Karachev
Karachev (Russian Карачев ) is a town in Bryansk Oblast (Russia) with 19 715 inhabitants (as of October 14, 2010 ).
Geography
The city is located on the eastern edge of the Central Russian plate about 45 km east of the Oblasthauptstadt Bryansk on the Sneschet, a left tributary of the opening into the Dnieper River Desna.
Karachev is the administrative center of the homonymous Rajons.
History
Karachev was first mentioned in documents in 1146. From 1246 it was the center of an autonomous principality.
From 1396 Karachev belonged to the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from 1503 to the Grand Duchy of Moscow.
In the Time of Troubles in the early 17th century, the city was destroyed by the Polish-Lithuanian troops in 1662 again by the Crimean Tatars.
Since the first half of the 18th century, however Karachev was again an important trading town of the region. 1779 the official city status as the administrative center of a circle ( Ujesds ) was awarded.
During World War II Karachev was occupied on 6 October 1941 by the German Wehrmacht and recaptured on 15 August 1943 by troops of the Bryansk Front Red Army under the Orjoler operation. During the fighting, the city was almost completely destroyed.
Demographics
Note: Census data (1926-1939 rounded)
Culture and sights
Karachev has a local history museum.
Near Karachev is a 300 meter high radio mast for the Chaika radio navigation system.
Economy
In Karachev there are plants of the machine and the electrical equipment manufacture and the textile and food industries.
The city lies on the opened on this section in 1868 railway Smolensk - Bryansk - Orel (then part of the Riga - Orjoler railway).
By Karachev also leads the A141 trunk road Smolensk - Bryansk - Orel.
Sons and daughters of the town
- Leonid of Optina (1768-1841), monk and pastor
- Vladimir Chebotaryov (1921-2010), screenwriter and film director