas Cathedral
By order of the Senno district committee of the CP(b)B, St. Nicholas Cathedral was dismantled into bricks. They paid 3 rubles per day of work.
House of Culture and butter churn
The House of Culture was built from the bricks of the dismantled St. Nicholas Cathedral. In the same year, Pan Rokhalsky left the town, his estate passed to the state, and a butter churn was set up in the house.
Closure of the church and dismantling of the chapel
The Holy Trinity Church ceased to function: the last priest was taken away from it. In the same year, the chapel over the spring "Kaplichka" was dismantled.
Pre-war census
4305 residents (2805 Belarusians, 1056 Jews, 327 Russians, 51 Ukrainians, 29 Poles). A flax plant, a zootechnical college, a hotel, a hospital, a cinema operated.
Demolition of the Pokrovskaya Church
The Pokrovskaya Church was destroyed. After the war, a sports complex of Secondary School No. 2 was built on its site.
Great Patriotic War
On July 6, 1941, Senno was occupied by German troops, but on the same day it was liberated by the counterstrike of the 20th Army under the command of Lieutenant General P.A. Kurochkin. On July 6-10, one of the largest tank battles of the beginning of the war took place near Senno (more than 1500 tanks on both sides) — the Lepel counterstrike. On July 9, the town was again captured by the 17th tank division of the Wehrmacht. From July 10, 1941, to June 25, 1944, the Sennen region was occupied by German-fascist invaders.
Partisan zone
The territory of the Sennen region was part of the Senno-Orsha partisan zone.
Underground organizations and burning of the estate
In April, the Senno underground district committees of the CP(b)B and LKSM B began to operate. In 1943, there were 40 underground organizations and groups with a total of 170 people in the district. In the same year, Rokhalsky's estate was burned by partisans.
Liberation
During the Vitebsk-Orsha stage of the liberation operation "Bagration", the Senno district was liberated on June 23-28, 1944. Senno was liberated by the Red Army on June 25, 1944.
Art workshop
On March 27, 1958, the Senno district executive committee decided to open an art workshop in the town of Senno.
Department store and School No. 2
A department store was built in Senno. On the site of the demolished St. Nicholas Cathedral, Secondary School No. 2 was erected.
Explosion of the church
On September 17, 1962, at the request of the local district party committee, the Holy Trinity Church was blown up. Later, a cafe-restaurant was built on its site.
Monument on the mass grave
A monument was erected on the Main Square on the mass grave "Soldier with a machine gun and a helmet in his hand". 203 soldiers and partisans are buried, the names of 96 people remain unknown.
Skim milk powder plant
The Senno skim milk powder plant began operating.
Memorial plaque to Kupala and newspaper editorial office
A memorial plaque was installed on the building in Belitsa where Yanka Kupala lived and worked. On January 1, 1972, a new building was opened in Senno, which housed the editorial office of the district newspaper "Golas Sennenshchyny".
Demolition of the administrative building
The administrative building in the classical style was dismantled. Now the district executive committee building is located in its place.
Construction of the hotel
In connection with the construction of the hotel, the shop of writing goods of Izrael Khitrik was dismantled.
First Senno marathon
The first Senno marathon dedicated to the memory of P.M. Masherov was held in the town.
Merger and decision on the museum
Senno district and the town of Senno were merged into one administrative unit. On August 30, the district executive committee decided to open the district local history museum.
Local history museum
In August, the Senno district local history museum was opened (the decision to create it was made in 1995).
Foundation of the new church
A stone was laid in the foundation of the new Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Senno. From the spring of 1999, construction work was carried out.
People's choir of veterans
On November 30, 2000, the Senno district executive committee decided to award the choir of veterans of the Senno district House of Culture the title "people's", and the positions of accompanist and choirmaster were introduced into the team.
New church
The first liturgy was served in the new Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the town of Senno.
Coat of arms of Senno
On January 20, by Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 36, the coat of arms of Senno and Senno district was approved: on a green field, two crossed golden scythes.
Flag of Senno
On June 2, by Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 277, the flag of the town of Senno and Senno district was approved. On June 4, the flag was registered in the State Heraldic Register (No. B-165).
Monument to tankers and discovery of the Khodkevich slab
On September 10, a monument (IS-3 tank) to the largest tank battle near Senno in 1941 was installed on Komsomolskaya Square in Senno. In the same year, a memorial slab with coats of arms was found near the village of Bolshoy Ozeretsk in Senno district. According to Professor S.E. Rassadin, the slab was installed in honor of Jan Karol Chodkiewicz, a military and political figure of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
Memorial sign "Rodny Kray"
A memorial sign "Rodny Kray" was installed in Senno in honor of the author of the ornament on the State Flag of the Republic of Belarus M.S. Markevich.
Regional festival "Dazhynki"
The regional festival "Dazhynki" was held in Senno. For it, an exposition of military equipment was created in the Park of Three Heroes, part of which were two memorial aircraft — Su-24M and Su-27.
Memorial sign "Pain"
In July 2019, a memorial sign "Pain" to the victims of the ghetto that operated in the district center during the Great Patriotic War from September to December 1941 was opened in the suburb of Senno.
Memory of genocide and the culture of the duda
Near the House of Crafts, a memorial sign and a museum exposition dedicated to the victims of the genocide of 1941-1944 were opened. The exposition is located in the basement of the building, where, according to the memories of local residents, during the occupation years there was a reconnaissance and sabotage school, and in the basement — a prison. On May 30, by Resolution of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus No. 80, the status of intangible historical and cultural value was assigned to the element "Culture of the Belarusian duda in the Vitebsk region" in the town of Senno.
High award
Senno was awarded the pennant "For courage and steadfastness during the Great Patriotic War" for the 80th anniversary of the Victory. Six towns of Belarus were awarded the pennant — Kobrin, Rechitsa, Slonim, Senno, Slavgorod and Smolevichi. In total, 36 towns and settlements in Belarus have received this award. Senno and its surroundings became a partisan region with more than a hundred detachments of people's avengers and a liaison airfield.
| Year | Population | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1803 | 860 | |
| 1867-69 | 2418 | Universal calendar |
| 1870-1876 | 2427 | Universal calendar |
| 1879 | 2508 | Universal calendar |
| 1881 | 2583 | Universal calendar |
| 1883-96 | 3000 | Universal calendar |
| 1897-98 | 3300 | Universal calendar |
| 1899-1911 | 4061 | Universal calendar, (according to the 1897 census) |
| 1912-1914 | 4200 | Universal calendar |
| 1939 | 4305 | |
| 1959 | 5368 | |
| 1970 | 5239 | |
| 1979 | 6031 | |
| 1989 | 8991 | |
| 2006 | 8418 | |
| 2009 | 8007 | |
| 2016 | 7385 | |
| 2017 | 7238 | |
| 2018 | 7165 | |
| 2019 | 7092 | |
| 2020 | 7443 | |
| 2021 | 7370 | |
| 2022 | 7265 | |
| 2023 | 7158 | |
| 2024 | 7090 | |
| 2025 | 6974 | |
| 2026 | 6874 |
The first written mention of Senno dates back to 1442. In the documents of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania it is stated that Milash Voyshvilov received the right to manage the estate from Grand Duke Casimir Jagiellon.
Two golden scythes on a green field are a "sign of abundance of hay", from the trade of which the name of the town probably originated. The coat of arms was approved by Empress Catherine II on August 16, 1781, and confirmed by decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus in 2006.
This is a major tank battle that took place on July 6–10, 1941, in the area of Senno and Lepel. About 2,000 tanks and self-propelled artillery units participated on both sides. As a result of the counterstrike, the enemy was thrown back 30–40 km towards Lepel, which became one of the few successful defensive battles of the initial period of the war.
The Sapiehas are a powerful family of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In 1573, Dmitry Fedorovich Sapieha built a castle of the "palazzo in fortezza" type in Senno. In 1631 the estate passed to the Chancellor of the GDL, Lew Sapieha. The castle was destroyed by the Swedes during the Northern War, and now a physical education and health complex stands on its site. The connection with the Sapiehas is not limited to the town: in the village of Moshchony in the 16th century there was also a wooden castle belonging to Lew Sapieha's grandfather — Ivan Bogdanovich.
The town was occupied from July 10, 1941, to June 25, 1944. In November 1941, a Jewish ghetto was created in Senno, and about 965 people were shot near the village of Kozlovka. Despite the occupation, partisans of the Senno-Orsha zone were active in the district. Senno was liberated by the Red Army on June 25, 1944.